Mexican gunboats Guerrero, Tampico and Democrata involved in fighting according to the Dutch newspaper Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant dated 25 February 1914

An item dated Mexico 25 February reported that tidings from Nogalis referring to official telegrams of the rebels the gunboat Tampico with her complete crew surrendered to the rebels becoming their first armed vessel. They immediately departed to attack a location at the west coast. (1) The edition dated 18 June published an item dated Washington 17 June reporting that the gunboat Guerrero of the Mexican cabinet defeated the gunboat Tampico belonging the Constitutionals. Rear admiral Howard wrote that the captain an chief engineer of the Tampico committed suicide. The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 6 March published an item dated Nogales 5 March reporting that the government gunboats Morales and Guerrero attacked the gunboat Tampico of the rebels which was lying in the harbour of Topolobampo. The battle was undecided and the government gunboats retreated undamaged. The newspaper Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad dated 6 March published an item dated Nogales 4 March reporting that the gunboats Moralos and Guerrera were lying in the harbour of Tapolobampo and that they were attacked by the gunboat Tampico of the rebels. The battle was undecided and the government gunboats departed undamaged. Another Dutch newspaper Nieuwsblad van het Noorden dated 11 March published the item dated Mexico City 11 March that troops loyal to the cabinet locked up the gunboat Tampico by scuttling the old gunboat Democrata (2) in the mouth of the bay near Topolobampo. The Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant confirmed this item adding that the Tampico belonged to the rebels.

Notes

1. Conway’s All the world’s Fighting Ships 1906-1921 mentioned that she belonged to the Tampico-class of 980 tons, built in 1902 and destroyed on 16 July 1914.

2. Conway’s All the world’s Fighting Ships 1906-1921 mentioned that she belonged to the Democrata-class of 445 tons, built in 1875 and stricken around 1915.