The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-20
MEXICANS FIRE ON
U. S. @BLUEJACKETS
Two Officers Made Prisoners
at Mazatlan--Thcir Re-
lease Reported.
% WARSHIPS FOR MEXICO

wAsHiNoroN, June to.-Coincident
with the report that a party of Aner'-
can blueJackets from the United states
gunboat Annapolis had exchanged shots
with Carranzistas az Mazatlan II be-
came known that no fewer than twenty
four American warships are en- route
to or actually In Mexican waters. The
ella sh at Mazatlan was reported to the
Navy Department to-day by Rear Ad-
miral winslow.
According to this report, which came
from Commander Arthur q. Kavanagh
Of the Annapolis, the trouble resulted
from an attempt to send a launch
ashore to parley with the Mexican Of
ficials. The bluejackets were not per-
mitted to land and w American officers
who did lane were made prisoners by
the Mazatlan authorities. They are En-
sign q. .. Kessing of Indiana and As
sistant Paymaster Andrew Mowatt Of
Newport, r. ].
What transpired directly subsequent
to this Is not made clear In the des-
patches. but Commander kavanagh re-
ported that the launch WAS nred on by
The MeAicans and the crew returned the
fire. The Mexicans gravely wounded
Boatswain's Mate 7. NJ. Laughter OF
" NVuilNS leNdS. Inc return
fire of the crew killed or wounded abou.
six Mexicans. secretary Daniels has
telegraphed Admiral W'nslow to rush all
further particulars.
blame n Japanese.
The version OF the affair which the
Mexican Embassy gives out here Is dis
tnctly different. The embassy's account
Is that the American bluejackets at
tempted to land and were advised that
the authorities would not permit them
to come ashore. While the discussion
was going on an Intoxicated Japanese
who Mas with the Csrranzlstas fired at
the launch. This precipitated the return
hre. but no mention is made NJ the cas-
ualties OH either side. II Is added that
the two American naval officers were re-
leased and permitted to return to their
ship after explanations.
Pending further Information from
Rear Admiral W!nslow Secretary Dan
iels is s~uspending judgment a. 10 which
version to credit. The i%nsinuatIor In
the Mexican version n Vat the .Nmcr,-
can bluejackets attempted 70 go ashore
armed, which H. adr-tted IT, ne con.
trary To the accepted custom IN land.
ing on foreign soil from %shipboard.
The Navy Department made public to-
day the list ~ wdrships selected for
duty In Mexican waters In addition a.
those already there.
The battleship Nebraska, now at Vera
cruz, IL the most powerful vessel as
signed for Mexican patrol duty. She Is
"A battleship Of 1900 tons and carries
four /. inch, eight 5 inch. twelve : inch,
twenty 3 inch guns and twenty-eiyh
smaller rifles. capt. Guy n. Burrage
Is in command.
supporting the Nebraska on the cas-,
coast are the %gunboats Wheeling
Machias Marietta. These are i.oOS
tor boats capable ~ making thirteen
Knots and are armed with six , ,r.eh
ana nine smaller guns each. The Wheel
ing rs Al Puerto Mexico. and the
alachias and Marietta are At Tampico.
ON the west coast the Annapolis is al
Mazatlan, the Yorktown and the supply
snip Glacier are Al Topolobampo. the
Cleveland Is at M~anzauillp and tn.
Albany Is cruising In the vicinity.
The Annapolis and Yorktown are
SerVlceahl" gunboa's OF 1000 tons dis.
placement and armed With SIN I inch
guns The Cleveland and >lhary ar.
TAR more powerful ships. Trey are pro.
tected cruisers, each depending on To-,
. men rifles for their main mann
The Cleveland, IN addition carries nftecu
smaller guns and the Albany eight.