The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-22
FOUR AMERICANS KILLED; MEXICAN
 LOSS UNKNOWN
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 ground between the consulate and the water front, opened with two of their three-inch guns. The first shots from these pieces were directed against the ancient Benito Juarez tower which once served as a lighthouse. This was oc- oupied by Mexican sharpshooters. Lieu tenant Commander Buchanan of the Florida ordered that it be destroyed Five shots brought the old tower down.
 The women of the American colony Tn Vera Cruz had been placed aboard the chartered steamers Esperanza and Mex leo, but the foreign colony, especially the American section, was greatly aug mented this morning when three train loads arrived from the capital. Some of these remained ashore, but many were taken aboard the steamers. So far as can be learned no refugees were injured.
 The postoffice, government telegraph office and the cable office were the first buildings occupied after the customs house. A squad of marines was placed in charge of the cable office. The tele- graph wires were found intact and enough Mexican operators were retained to man the lines to Mexico City.
 After General Maas had been driven 5 lloiI us pOSlllpn III central Plaza, the Americans found themselves the object of fusillades from the tops of houses. It was learned only tonight that most of those engaged in this resistance were civilians. They stationed themselves at points of vantage and did much to pro- long the action.
 Lieut.-Col. Wendell C. Neville com manded the marines from the Prairie and Majors Reid and Berkeley and Cap- tains Hughes, Hill and Dyer along the lines have been reinforced by a detach- ment which originally was in position beyond the terminal works.
 Towards the middle of the afternoon a large body of MeXicans evacuated their position and are now somewhere in the sand hills back of the interior. where it is reported from Mexican sources they are expecting to be poined bysreinforce- ments sent down from the capital.
 This withdrawal, however, was not en- tirely premeditated. Those watching cn the ships observed through their glasses a large force of Mexicansi moving over the hills in the western outskirts of the city, apparently with the intention of flanking battalion of marines in the railway yards and along Montesnos street, which runs east and west not far from the American consulate.
 Instantly the five-inch guns of the Prairie were used effectively near shore -N uctdcllHleIt Ol MeXlcdnS naQ gained positions near the customs house and their concealed marksmen were caus- ing some trouble. A few shots from the Prairies guns slenced them. From time to time the same guns played their shells along the line of the shore, keeping the territory comparatively free of sharp- shooters.
 In the action about the customs house, two bluejackets in launch that carried a rapid firer were wounded,
 With all the eastern side of the city occupied and also the tracks of the rail- way as far west as the roundhouse near the western edge on the northern side. and with the Mexicans unable to do more than keep up an annoying fire from house. tops, Captain Rush at 420 o'clock this afternoon sent under a flag of truce native messenger to General Maas or whoever happened to be in command to six if he wolfd surrender. It was learn that unless the Mexicans yielded Cap- : ain Rush had his choice of continuing | syhting under the tactics he was using, of charging all positions or of calling , the warships for bombardment ' Captain Rush was loath to resort to a nbardment and did not desire to lose .s more men by charges. He recognized t the tactics of the Mexicans might ? i've the housetop fighters in their posi- < n indefinitely and that it was not i'm Possible that those who were shipping From the roofs might be reinforced dur ling the night.
 10000 Available The messenger was told to remind Gen era Maas that while there were ashore at that time only a few more than 1000 men there would be available for the American forces by morning some 10000. It was left to General Maas to draw his own inference from this message.
 There was no cannon firing from the Mexican side and it is supposed their