South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-16
j. 8. NAVAL MEN
IN CLASH WITH
THE MEXICANS
Armed Guard of u. S. Steam
ship Monterey Battle in
TampiCo Streets With
Customs Guards.
BULLETIN.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 16.-The
clash between the armed guard Of
the Ward liner Monterey and Next
can soldiers at Tampico has been left
TO diplomatic settlement and is now
the subject OF negotiations between
the American and Mexican govern
ments. This announcement was
made today by the state department.
NEW YORK. Dec 16.-In a clash
on Nov. 30 between the armed navy
guard OF the American steamship
Monterey and Iexican customs
guards at Tampico. one Mexican is
said 10 have been killed. a Mexican
soldier mortallv wounded. and a
chief gunner's mate. named Berry,
in charge Of the American guard.
was seriously hurt This was learned
today with the steamers arrival
mere from Havana and Nassau.
where she touched after leaving
Tampico.
Members of the armed guard and
officers Of the ship refused 10 dis
cuss the incident, but details were
learned from passengers on board
at the time. According to them, the
fight occurred shortly after ) a. m,
after members of the navy guard
went 70 the rescue Of Berry. who
had been attacked. Tho Americans
at first responded 10 the call with
out arms. but upon the Mexicans
opening fire. they secured their
weapons and responded in kind. The
fight. passengers said, was brief, the
MeXicans running away as soon as
the Americans opened fire. leaving
their dead and wounded Later Of
ficials Of the port took the matter
into hand, the passengers asserted.
and a demand was made upon the
captain of the Monterey that the
armed guard be delivered TO them
pending an investigation.
This the captain declined TO do.
/ his action being supported, it was
said. by officers of two American
eunboats i'm the harbor Later the
matter was disposed of by a deci-
sion TO leave the entire subject TO
/ diplomatic settlement.
1t was said that the gunners
mate had gone ashore on an errand
just before the Monterrey sailed
Several blocks from where the ship
was tied up was a saloon, and as
Berry was returning TO his ship
/ passing in front of the saloon. he
was called upon to treat" When
ne refused 10 do so. several Mexi-
cans started after him As the
American approached his ship a
shot was hred and q Mexican guard
there. seeing him coming, placed
him under detention. IL was also
asserted that others started to beat
him with the butts of their rifles
The sailor fought back the best he
could, and as he drew near the shiT
he called 10 his men for assistance
Comrades Responded.
They needed no second invitation
one of the passengers said, and al
who were in sight or hearing joined
in the fray. Seeing reinforcements
coming, some of the Mexicans
opened fire. No one was hit on the
ship.
The naval guard then secured
tt Ills anu as the llIlIlE continue
they returned The shots, with the re
suit that two Mexicans fell With
the show OF arms the Mexicans fled
leaving the gUnner's mate free t
return TO his ship with his men.
Sound OF the firing attracted e
considerable crowd, but no further
demonstration was made Threat.
were heard. however. and durins
the "a hours that the Monterrey
was detained pending the investiga
Ition of the incident, every precau
tion was taken to guard against
surprise attack.
The two gUnboats were sufficient
|ly close so that they could hay,
rendered assistance TO the Monte
Irey had it been required. In add
Ition TO hand arms, the Montere.
Icarries a gun mounted on her decl,
placed there during the war as
protection against submarines.
on arrival Of the Monterey her
to-day the gunner's mate and hi
men went 20 the navy yard TO ma k,
IAN official report of the matter. OF
lfcers OF the ship were also ques
toned by naval authorities