Evening journal., 1914-05-28
admiral s PRAISE
FOR MEN OF FLEET
Alfred A. Wilson, Jr., on
BattleShip Florida, Writes
From Vera Cruz
SENDS COPY OF ORDER
EULOGIZING SERVICE

Alfred A. Wilson. of Richardson
Park. has received letter from his
son. Alfred A. Wilson, Jr., a seaman
on the battleship Florida. telling of
the American occupation of Vera
Cruz Young Wilson was a member
of the American landing party. VIII
son sent to his father a copy Of Ad-
miral Fletcher's testimonial of ap-
probation Of the bravery and accom-
nlishments of the bluejackets and
marines who occupied Vera Cruz.
Each man in the feet received a copy
of Admiral FletcheI's order, which
they prize as a souvenir. Il is sent
verbatium by Wilson to his father,
and reads as follows:
Headquarters, United States Naval
Forces on Shore.
Vera Cruz, Mexico, April 80, 1914.
Division Order:
The naval forces now occupying
the city of Vera Cruz will, at p. m,
April 80, 1914, withdraw and turn the
command of the city over TO the army.
The navy landed ct IL o'clock a. M,
April 21, 1914. From shortly after
landing our men were under an al
most continual fire until $50 o'clock
on the morning of the 22nd AT that
time when all organized authority in
the city of Vera Cruz had ceased to
exist, the order was given to advance
through the city.
The Brigade under the command
of Captain w r. Rush, u. S. Navy,
/ had to fight their way from street to
I -. .tI1 - Ara
from house tops, windows, steeples
and from places OF concealment in
all parts of the city.
At 11.30 o'clock a. m. the city was
in their possession. The splendid
advance of our men in the morning
after being un0er fire all night was
deserving of the highest praise, and
the accurate and timely gun fire of
the Chester, Prairie. and the San
Francisco in the harbor showed effec-
tive cooperation ashore and afoat.
The praiseworthy conduct of our
men in establishing and maintaining
good order and restoring confidence
among the inhabitants of the city
after the fighting reflects the greatest
credit upon the discipline and re-
sourcefulness of the men of the Navy
and the Marine Corps In nine days
work the city of Vera Cruz was Occu-
pied by the Navy. lawlessness and
disorder suppressed: eleven thousand
firearms taken possession Of; and a
/ line of defences established around
the city against an army threatening
to re-capture 1t. Business was re-
sumed and normal conditions re-
stored. The municipal government
of the city has been re-established
under the control Of its people; a
civil government formed to carry oui
the laws of the state and the federal
government; all preparations made
for the landing of the army and for
the relief and withdrawal of our own
forces.
The officers and men of the Naval
Forces deserve the highest commen-
/ dation for having done the work COM
pletely and having done it we'll.
The highest honor is due to those
who gave their lives in the service
of their country.
In Withdrawing my command from
Vera Cruz. l wish to extend to the
officers and men who took part in
its occupation my deepest appreci-
alton of their gallant conduct and
support
In turning our work over TO the
Army, the Navy extends its best
wishes and good will.
f. F. FLETCHER,
Rear Admiral L. s. Navy,
Commanding U. S. Forces on Shore.