United+States+Navy+at+Veracruz

=The Occupation of Veracruz=

**The Tampico Incident**
The United States cruiser [|USS Dolphin], based in Tampico Harbor to protect and evacuate American Civilians from the besieged city, began to run low on fuel. On April 9, 1914, the commander of the USS Dolphin arranged for a shipment of fuel oil to be picked up by whaleboat at a warehouse near Iturbide Bridge. The whaleboat set off along the canal flying the U.S. flag, carrying 9 sailors. When they reached the warehouse, 7 of the sailors began loading cans of fuel onto the boat, while two more stayed on board. Mexican Federal soldiers were alerted and approached the sailors. Neither side spoke a common language, and the sailors were unable to comply with the soldiers demands. All 9 sailors were escorted under armed guard to the nearby Mexican regimental headquarters. [|Admiral Henry T. Mayo], commander of the U.S. Atlantic fleet, demanded a formal apology. The Mexican commander in the Tampico area sent a written apology but failed to raise the U.S. flag on Mexican soil to a 21-gun salute. As a result, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for permission to invade Mexico. The discovery that the German cargo ship, //Ypiranga,// bound for Veracruz, Mexico was carrying arms provided a suitable pretext for invasion.

====**The Landing**====

On April 21, 1914, warships of the U.S. Atlantic fleet, under the command of [|Admiral Frank F. Fletcher], began preparations for landing operations. The first wave of 787 armed sailors and marines landed in whaleboats that afternoon. The custom's house, the waterfront, and most of the town by April 22. Over the next several days, over 6,000 marines and sailors were landed. Most of the Federal troops fled the city, leaving behind only the naval cadets at the Veracruz Naval Academy to defend the town. The citizens of Veracruz also chose to resist, leading to untold numbers of Mexican casualties when US naval gunfire was used to silence resistence. Nineteen American servicemen were killed and 47 wounded.[1] The city was secured under U.S. control by April 30, and General Frederick Funston lead the Army's 5th Infantry Brigade ashore to set up a military government. The U.S. run military government would rule in Veracruz for the next seven months.[2]

The Aftermath After the invasion at Veracruz, the U.S. military occupation proceeded without a problem. The U.S. used its base at Veracruz to support its favored contender in the Mexican Revolution, Carranza. When he was forced to retreat, the U.S. allowed his forces to take shelter in the city, and provided weapons and supplies for him to rearm. The U.S. support for Caranzza allowed him to win the Presidency after Huerta's defeat. At the end of the U.S. occupation, the U.S. left hundreds of tons of military supplies, weapons, and other useful supplies for Carranza's forces. The U.S. invasion is remembered to this day. The Naval Academy cadets are celebrated throughout Mexico.

[1] "U.S. Military Involvement in the Mexican Revolution." __Answers.com__. 2008. Answers.com. 14 Sept. 2008 . [2] Schoenherr, Steven. "Veracruz Intervention." __History Department of the University of San Diego__. 4 Feb. 2006. University of San Diego. 14 Sept. 2008 . [3] An interesting part of this immense fleet is that it is almost entirely obsolete. The introduction of the HMS Dreadnought brought a new era of naval warfare. With the exception of the USS Florida and USS Utah, and a few smaller craft, the fleet was outdated.