Today in the Sobel Timeline: June 27

On June 27, 1914, riots broke out in the Mexican port city of Tampico for the second time in two weeks. The French fleet which had been anchored just outside of Mexican territorial waters for five days took this as a signal to begin troop landings. Mexican coast artillery fired on the ships, sinking four and crippling another two, but ten French troop ships made it to the beaches, and over the course of the night, French troops occupied the city, marking the beginning of the Hundred Day War.