The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-05
TAKING VERA CRUZ
U. S. Navy 0fFcer's Report OF
Capture of Mexican Port.
Ensign Ralph Martin, With Spartan
TeFseness, Tells His Brigade Ad-
IUtant of Occupation of Town
by American Forces.

Washington, D. C.-With Spartan
terseness are written the army, navy
and marine reports which officially tell
the s\ory Of our advance into Mexico.
There Is little attempt at literary
style and none at bringing into promi-
spectacular events and heroic
deeds. Yet through these dignified.
straightforward pages runs an under
current for the careful readers that
thrills with a tale OF and gal
lantry.
Here Is how Ensign Ralph Martin,
adjutant Of the marine battalion Of
San Francisco, writing from the Gus
tom house at Vera Cruz, tells his brig
ade adjutant Of the capture Of the
town. He heads his latter Data Con-
corning Landing Engagements"
The San Francisco's battalion land
ed at midnight, April 81. This force
consisted Of nine officers and 116 men.
comprising two four-squad infantry
companies, two Benet-Mercier auto
MATES and special details with gun
cotton parry.
April %.
Upon landing reported to regimen
tai headquarters at Hotel Terminal
and hen proceeded to custom house.
in real Of which our battalion was d.
rected to erect a barricade between
No. ! warehouse and the water front
in p~rolongation of Gale Miguel Luer-
do. This work was completed and bar
ricade manned before daylight.
One Of our automatic guns and n
from the Utah mounted on the roof OF
south wing Of custom house began fir
ing on Hotel Oriente at daylight Ho-
tel vas captured and several prison
ers were taken. Desultory firing all
along our front during morning and
forenoon, which we succeeded in ST.
lencing by volley firing.
About nine a. N. the Second Naval
regiment passed in rear Of custom
house and proceeded to southwark OF
our line. When they came abreast ma
val academy and the incompleted mar
ket they were subjected to a heavy
fuslllade. principally from these build
ings. The regiment deployed in the
plaza between these buildings and
~estacion Sanidad. After a sharp en-
gagement, in which ships in harbor as
sisted by Smelling, the naval academy
and market were taken. The San
Francisco's guns were firing on the
naval academy. Fire again became
desultory after this engagement and at
10: 30 our regiment was deployed along
Gale Zarago8a from C. Benito to c.
Estaban Morales.
The San Francisco's battalion act
ed as a support all 1long this line.
At noon we we're quartered In custom
house and have since held custom
house and surrounding territory as
signed to our precinct. This district
comprised the section of the city from
Gale Zaragoza to water front between
c. Vicario and C. Montesinos. Our po-
sition was fred on by snipers from
time to time during the night
April %.
Shippers continued firing along our
front, principally from incompketed
Market Dullulll6. LIE LAC WOO OF
fenced as often as it broke out
Having suspected firing from the
Sonora, a Mexican steamer moored to
the sea wall just northward Of Muelle
Fiscal, we arrested the crew of this
steamer and they we're i~ncarcerated IN
the municipal Jail.
April %.
Same conditions as preceding day,
except arrested chief engineer of So
nora and a secretary of the Navigation
Company Of Mexico. who were on that
vessel. These men were placed in mu'
nicipal Jail. German steamer Ypiran'
ga and Spanish steamer Libertad were
locked at Muelle Fiscal. Both allowed
to land passengers and baggage.
"Patrolled district under u charge
night and day.
During the period covered in above
report the San Francisco's battalion
has suffered no casualties. The bat
talon we're CHARTERED In No. l ware
house in the custom house compound
during this time.
The list Of dead and wounded careC
for by the San Frsncisco's hospita
$1,000 o@&aw %ha an0o oarorf of Apri