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"Yesterday, September 16, 1935, a date which will never be forgotten, the forces of Mexico launched two cowardly and dastardly attacks on America. I m sad to report to the American public that our Embassy in Mexico City was attacked without provocation by the Mexican Army. I am sadden to report that no one appears to have survived the assault and reports from the city indicate that the Mexicans are without honor as they executed at least one American Marine who had been captured. That deed alone would compel me to ask this Congress to declare war!"



"But the attack on our embassy was not the only dastardly deed yesterday. Shortly after the attack on the Embassy began, Mexican naval units launched a surprise attack on the American Cruiser USS Austin while she was moored in the harbor of Vera Cruz. We know that the ship has been sunk and the loss of life heavy. We are at this time asking the International Red Cross to contact the Mexican authorities for the names and status of the survivors."



"Therefore, I am here today to ask this august body to declare that a State of War now exists between Mexico and the United States of America! Our quarrel is not with the Mexican people but with their government. With the help of the American people, trust in our Armed Forces and with help from Almighty God, we will prevail!"









At the urging of President Roosevelt, Congress declared war against Mexico. The only vote against the declaration of war was by Montana Representative Jean Rankin. With the declaration of war, the Roosevelt Administration has begun implementing plans for a National Draft. However, a draft may not be necessary. Reports from all over the country have shown that American's men are not waiting and are lining up at Army Enlistment Stations all over the nation. Thousands of young men in Austin have signed up vowing to avenge the loss of the Austin.



Immediately after the declaration of war, the German Ambassador to the US paid a visit to the Secretary of State and informed him of Germany's neutrality. He reported that the Mexican-German Defense Treaty stated that each nation would go to the defense of the other if they were attacked without provocation; this is not the case here. The German Government has ordered all German citizens to leave Mexico.



Within minutes of the Declaration of War, US Army Air Corps B-10 bombers took off from their bases and hit their targets, which included Durango and Guadalajara. All of our bombers made back to their bases safely. Mexican and American fighters duked it out with American fighters shooting down scores of Mexicans with no losses.







In 1935 Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Ridgeway had graduated from the Command and General Staff School and was assigned as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 94th US Infantry Division. He had been in command for six weeks before the war and had settled in comfortably.



2nd INFANTRY BATTALION, 11th INFANTRY REGIMENT

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 11th Infantry

"E" Rifle Company

"F" Rifle Company

"G" Rifle Company

"H" Heavy Weapons Company



September 2, 1935



According to Division, the first major objective was the city of Hermosillo. The city was a major rail hub, the capital of the state of Sonora and the HQ of the Mexican Army's Northern Military District. With tensions rising, I expected war to break out any minute and we were going to kick butt. I am having the men train as hard as they can. We don't think the Mexicans have any tanks, but we can't be sure. I'm told our M2 Brownings should be able to take out any Mexican tanks we encounter. I hope so. The Sergeant Major, the scrounger that he is, has found us a dozen "surplus" BARs. I don't know where he found them, not sure that I want to know the answer.



September 17, 1935



We listened to the President's speech and Congress's vote for war. Well this is it. We are waiting for the word from Division as to when to attack. The rumor mill is working in over time. We are moving out today, tomorrow, next week. We will move out before the Corps/Army/Army Group is up to full strength.



September 21, 1935



We received word this morning that the Mexicans used Mustard Gas last night against some units from 22nd Cavalry. Word is that they lost 10 dead, 55 wounded. We had artillery and bombers pound the areas where the Mexicans launched that attack. Guess we are going to have to fight wearing our chemical warfare gear. Not going to be comfortable in this heat.



Received word from Brigadier General R.W. Eckfeld, Division CG, that we move out tomorrow at 5am against the Mexicans. We are facing, according to Army Intelligence, the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Mexican Infantry Division. According to reports from the half dozen Indian Scouts Division assigned to us, they are fair soldiers but lazy while on sentry duty.. As proof they offered the 4 scalps they took, as well as the rifles these men had which are Gewehr 98 rifles. All 4 are in good condition.



September 22, 1935



Our artillery opened fire at 3am; it was quite a sight to see. I actually felt sorry for the enemy that is until he started firing back. It was nothing like what we were firing at them, but even still it did wound some of my men, but I didn't lose anyone thank God. We moved out against sporadic opposition and we advanced 6 miles before running into their main line of resistance. Two platoons from F Company were leading the advance and they ran into a minefield covered by machine guns. They took some losses before they were able to pull back. We brought mortars against their position and pounded on them until Regiment could bring some heavy artillery down on them The Mexicans put up a good fight before falling back a few miles.







The Black Cats of C Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 22nd US Armored Cavalry Brigade left their encampments outside of Chichuahua yesterday morning. They were not riding horses into battle, they were riding armored cars and the Mexicans couldn't stop them.



By noon yesterday, the Black Cats had reached the outskirts of Satevo where a battalion of the Mexican 5th Infantry Division choose to stand a fight. The American commander, Major Charles Winchester of Boston, demanded that the Mexicans surrender this small town of 4,000 souls. The Mexicans of course refused to surrender. The squadron commander informed this reporter that at least a quarter of the defending battalion had been killed, wounded, or deserted during their retreat from the border.



The American artillery opened up just before dawn this morning. For an hour the American artillery pounded Satevo with high explosives. There was little Mexican artillery fire, indicating that they did not have any or were waiting for the Americans to move into the town before returning fire.



Around mid morning, the Black Cats had advanced half way through the town. This reporter is not sure how many Mexican troops and civilians died. The Americans tried not to kill civilians, but that is not always possible in battle. I can report that one third of C Squadron's armored cars were damaged or destroyed when the Mexican commander surrendered.



The cost has been high on both sides. Sadly, Satevo's historic cathedral was destroyed in the fighting, as have many of the town's municipal buildings and private homes. The Mexican battalion was less then half strength when it surrendered. According to the commander, more then half of his men deserted when the battle started. C Squadron learned a valuable lesson as well. Sending in armored cars without infantry support is costly.





0630 September 25, 1935. Lieutenant James Thatch led his flight of 4Grumman FF-1 fighters off the deck of the USS United States 25 miles off the coast of Vera Cruz. They were going hunting this morning. The last known Mexican fighter had been shot down yesterday. Today they were going after the ships in the harbor. An hour before, a Kingfisher launched from the Texas had over flown the harbor. There were merchant ships, a few small gunboats and the Mexico City. Naval Intelligence had stated that she had led the attack on the Austin. They also said that there were no fighters or anti-aircraft in the area. A piece of cake.



0715 As usual Naval Intelligence was wrong. As Thatch's flight flew over the harbor, 4 Mexican fighters came flying out of the sun. Red-3's plane went down fast, the pilot didn't bail out. Thatch signaled his 2 remaining fighters to line up on him. They had to take out any opposition before the bombers came in.



His flight dropped their 100lb bombs and started climbing to gain some altitude, that's of course when the Mexican anti-aircraft that the Mexicans didn't have, opened up on the Americans. Thatch spotted a Mexican fighter below at on his right heading towards a flight of Great Lakes BG dive bombers coming out of their dives on the Mexico City, which by the way had taken some hits and was capsizing.



Signaling the other 2 fighters, Thatch dove on the fighter, both machine guns blazing. The Mexican dove hoping to lose the American, but Thatch stuck to him. He was rewarded when he saw smoke pouring from the Mexican's engine and soon enough the pilot was jumping out of his plane. There was some satisfaction when the Mexican fighter hit the ground wiping out an anti-aircraft position.



Gathering up his other two fighters, they strafed the airport before heading back to the carrier. As they were on final approach they received word to abort their landings. Turns out that the destroyer USS Manley had either hit a mine or was torpedoed and the carrier was moving out of the area. Thatch's flight was ordered to fly CAP until the carrier was ready to recover aircraft again.



Thirty minutes later, they were back on the carrier being debriefed by the intelligence officer. Thatch had plenty to tell the diminutive lieutenant - imaginary fighters and anti-aircraft fire being on the top of his list.



An hour later, after hitting the head and inspecting the plane, they were preparing to launch again….







Commander William Callaghan, USN, presented the briefing.





Commander William Callaghan: Good morning Mr. President. I am here to brief you on events in the Mexican Theatre of Operations.



Yesterday at dusk, the Mexican commander of their 3rd Division surrendered his command. As of an hour ago, the commanding general of the XI Corps reported that his units would be in total control of the Baja Peninsula by dusk. We can expect some minor resistance from minor Mexican Army elements, but they cannot prevent the fall of the peninsula.



The 94th Division has encircled Hermosilo and has demanded the surrender of the city.



III Corps is reporting that its divisions are closing in on Durango. Mr. President, last night the Mexicans used mustard gas against the 9th Division. Our troops lost 12 men. The War Department would like to begin shipping Hydrogen Sulfide Shells to the MTO. Use of this weapon will be considered a breach of the Geneva Gas Protocols of the 3rd Geneva Convention. We would need your permission to use the gas, but our lawyers feel that we can cite self-defense for using the weapons.





XIX Corps is reporting that they will be in Vera Cruz within the next two days.



President Roosevelt: What are our losses?



Callaghan :Thus far we have had 987 Army deaths, 32 naval deaths; 3298 Army and 78 Naval wounded. We have 87 missing army personnel; we believe they are Prisoners of War.



Mexican losses are believed to be around 5,000 dead with wounded numbering over 9,500. We have captured 18,907 Mexicans.



On the naval side Mr. President, we have some interesting developments.



A Mexican transport was stopped on the high seas and boarded by a boarding party from the Arkansas. She was carrying 15 German Panzer Mark 1 tanks, ammunition, and spare parts for the tanks. We would like the State Department to make inquires to the Germans to see how they came into the possession of the Mexicans.



The 1st Marine Division has begun boarding their transports. They will be landing at Cancun in a week. The 11th Division has been moving to Norfolk to embark on their transports. The Marines are planning on using their Marine Parachute Company in the assault.



The Air Corps is reporting that they have air supremacy over the battlefield. Once we have Vera Cruz, Air Corps bombers will begin bombing Mexico City.



Something you should be aware of Mr. President. We have lost track of the Mexican 1st Marine Battalion. They were last reported at Vera Cruz, but they have not been seen since the 19th, but not to worry sir, we will find them.



I believe Mr. Andrews of the State Department has something he wishes to add.



Mr. Joseph Andrews, Under Secretary of State for Central American Affairs:Good morning Mr. President.



I regret to report that we have heard from the British. Their Ambassador in Mexico City reports that Ms. St. John was executed 2 days ago.



We have received a report from our London Embassy; they are reporting that that Governor Almada of the Mexican state of Oaxaca has put out peace feelers. His brother is the Mexican Ambassador to the Court of Saint James. He has stated that his brother can deliver southern Mexico. In exchange he wants to be President.



Roosevelt: He thinks there is going to be an independent Mexico? He's been drinking too much Tequila! String him along, he may prove useful.



Callaghan: Finally Mr. President, Captain Puleston of the Office of Naval Intelligence, would like to speak to you.



Captain Edward Puleston: We have received intelligence of two Mexican operations against the US. We have credible reports of a Mexican sabotage mission against the Wilmington Oil Fields outside of Los Angeles. We have also received intelligence that the Mexicans will try to blow up the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.



Roosevelt: And just how credible are these threats?



Puleston: Against the oil fields? Highly credible, we have increased security there. We don't think they have the capability to pull any attack on the Canal off sir. We don't think it is credible at all.



Roosevelt: How do they plan on destroying the locks?



Puleston: By blowing up a merchant ship in the locks. Personally sir, this is so unlikely to happen. The Mexicans just don't have the capability to do this sir. The majority opinion over at ONI is that the Wilmington Oil Fields threat is much more credible.



Roosevelt I want security in the Panama Canal Zone tightened even more than it is right now. Captain, I want this threat taken seriously. Is it possible that the missing Marines are involved with this?



Puleston: No sir, not at all. I will stake my reputation on this sir.



Roosevelt: Thank you gentlemen for this briefing.