Mexico in peace and war; a narrative of Mexican history and conditions from the earliest times to the present hour, including an account of the military operations by the United States at Vera Cruz in 1914 and the causes that led thereto

Front matter

MEXI

In Peace and War

MEXICO

Preface

It was never intended that " Mexico in Peace and War ' ' should be limited in scope to a mere ' ' war book, ' ' although many months ago it was thought that war was imminent, and quite probable, before a solution of existing difficulties could be brought about, or before this volume could go to press.

For several years the eyes of the civilized world have been directed toward Mexico because of the revolution of the masses against certain classes which had been fiercely waged. The American public seemed eager for details of this civil war, and such details were furnished by the daily press. Then came a demand for all kinds of information about Mexico.

What seemed necessary to the situation was a popular, readable book that would embrace all the facts concerning this land of conquest, revolution and treasure. Such a history must necessarily be authentic and comprehensive.

It was part of the plan that should war actually take place between the United States and Mexico ere its publication, allowance would be made in this history for the incidents and causes leading up to and into the beginning of such a war. In the event of conflict it would be only reasonable to expect that whether or not the opposing forces should be in actual conflict, or in a position of armed belligerency pending peaceful settlement, the ultimate solution would be long drawn out ; and to postpone the volume for a " last word " of war developments would be to deprive the public of an immense fund of information never before issued in popular form. Therefore, in the make-up of this history the first four chapters

6 PREFACE

wore reserved for eventualities, and thus the actual facts concerning the present situation in Mexico are to be found in most interesting sequence in the front of the book, fully illustrated with the very latest pictures to be had from the seat of trouble.

This volume has been in preparation for many months. All facts and figures concerning Mexico have been secured from most reliable sources and may be depended upon. The chapters concerning social and economic conditions refer mainly to those which prevailed throughout the land just prior to the outbreak of the revolution which followed the last election of President Diaz. His regime was the golden age of Mexican peace and prosperity and it is therefore only logical to believe that, with the re-establishment of constitutional government, a new era of progress and development will dawn for our southern neighbor.

Acknowledgment is freely made of assistance rendered during the preparation of the work by Mrs. Reau Campbell and Mr. Franc Campbell, manager of the Reau Campbell Tours and son of the noted traveler and authority on Mexico, the late Mr. Reau Campbell, whose comprehensive " guide " is by the far the best work of its kind extant. Many of the illustrations of Mexican life and scenery are from the collection of Mr. Campbell and the great majority are printed for the first time in these pages. The editor is also indebted to the Bureau of American Republics and to the works on Mexico of Alfred R. Conkling, LL.B., Ph.B., former United States Geologist; Arthur Edward Noll, author of " From Empire to Republic," and Francis Aug-ustus MacNutt, translator and editor of " The Letters of Cortez " and author of '' Fernando Cortez and the Conquest of Mexico," etc.; also to Mr. Hugh Miller and Mr. Keith Jones for timely contributions of available copy.

T. H. R.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

Peeface 5

Intkoductoey 11

Chapter I Occupation Of Vera Cruz

For the second time in history the Mexican port of Vera Cruz was occupied by the United States on the morning of Tuesday, April 21, 1914, when a force of marines and bluejackets from the warships Utah, Florida and Prairie landed at 11:10 o'clock and seized the Custom-house without opposition. The marines were under the command of Major Smedley Darlington Butler, son of Representative Thomas S. Butler of Pennsylvania, senior Republican member of the United States House of Representatives.

Leaving a guard at the entrances to the Custom-house, the American forces took up positions commanding the streets leading toward the central square of the town, the Plaza de la Constitucion. Machine guns and field guns were placed in position to cover all the streets converging on the square.

The commanding officer of the American fleet was Rear Admiral Fletcher, and his orders were that the landing forces should occupy these positions and make no attack on the Mexican troops unless they were attacked themselves.

[N. B. — ^The United States having been on the verge of war with Mexico, although the South American Republics had inaugurated their efforts at mediation and an armistice prevailed at the time this edition of "Mexico in Peace and War" went to press, the most recent incidents of the difficulty with Gen. Huerta and his government have been treated thus prominently, out of their chronological order, on account of the widespread interest in the present situation and the demand for a permanent record of recent events.]

The scene in the harbor of Vera Cruz as the men of the iiavj proceeded amid cheers to the landing at the customliouse wharf was an unparalleled and inspiriting one. Nearest the shore of all the warships lay the transport Prairie, from which came the majority of the landing force. Farther out lay the great gray masses of the battleships Florida and Utah, their crews crowding to their sides watching developments and envying their comrades ordered to duty ashore. In the outer harbor, too, were the British cruiser Essex, the French cruiser Conde — named after the historic admiral of France, and the Spanish gunboat Carlos V., all intensely interested and sjrmpathetic witnesses of the American operations.

Before twenty hours had elapsed the scene before the ancient city was destined to become even more interesting from both the naval and the international standpoint. Rear Admiral Badger, commanding the North Atlantic fleet of the United States navy, was rapidly approaching Vera Cruz, leading a fleet composed of the first-class battleships Arkansas, flagship, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Vermont, New Jersey and North Dakota ; also the South Carolina, Michigan, Tacoma and Nashville, with a total force of 7,700 sailors and 500 marines. On the arrival of these war vessels, with their accompanying supply ships, there were in all twenty-one ships of the United States navy lying in their gray war paint in and outside the port to insure the capture and safekeeping of the city.

The actual landing of the naval force ordered ashore by Admiral Fletcher in pursuance of his orders was unopposed. Sweeping in to the wharf under the guns of the Prairie, the ships' boats and power launches, crowded to the gunwales with sailors and marines, made fast and debarked their loads of fighting men without the firing of a hostile shot. But the white-clad Americans had no sooner gained the center of the city and secured the approaches to the Plaza, than opposition developed and active hostilities began.

Scarcely had the troops placed the guns in position when Mexican soldiers appeared on the housetops overlooking the square. Two shots rang out and within a few minutes three volleys came from a Mexican force several hundred yards from the positions occupied by the Americans. These volleys were returned immediately by the sailors and marines and soon the firing became general.

GUNS OF THE PEAIEIB OPEN FIKE

When Rear-Admiral Fletcher was informed of the attack on his men by the Mexicans he ordered the guns of the armed transport Prairie to open fire on the positions occupied by the enemy.

Captain William R. Rush of the battleship Florida was in general command of the landing force soon located a large force of Mexicans firing on the United States troops from the tower of the Benito Juarez lighthouse and ordered his men to open fire on this point. Several three-inch guns were trained on the lighthouse and the tower was struck three times, silencing the enemy's fire.

Captain Rush signaled to the transport Prairie, on board of which was Admiral Fletcher, as follows : " Am being attacked from the right and rear north of the roundhouse; shell that district."

At the same time it was noticed that sharpshooters lined the roof of the Mexican Naval Academy and were *' sniping " the bluejackets. A three-inch gun of the Prairie was trained on the academy and the Mexicans were forced to abandon their position.

The shooting by this time had become general all over the city. At 3 o'clock the United States Consulate had been struck by several bullets.

TWO MAEINES AND TWO SAILOES KILLED

Two sailors of the Florida and two marines were killed and nearly a score wounded. Under the heavy fire from the warships the Mexicans were driven from the center of the city to the eastward, where they attempted to make a stand. The Prairie, which was lying in the harbor about a quarter of a mile from the harbor front, turned her guns to the point where the Mexicans were gathering and forced them to take refuge in the narrow streets thereabout.

UTAH SENDS MORE SAILORS ASHORE

At 2 *clock several boatloads of sailors from the battleship Utah were landed east of the Custom-house. As the boats drew near the wharf, several volleys were fired on them from large warehouses and box cars along the water front. These places were shelled by the guns of the Prairie and the sailors were able to land without losing a man.

Among the American wounded were two signalmen who were operating on the roof of the Terminal Hotel near the water front.

About 5 o'clock the resistance of the Mexicans began to dwindle appreciably. Firing from the towers and the housetops, from which the heaviest rain of bullets came at the beginning of the fighting, died away.

The marines and bluejackets made no attempt to pursue the flying Mexicans, firing only whenever one of the enemy showed himself in the streets.

FLETOHEB WAENS GARRISON COMMANDER

Captain H. McLaren P. Huse, Rear-Admiral Fletcher's chief of staff, went ashore in the midst of the fighting to try to get into communication with General Gustavo Maas, commander-in-chief of the Mexican garrison. He carried a warning from the American commander to the effect that his patience was exhausted and that if the Mexicans continued to resist, the fleet would shell the city.

When William W. Canada, the American consul, notified General Maas on Tuesday morning that marines were about to be landed and requested him to cooperate with the American forces to maintain order in the city, the Mexican commander replied that this was impossible.

Mexican resistance in the presence of such an overwhelming force, said an observer, can be explained only on the ground that they desired to save their faces by making a show of fight, however futile.

A cargo of war munitions for the Federal government aboard the German steamer Ypiringa, which had arrived in the morning, was captured by the United States landing force. It consisted of 250 machine guns, 20,000 rifles and 15,000,000 rounds of ammunition.

Captain Huse tried to ascertain the whereabouts of General Maas, so that he could send a flag of truce to propose an armistice and inform the Mexican commander that the purpose of the landing of United States troops had been accomplished by the capture of the Ypiringa *s cargo.

A New York newspaper man volunteered to take a flag of truce to General Maas, but Captain Huse declined the offer, saying that the mission was too dangerous.

ADMIRAL FLETCHEE's REPOET

The following despatch was sent by wireless to the Navy Department by Admiral Fletcher:

** Tuesday — In the face of an approaching norther I landed marines and sailors from the battleships Utah and Florida and the transport Prairie and seized the Custom-house. The Mexican forces did not oppose our landing, but opened fire with rifle and artillery after our seizure of the Custom-house. The Prairie is shelling the Mexicans out of their positions. Desultory firing from housetops and in the streets continues. I hold the Custom-house and that section of the city in the vicinity of the wharves and the American Consulate. Casualties, four dead and twenty wounded."

The Americans killed in the first day 's fighting at Vera Cruz were as follows :

Haggerty, Daniel Aloysius, private, Eighth Company, Second Advance Base Regiment, United States Marines.

Marten, Samuel, private. Sixteenth Company, Second Advance Base Regiment.

Poinsett, George, seaman, United States ship Florida.

Schumacher, John F., coxswain. United States ship Florida.

HOW THE FIRST MAN DIED

According to eyewitnesses, Seaman George Poinsett was shot by a Mexican sharpshooter while raising the flag on the Plaza following the first landing of marines. No other shots had been fired. As Poinsett tied the flag to the halyards and raised it, there was a puff of smoke from the tower of a church nearby and he fell with a bullet through his heart.

Immediately after his fall came the first resistance by the Mexicans to the invasion of United States troops.

Thomas G. Parris, formerly principal of the Pastorius public school, of Philadelphia, which Poinsett attended, spoke highly of him as he had known him.

*' George died as he would have chosen. He always wanted to join the navy. His grandfathers were both naval officers in the Civil War."

EULOGIZED IN CONGRESS

Poinsett was eulogized in the House of Representatives at Washington April 22 as '^ the Worth Bagley of the Mexican trouble."

Representative Moore, of Pennsylvania, in calling attention to the fact that Poinsett was the first man killed in the intervention in Mexico, declared that ^' whether we have entered upon this war wisely or unwisely, we have at least demonstrated our wisdom as a nation in being prepared for war.

OCCUPATION OF VEEA CRUZ 23 a

A father who yielded to his boy's desire to serve his country has been bereft of a son, but the nation has added the name of that boy to its roll of heroes. ' '

PRESroENT WILSON 's REGRETS

Letters expressing the profound sorrow of President Wilson and Secretary of the Navy Daniels at the death of the four sailors and marines first killed at Vera Cruz were dispatched on April 22 by the Secretary of the Navy to the parents of the men.

The letters were addressed to William Poinsett, of Philadelphia, Pa. ; Mrs. Isabella McKinnon, of Brooklyn, N. Y., mother of Coxswain Schumacher; Mayer Marten, of Chicago, and Michael Haggerty, of Cambridge, Mass.

Mr. Daniels wrote to each as follows :

*' This morning's dispatches from Vera Cruz conveying the distressing news that your son was in the first line to give his life for his country saddens all America as the tragedy brings gloom into your home.

'' My feeling and the feeling of the president to you in this sad hour was expressed by President Lincoln, when, on November 21, 1864, he wrote to Mrs. Bixby, of Boston, whose five sons gave their lives fighting under the American flag :

" ' I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save, I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.' "

The navy department arranged to bring to the United States the bodies of the Vera Cruz victims, and either forward them to relatives or make final interment in a

24 OCCUPATION OF VERA CRUZ j

national cemetery. Their final disposition rested with the families.

GENERAL MAAS WITHDRAWS

Such was in brief the story of the memorable day on which the Stars and Stripes was once more planted on Mexican soil. The big guns of the service squadron were not used, and the Mexican defense of the city was desultory, General Maas, the Mexican commander in the city having withdrawn his main force, but remaining in the vicinity.

The following account of the operations was given by an eye witness :

Those watching from the ships observed through their glasses a large force of Mexicans moving over the hills in the western outskirts of the city, apparently with the intention of flanking a battalion of marines in the railway yards and along Montesinos street, which runs east and west not far from the American consulate.

Instantly the five-inch guns of the Prairie let go, breaking the Mexican formation and causing a hasty retreat. This ended the flanking movement.

Only a few minutes before the three-inch guns of the Prairie were used effectively near shore. A small detachment of Mexicans had gained positions near the custom house and their concealed marksmen were causing some trouble. A few shots from the Prairie's guns served to silence the position. From time to time the same guns played their shells along the line of the shore, keeping that territory comparatively free of sharpshooters.

ASKS MAAS TO SURRENDER

With all the eastern side of the city occupied and also the tracks of the railway as far west as the roundhouse near the western edge on the northern side and with the Mexicans unable to do more than keep up an annoying but ineffective fire from house tops, Capt. Rush at 4:20 o'clock sent under a flag of truce a messenger chosen from among the natives to Gen. Maas, or whoever happened to be in command, to ask if he was not ready to surrender.

Unless the Mexicans yielded Capt. Rush had his choice of continuing the fighting under the tactics he was using or of charging all positions or calling on the warships for a bombardment.

He was loath to resort to a bombardment and on the other hand did not desire to lose any more of his men by charges. He recognized that the tactics of the Mexicans might leave the housetop fighters in their position indefinitely and that it was not impossible that those who were ** sniping '* from the roofs might be reinforced by others of their kind during the night.

The messenger was told to remind Gen. Maas that while there were ashore at that time only a few more than one thousand men, there would be available for the American forces by morning some 10,000. It was left to Gen. Maas to draw his own inference from this message, but no attention was paid to it and the desultory firing continued until all the Mexican sharpshooters had been killed or dislodged.

A CONTEST OF EIFLES

There was no cannon firing from the Mexican side, and it is supposed their artillery pieces were taken from the city early in the day. With the exception of a few shots from the light field pieces of the bluejackets and a few from the Prairie, it was a contest of rifles.

Bravery was shown everywhere among the Americans. The youngsters wearing the bluejackets of their vessels behaved as well under fire as the marines, who along the line comported themselves like veterans. Some of the marines had seen service before in Central America and other places. In the earlier part of the engagement small detachments of the Americans who were guarding the

26 OCCUPATION OF VEKA CRUZ

approaches to the central part of the city stood without flinching while bullets from the rifles of the Mexicans sang about their ears.

The Mexican loss on April 21 was estimated at between 150 and 200 killed.

MAKEUP OP LANDING FORCE

Rear Admiral Fletcher limited his first landing party to 1,000 bluejackets and marines. Opposed to this force were 900 Mexicans under the command of Gen. Maas.

The following was the approximate strength of the naval forces available for shore duty :

From the battleships Florida, Utah, Connecticut, and Minnesota — 240 marines, 1,860 bluejackets.

From the cruisers San Francisco and Chester — 400 marines, 250 bluejackets.

From the transports Prairie and Hancock — 1,684 marines.

CONSUL Canada's eeport

U. S. Consul Canada's report of the day's operations was as follows: ''Marines and bluejackets landed at 11 :30 this morning, immediately taking possession of cable office, postoffice, telegraphic offices and custom house, also railroad terminals and yards with rolling stock. Notwithstanding firing from housetops we are masters of the situation so far without use of heavy guns.

" Our men are simply defending themselves. Some resistance from naval vessels soon silenced by guns on Prairie. At this time reported four of our men killed and twenty wounded. American newspaper men and several other Americans in consulate.

" Several Americans including some women who refused to go aboard refugee ship are now marooned in hotels within firing line. Trains from Mexico City did not arrive. "

OCCUPATION OF VEEA CRUZ 27

PEOCLAMATION TO PEOPLE OF VEEA CRUZ

On April 22, Admiral Fletcher issued a proclamation to the mayor, chief of police, and citizens of Vera Cruz, as follows:

" It has become necessary for the naval forces of the United States of America now at Vera Cruz to land and assume military control of the customs wharves of Vera Cruz. Your co-operation is requested to preserve order and preserve life.

''It is not the intention of the United States naval forces to interfere with the administration of the civil affairs of Vera Cruz, more than is necessary for the purpose of maintaining a condition of law and order and enforce such sanitary conditions as are needed to meet military requirements.

"■ It is desired that the civil officials of Vera Cruz shall continue in the peaceful pursuit of their occupations. Under these conditions full protection will be given to the city by the United States naval forces.

"It is enjoined upon all inhabitants and property owners to prevent firing by individuals from the shelter of their houses upon United States forces, or upon any one else. Such firing by irregulars not members of an organized military force is contrary to the laws of war; if persisted in it will call for severe measures.

'' F. F. Fletcher, Rear- Admiral, U. S. N. ** Commander Detached Squadron U. S. Atlantic Fleet."

PRESIDENT WILSON PHONED THE ORDER

The story of how President Wilson ordered the custom-house at Vera Cruz to be seized was revealed in Washington on April 22.

The president had gone to bed on Monday night while the senate was debating the joint resolution to approve of the use of the army and navy, and had determined to withhold action until the resolution passed, although feeling that in an emergency the executive had ample authority to act.

At 4 o'clock Tuesday morning Secretary Bryan received a cablegram from Consul Canada, telling of the approach of a German vessel with a tremendous cargo of ammunition for Huerta. Locomotives and cars were in readiness to rush the arms to Mexico City.

Mr. Bryan telephoned Secretary Tumulty, who decided to awaken the president. He telephoned the White House. The servants were timid, but Mr. Tumulty insisted.

Finally the president came to the telephone, and while Secretary Tumulty was explaining the situation Secretary Daniels called up and was put on the same line. He, too, had a dispatch about the ammunition. Rear Admiral Fletcher had sent a wireless that 15,000,000 rounds of ammunition and 250 machine gnins would be landed from the German vessel by noon that day.

The president listened in silence.

* * What shall we do I " asked Secretary Daniels.

* * Tell Fletcher to seize the custom house, ' ' replied the president, without hesitation.

* ' Good night, ' ' said the secretary. The telephone conference ended and in a few minutes wireless dispatches were on their way to Rear Admiral Fletcher. He received the message at 10 A. M., and an hour later American marines had landed and taken possession of the custom house. The ammunition went back to its shippers in Europe.

THE SECOND DAY's FIGHT

Fighting was renewed in the City of Vera Cruz on Wednesday, April 22, when soldiers, citizens and convicts released by the Huerta officials fired down from roofs and windows on the American forces. The small guns on the warships in the harbor battered down some of the buildings they occupied. The Mexican loss was heavy and before nightfall the United States landing force had obtained absolute control over the city and port. Two more Americans were killed and ten wonnded, bringing the total for the two days' fighting to six dead and thirty wonnded.

After the general advance began in the morning, Mexican snipers on the roofs put up a stubborn resistance. There was one brisk action, the guns of the Prairie and Chester assisting in silencing a heavy fire from the Naval College, shells from the Prairie finally shattering the walls.

The paymaster of the British cruiser Essex, Albert W. Kimber, was wounded on board his ship by a sniper ashore. British bluejackets crowded to the bows and vociferously cheered the American marines as they proceeded inshore for the landing. The flags on the Essex and Fort San Juan de Ulna were half-masted when the dead were carried to the boats.

Marines and bluejackets during the day occupied every important point in the city, including the Plaza de la Constitucion, where the Mexicans made their only real stand in the fighting the day before.

Marines searched all houses from which shots were fired in the morning, and all Mexicans with arms in their hands were made prisoners and sent to the United States mine ship San Francisco. Some of the Mexicans were thoroughly frightened, apparently expecting that the Americans would shoot their prisoners.

CITY THOKOUGHLY PATEOLLED

Admiral Fletcher took up his headquarters at the Terminal Hotel. The entire city was strongly patrolled, and quiet prevailed at night. Admiral Fletcher took command of the land operations, while Rear Admiral Badger, commander-in-chief of the Atlantic fleet, who had arrived with several battleships during the night, brought his flag into the harbor on the Minnesota.

Admiral Badger had not decided whether to proceed to

Tampico, and it was believed his departure would be delayed, pending further orders from Washington.

Detachments of men of the signal corps were posted on all the advantageous positions in the city to keep watch on the Mexican troops, and a reconnaissance was made by marines under Major Butler along the line of the railway to Mexico City.

A GENERAL ADVANCE

Rear Admiral Fletcher at 8 :30 o 'clock in the morning ordered a general movement for the occupation of all the town. A column of bluejackets advanced, and passed the uncompleted market place and Naval College.

When they had reached the walls of the college a terrific rifle fire was poured in all directions from the roof and windows. The bluejackets were helpless to return the fire against the stone walls, and scattered.

The Prairie, Chester and San Francisco then opened with their five and six-inch guns, and shattered the walls. The bluejackets re-formed and advanced against the fire, which had diminished greatly.

By 10 o 'clock there was only desultory firing from the inshore side of the tower. Battalions of bluejackets had made their way along the water front to the southern end of the town, and cleared several streets, but the sniping from houses continued at intervals.

The scout cruiser Chester pounded buildings on the outskirts with six-inch shells, firing over the heads of the men ashore and showing almost perfect marksmanship.

The general movement from all the positions taken on Tuesday began in the direction of the main plaza. The marines under Lieutenant-Colonel Wendell C. Neville moved to the southward along parallel streets toward the center, while those under Lieutenant Commander Buchanan, of the Florida, and Lieutenant Commander Arthur B. Keating, of the Arkansas, were ordered from their positions east of the center toward the plaza.

The two forces swung forward with a rush for three blocks. The machine gun and rifle fire was supplemented by shell fire from the smaller guns of the Prairie and Chester. The ships' guns supported the movement of clearing the roofs to the south and east, occasionally dropping a shell a few hundred yards in advance.

There was absolutely no organized resistance, but from the beginning of the advance a smart fire came from the defenders on the house tops, which invariably drew a merciless fire from the advancing parties.

The machine guns sounded their '" tap tap " in all quarters, and American sharpshooters, posted at street corners and other points of vantage, picked off any man who appeared to be acting suspiciously.

Reinforcements were landed under the protection of the guns of the warships, bringing the total force ashore up to 3,000.

MESSAGE TO THE MAYOR

Julio Franco, a Mexican chosen by American Consul Canada to be the bearer of the warning from Admiral Fletcher, was unable to communicate with any of the Federal officials and only the mayor, Robert Diaz, could be located.

When Franco tried to communicate with the mayor he was refused admission by Mexican guards stationed at the door. Franco then crawled over the roof of an adjoining building into the court of the Diaz residence, but did not succeed in seeing the mayor.

Senor Diaz refused to leave his bedroom, so the messenger shouted the contents of Admiral Fletcher's note to the mayor, and personally appealed to him to yield to save the city from bombardment, reminding him of the grave risk to the families of Mexicans and others in the city.

GEN. MAAS' DEPARTUEB

It was ascertained during the day that General Gustavo