The citizen., 1914-05-01

and at the outbreak of the Spanish
war was a lieutenant and had at
tracted attention by his knowledge Of
ordnance.
After the war he was relieved Of
desk work at Washington and ordered
to sea. In March, 1904, he was pro-
NOTED to the rank of commander after
having served as commanding officer
Of the gunboats Kanawaha and Eagle.
Soon after this promotion he was
made inspector of ordnance in charge
Of the torpedo station at Newport.
where he served until March Is, 1905.
When he again went to sea 1t was
as chief of staff of the Asiatic fleet,
which position he gave up to take
command of the cruiser Raleigh. After
two more years at sea he was ordered
to the naval war college at Newport.
and later he became member Of the
special ordnance board.
"In 1908 he was made captain and
given command Of the battleship Yer
mont After leaving the Vermont he
became an aid on the staff of Secre-
tary Of the Navy George Won L. Meyer.
1t was during this service in October,
1911, that he achieved flag rank"
May Succeed Badger.
Admiral Fletcher is regarded as
probable successor of Rear Admiral
Badger as commander in chief Of the
Atlantic fleet, promotion that will
carry with it the honor Of command
ing the great United States fleet that
will be the first to pass through the
Panama canal when the waterway is
opened to the ships of the world in
1915.
1t was Immediately following the
assassination of President Madero
that Admiral Fletcher was ordered to
Mexican waters.
Enters Harbor In "Norther."
1t will be recalled that Admiral
Fletcher in his first cablegram record
ing the seizing of the custom-house at
Vera Cruz said that he commenced
operations in the face Of an approach
ing "norther."
The following extract from a navy
textbook on navigation may explain
why. Admiral Fletcher acted without
undue delay in carrying out President
Wilson's orders:
ITO attempt to run into the harbor
(Vera CRUZ In 'norther' is extreme
ly perilous, for 1t blows more power
fully within than without the shoals.
No confidence can be placed in an
chors and no assistance can be given
from the shore in case Of accident"
Admiral Fletcher when not at sea
resides at 1441 Massachusetts avenue,
Washington. He married Miss Susan
Hunt Stetson in 1895. He is a mem
ber of the Chevy Chase and the Army
and Navy clubs in Washington.
How Seizure Order Was Given.
Washington.-Th story of how
President Wilson ordered the custom
house at Vera Cruz to be seized has
been revealed.
The president had gone to bed Mon
day night after having read his mes
sage to congress. The senate was de-
batting the joint resolution to approve
the use of the army and navy, and the
president had determined to withhold
action until the resolution passed al
though feeling that in an emergency
the executive had ample authority to
act.
At o'clock Tuesday morning Sec
retary Bryan received a cablegram
from Consul Canada telling of the ap-
proach Of German vessel with a
tremendous cargo Of ammunition for
Huerta.
A number of locomotives and many
cars were in readiness to rush the
arms to Mexico City.
Mr. Bryan telephoned Secretary Tu-
multy, who decided to awaken the
president. He telephoned the White
House. The servants were timid, but
Tumulty insisted. Finally the presi-
dent came to the telephone, and while
Secretary Tumulty was explaining the
situation Secretary Daniels called up
and was put on the same line.
He, too, had dispatch about the
ammunition. Rear Admiral Fletcher
had sent a wireless that 100000
rounds of ammunition and ESQ ma
chine guns would be landed from the
German vessel by noon that day.
The president listened in silence.