The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-27
EXPECT FUNSTON
TO Be AGGRESSIVE
Men on Transports Believe
March to Mexico City Will
Not Be Delayed.
BATTLESHlP ACTS AS CONVOY
Relieves Torpcdo-Boats, Which,
Fleet Gossip Says, Start
Gunboat Hunting.
BATTLESHIP ACTS AS CONVOY
ny CHARLES NICHOLSON.


On Board the United States Dispatch
Boat Bailey (via Brownsville. TeAasl.
April 26.--Whatever View may be en-
tertained elsewhere, on board the
transports proceeding to Vera Cruz
ana on the convoy, there Is no opinion
but that General Funston will imme-
diately on landing proceed To march
on Mexico City. The Bailey was among
the transports all this afternoon. The
officers will not admit the receipt OF
my orders calling for definite action.
but believe they are going to delay
just long enough to allow tho cavalry
and artillery. which were supposed to
start from Galveston to-day. TO catch
up before beginning definite opera
lions.
The theory OF aggressive action was
borne out by another piece of military
evidence. The torpedo boats Flusser.
Preston and Reid. which started out to
convoy the four transports. gave place
yesterday to the big battleship Louis
lana. which came from Vera Cruz to
relieve them, and the three torpedo
boats shot away to the west where.
according TO the gossip of tho feet,
they are now gunboat hunting.
The Mexican gunboats Snragosa,
Vera Cruz and Bravo arc supposed to
be somewhere along the Northeast
Mexican coast, with instructions to cut
out the transports. The torpedo boats,
by reason of their light draft, can
penetrate the shallow bays and rivers
in which the Mexican Eunboats are
probably hiding.
Orders Not Taken Seriously.
Nobody on board the transports
takes tho orders TO the Mexican navy
to capture or sink them very serious
~. Tho pursuit by the torpedo boats,
however. marks 4 departure from tho
paciilcation methods which have pre-
10 Ia nf
marines at Vera Cruz
~ Mexican gunbcat, which actually
took part In that action firing on the
marines from the bay, was merely
warned with some hrnness to cease
/ firing, and was allowed to go on her
way. although she was under the guns
OF the whole United States fleet In
those waters
The Mexican transport gunboat Yuc-
atan appeared with n Mexican regi-
ment on board, coming to reinforce
General Mas. She was told that Cen
eral Maas was no longer there to be
reinforced, and was shooed on her way
without a hostile word. let alone a
hostile shot. The change from these
methods to the gunboat hunting. of
which wo got word to-day. Is vastly
significant.
The Louisiana, which now consti-
tutes tho convoy of the transports. Is
manoeuvres, probably intended moro
for drill than for immediate protection.
She took charge a little before noon.
Immediately the transports formed in
line, with the bnttleship In the centre
Probably Il quarter OF n mile separated
each ship. Then the big white trans
ports started march, reminding one
of Mr.. Iiegfelds best choruses. When
they got down to a definite position,
the four transports occupied the cor
ncrs of square. a mile each way.
with the big battleship In the exact
centre. We had hardly finished ad-
mirinG the five of diamonds arrange
ments when tho Louisiana dropped
back to the line of the Mead and the
Mcclellan. There she remained for
some hours. like a sheep herder with
a shepherd dog on either hand, driv-
ing the two sheep ahead.
Dispatches Sent Ashore.
Presently the Louisiana dropped still
further back. while the four trans
ports maintained the square. Shortly
after dark the Louisiana called TO the
dispatch boat. and stopped while we
ran up TO her. The sea was running
fairly high. but the battleship got a
boat away. and sent dispatches and
mall on board the Bailey. which we
land with this dispatch. We were for
a time In touch with the Esperanza.
with Am erican refugees on board
These fugitives seemed less delighted
with their rescue than Disguised Mt
the prospect OF six days in quarantine
which they learned awaits them at
Galveston.
With this message goes Roscoe
Mitchelfs account OF the battle OF
Vera Cruz-the first uncensored reporr
OF operations there that has como out.
1T gives some new and startling FEN
lures of one of tho most picturesque
engagements in which American forces
ever figured. and which. because or til.
strlctness or the censorship. have not
been published.