The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-08
CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY
DISPLAYED BY OFFICERS
Renr-Admiral Fletcher Praises Cour
age Of Landing Force
at Vera Cruz.
NAMES MANY INDIVIDUALS S
Cool Indifference to Danger and Skill
in Handling Men Mark Conduct of
Mon of Navy.

Washington, Juno 7~"Resourceful
ness. courage and devotion to duty of
all officers OF tho landing force was
everything that could be desired. and
reflected the highest credit upon our
7 naval service" declared Rear Admiral
! Fletcher in report accompany his
story OF the seizure of Vera Cruz. made
public to-day by tho Navy Department.
Numerous officers OF the navy and
the marine corps who distinguished
themselves for cool Indifference to dan
ger and skill in handling their men
were named for special honor In Ad-
miral Fletchers report. Three were
conduct In battle" They were:
Captain w. r. Rush. u. S. N. COM
mandins naval brigade.
Lieutenant Colonel W. c. Neville. U.
:. NJ. c.. commanding Second Regiment,
Marines
Lieutenant Commander \. Buchanan,
L. :. ~, commanding First Seaman
Regiment.
They are deserving of the highest
honors and rewards" stated Admiral
Fletcher These officers were in both
days lighting. and were almost con-
tinually under fire from soon after the
landing, about noon on the 21st. until
we were in full possession of tho city
about noon on the 22d. Their duties
required them TO be at points OF great
danger in directing their officers and
men. and they exhibited conspicuous
courage, GOODNESS and skill In their
conduct of tho lighting. Upon their
courage and skill. more than upon
that or any others. depended success
or failure. Their responsibilities were
greatest and they met them by conduct
eminent and conspicuous In the battle.
Il have similarly to record the con-
duct Of Major r. c. Berkeley. U. S.
NJ. c.; Lieutenant II. Wainwright, u
=. ~: Major q. S Reid. l.. S. NJ c.:
Lieutenant c. w. s. Castle. U. S. n.
CONSPICUOUS IN COMMAND
OF THEIR BATPALIONS
fhcy were eminent and conspicuous
In command of their battallons These
officers were I'm the lighting of both
days. and exhibited courage and skill
In leading their men through the ac-
ton. Lieutenant Wainwright and Lieu
tenant Castle. In seizinE the custom
house, encountered for many hours the
heaviest and most pernicious concealed
hrc of the first day. but their courage
ana coolncss under trying conditions
were marked. The cool Judgment and
courage of Major Berkeley and Major
Reid and their skill in handling their
men In cncountering and overcoming
the machine gun and rifle fire down
Cinco do Mayo and parallel streets, ac-
counts for the small percentage OF the
losses OF marines in their command:
'i)urlnE the two days action Can
taain IL. Mel. i. IIusc. u. S. N: Lieu
tenant G. NJ. Courts. u. S. N; Lieuten-
ant +. j. Fletcher. u. S. N, were under
fire ana were eminent and conspicu-
Gus In the performance of their duties |
captain llusc was interchangeable in his !
iabors or most Important character |
both with the division commander in !
directing affairs and in his efforts on
shore to get In communication with the
Mexican authorities to avoid needIcssly |
prolonging the conflict.
"I.irutcnant Courts had well ouolf0ed /
himself by thorough study during his !
year on duty in Mexico to deal with th
conditions of this government, and his |
services were of great value to me. /
He twice volunteered and passed I'm an /
open boat through the zone of Nro TO |
convey Important orders to the Ches- :
ALL REFUGEES TAKEN
TO PLACES OF SAFETY
Lieutenant Fletcher was In charge
of tho EspcranZa. and succeeded In ger
ting on hoard over $50 refugees, many
of them after the conflict had com
menced. This slip was under fire, be-
Ing struck more than thirty times. bu,
he succeeded in getting all the re-
fuEccs placed In safety. Later he was
placed In charge OF the train conveying
refugees under n flag OF truct. This
was hazardous duty, as It was be-
lievcd the track was mined and a sma,rl
error In dealing with the Mexican
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