The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-07
FLETCHER DESCRIBES
TAKING OF VERA CRUZ
own story of Occupn-
tion II Told I'm Detailed
Rcport.
BLOODY FIGHTING TAKES PLACE
American Officers. Marines md Blue
jackets Commended for swift De-
scent on Mexican City.

Fletcher's own story of tho occupa-
tion OF Vera Cruz is told I'm the first
detailed report OF tho navy's operations
on the East coast OF Mexico. made
public day by the Navy Depart
ment The report tells OF Admiral
Fletchers receipt of the hiatoric cable
gram early in the morning of April
81 ordering him to seize tho Vera Cruz
custom house: Of the swift descent
of marines and bluejackets from the
American warships upon the port, and
the bloody fighting that occurred when
they met with resistance from the
Mexican Federal soldiers and irregu-
lars.
The admiral refers particularly TO
the work Of the cruisers Prairie.
Chester and San Francisco. which
,noorcd inside the breakwatcrs, covered
successive landings of marines and
bluejacketF.
Initiated and clear Judgment was re-
CURED on the part Of the command
Ing officers says the report land the
results showed in n striking manner
commands" The three vessels were
under charge Of Commanders AIoffett.
StickncY and Harrison.
The report III full follows
W non tlic 'dtIcGrar or y. NJ,
April H. 10 seize the custom house was
received. the following officers wore in
my cabin
Captain W. r. flush. l.. s. Navy.
commanding naval brigade: Captain H.
Mel. l. IIusc, L. g. Navy. chief of star:
Comma nder II. q S,ickncy, l.. S. Nav.
commanding Prairie, and Lieutenant
Colonel W 9. Neville, L. s. VI. c. com
;uandins marine.
INFORMED OF SITtfITIOS
ny ADMIRAL. FLETCHER
They had been called on board to
De informed of the situation and To
.hssur" me that tn. plans previously
J'r"phfed for the employment Of the
hhNal FORCES against Vera Cruz were
UNDERWOOD by them. and that they
were prepared TO carry them out, The
method Of procedure adopted was to
lama marines from the Prairie Florida
ana Utah. and tho seaman battalion
from the Florida. seize the custom
house. railway terminal and cable Of
fec. Tho seaman battalion Of the Utah
was held on board. awaiting news Of
tile YpiranEa
Commander stickney and Lieuten-
ant -Coloncl Neville returned to tho
Ir"lric and at =. NJ. Commander
Stlckn"y went ashore and personally
Nouhed the American consul that We
would land 10 take charge or The GUS
ON house. directed him TO notify all
foreign consuls. and 10 send All for
'i@ncrs aboard the Ward liner Mexico.
which was at Pier No. :. and the rs.
peranza. then moorcd In the hnrbor
General Mas. Tie Mexican military
commandment, was notified by telephone
itoin tho consulate that We would land
AZ once 10 taks charge OF the custom
mouse. and he Was urged To offer no
resistance, but to withdraw in order
TO avoid useless loss of life and prop
orty OF the people OF Vera CRUZ
~ $40 \. VI. an officer from the
frairie boarded the foreign inen-of.
war In the harbor. Carlos V. tSpnnlsh)
ana Essex tBritish). and notified them
Of Our intended action
An officer from the Prairie visited
the lIrt Of san Juan IL Ulloa, Informed
commander Of til" port that We would
*ci2o the custom house and that any
aggressive NOV" on his part would be
nni1rdiately followed by our opening
flFc with heavy guns OIL the fort The
commander OF the fort said that ne
understood the situation, but IL Wa
opened ire. he would return it lie
MAJ an armed guard Of $50 regular
troops who had charge of the prisoners
The Ward liner Mexico, with for
eigncrs on board. pulled away from
llcr No. !. and anchored In tn. outer
harbor. Commander Conc. OF the Utah
after anchoring his vessel at $40 4
~ came on board. Cone reported HIS
landing force ready and waiting for
any service and returned 10 his ship
CAPTAIN Is DIRECTED
TO LAND his BRIGADE
AT 1870 y Nj the Prairie reported,
I'm ready and ] directed CAPTAIN
Rush TO land his brigade and carry
out orders. The following signal was
sent 10 tho Prairie at 1890 - NJ:
Land and take Pier No. !. he prepared
10 cover Landing by necessary gun.
ire Al 1885 =. NJ. the Prairie sig
nailed. Battalion has showed on The
landing force OF the Florida showed of
az the same time. and were joined by
IN" Panama contingent of marines
from the Utah. This made total force
OF Is1 officers and men, OF whom 50?
were marines. all under the command
OF Captain William X. Rush. United
states Navy, captain OF the Florida
At IL 80 ~ n. the Prairie signaIed
battalion has landed: no evidence or
any resistance thus far AT il:i5 a.
NJ. signal Was received from the con-
sulate, Gable station O. n" and this
meant that the cable station was in
possession of our forces on shore, and
that communication with Washington
was assured. Al II 80 y. NJ signal
was received from Captain Rush on
shore that headquarters had been es-
tablished Al the Hotel Terminal. ana
signal station set up there. At $50
a. NJ. Rush sisnalcd. Telegraph and
post office occupied and doing bust
ness ever This was followed by
Firing In town: no casualties as yet
and as 1921 l. NJ, Commenced firing
on shore: I'ederals have commenced
firing on United States troops Again
at 12.3o =. NJ. Rush signalcd 1000 men.
with machine guns. reported in this
vicinity: desultory firing heavy at in
tervals; hurry Utah's troops sig
nailed Utah, Send your battalion
ashore; urgent: you may steam in
closer. Al 12:i5 p. NJ. Rush reported
his first casualties.
Immediately on landing. the marine
regiment under Lieutenant Colonel
Neville advanced UP Gale de Monte
sinos. seizing cable Office and detach-
ing one company to seize the power
plant north OF the Terminal Station.
and to cover approaches from the
west along the railroad tracks The
head of the marine column had ad-
Tanced to Avenida Bravo when at
= 11:57 a. NJ they were fired into from
all directions. The marines Colt au-
tomato guns went into action ut In
dependencia, Cinco de Mayo. Cortes,