1914 Ltr: Ralph E. Dennett on USS New Jersey at Vera Cruz Mexico Sailing & Peace

Description

In 1914, the United States invaded Mexico through the port of Vera Cruz, the result of problematic diplomatic relations, Mexico's internal problems and the "Tampico Affair". Naval Academy graduate Ralph Earl Dennett  (1890-1986)  aboard the USS New Jersey who wrote many letters to his family in Kittery, Maine posts one postmarked July 17th. He talks  mainly about the radio and the daily boat races around the moored ships. He concludes, "War and especially this kind of war, is the cussed [?] that ever came over the pike and it really should be abolished like Mr. Carnegie says" [Andrew Carnegie advocated an end to war] and here is a naval officer supporting his ideas. He says "we have had about enough of the hero business"  However he does say the one reason to support this war "there are a couple hundred less [?] Mexican voters that will never do much [?] shooting again" Interesting observation from one of the numerous Wilsonian interventions.