At nine o'clock we shall lie to off the Alvarez mill, and three sixty-foot launches will be lowered to the water.

Lieutenant Cantor will command one of these launches, Ensign Darrin another and Ensign Dalzell the third.

Each launch will carry one automatic gun, and a landing party of a corporal, six marines, a petty officer and twelve seamen.

Each party will be armed, but, gentlemen, I must caution you as to the extreme seriousness of any conflict on shore, or of firing, even though your fire is not directed at human beings.

These are days when our relations with Mexico are of an extremely delicate nature.