Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 193
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[Page 193]
After two hours delay we got one small bag of official mail and so departed on our cruise without any home news. First we made for Progreso to see if our old friend the Zealandia had departed on her unlawful occasions and found on enquiry that she was snug in the same harbour which so full of high hope she had originally left.
We didnt stay long at Progreso for it is an uninspired spot and soon left for Campechy [Campeche]. Our job was to circumnavigate the Gulf of Mexico and take tally of the Huns within the Harbours and generally investigate the stories of armed yachts and submarines which rumour had it were making bases of the more unfrequented Mexican Ports and thence sallying forth to menace our shipping.
After looking in at Campechy and wagging the flag in the faces of the Germans we proceeded to Puerto Mexico whence the railway runs north to Mexico city and south to San Salvador on the Pacific side.
From Puerto Mexico we turned North for Vera Cruz. All this coast abounds in oil deposits and one can see the wells from the sea and there was a constant stream of oilers under the British and American flags sailing out taking the wherewithal for motor transport to England and other members of the Entente.
The sea board of this portion of Mexico is flat and sandy and does not impress one with its fertility but nearing Vera Cruz the coast becomes more bold and rugged till near the port there is a background of mighty mountains amongst which the towering snow clad peak of