The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-23
FIRED ON AMERICANS WITHOUT ANY CAUSE Kavanagh's VerisOn of the MaZatlan Affair Received EXCITEMENT INTENSE Mexicans Charge Americans Landed in Face of Warnings, But the
 Officer Declares Permission
 Was Given

Washington, June 22.-Commander in a report reaching the navy department today on the incident at Mazatlan Sun day, when a boat from the Annapolis was fired on and two American officers seized, said his men were attacked with out proyocation by Mexican customs of ficers and soldiers.
 A version of the affair brought to the attention of the state department Mon day with a request that men from Amer ican warships attempt no further land- ings at Mexican ports for the present, saio the boat crew tried to land without permission and that a shot fired by a drunken Japanese precipitated t"ouhle.
 Commander Kavanagh's report trans nitted by Admiral winslow flom San Diego, told a very different story and concluded with the statement that Ma zatlan was reported wild with excite ment and practically every Mexican armed.
 The report follows:
 Governor issued manifesto that off cers were not to land and guard was placed on dock. l sent ashore Ensign Kesslng to barley with the Mexicans and to ask them to send for the acting Amer icau consul or for one of the Mexican officials so as to arrange for American citizens coming off to the ship. I sent Paymaster Mowat with the party as in- torpreter, no trouble being anticipated. as Mexicans have not molested earlier boats.
 ORDERS TO OFFICERS
 T ordered boat officer to keep clear of landing so that his boat could not be rushed and I forbade him entering the town, the plan being that the boat was to lie well clear of the dock and the of ficers therein to confer with party on shore. By my order, arms were car ried concealed in the boat and boat of ficers had positive orders to keep them hidden and not to use them unless fired upon, in which case he was to return the. fire. The boat was a motor sailing launch with crew of three men.
 ''Coxswain of boat reports that after brief barley Mowat, interpreter, in formed Messing that Mexican said it would be all right for them to land They did so and were immediately seized Kessing ordered boat to return to ship and report what had happened. When Mexicans saw boat start off they mo- toned it to return. Coxswain told them to wait minute and kept heading for the ship.
 When boat was about 100 feet clear from dock, Mexican custom official in uniform fired his revolver at the boat bullet striking near it. Five or six shots were immediately fired at the boat by Mexican soldiers. Boatswain's Mate Laughter, who was senior in .he boat then ordered the fire to be returned and this was done.
 "Mexicans fled from the dock, and taking cover behind wall and in dock warehouse. opened lively fire on boat Mexicans firing in all about 15O shots Laughter was hit twice, once in the arm and once through bowels. Coxswain Sheets had skin parked from his fin gers and boat was struck many times In my opinion boats crew acted properly in returning fire, as otherwise they probably all would have been killed
 When crew began to fire the Mex jeans fled from the dock in a panic and this gave the boat a chance to get away American Consul came off to the ship and reported that General Metza claimed our people began the fight, and that one man had been killed and two or three wounded. I gave him our version of the affair and assured the general that full satisfaction would be given if the blame was ours, and also in that case would express regret over the affair. I re- ouested also that he release the two of ficers and send them and any American citizens who wished to come to the An napolis. The general allowed Messing and Mowat to return on board at p. m. Sunday they having suffered no harm beyond threats and abuse from populace and soldiers They were well treated by military officials. General Mezta sent polite reply to my letter saying that he released officers at my request. and also that the men who fired on the boat were Japanese now in the hospital wounded.
 "Mowat and Messing confirmed Cox swain's report except that they did not know how the firing started. Laughter rallied and made statement saving that