Arizona republican., 1914-04-22

Of Vera Cruz, by telephone, and pre- sented the demands, saying that the l United States forces were about to occupy and hold the town. He called upon him to surrender in the name of humanity and to assist the Amer jeans in restoring order
 General Maas replied that compli- ance with the demand was impos- sible and asked the consul for a per- sonal barley.
 The consul informed General Maas that he had no instructions to grant a barley and ended the conversation. He then called the jefe politico and customs collector by telephone and informed them of the prospective landing and asked for their co-opera tion in maintenance of peace. | The customs collector requested time, in order to attend to certain duties, but neither could promise any assistance.
 I, Rear Admiral Fletcher, aboard the flagship Florida, was by this time in communication with Rear Admiral i Badger, the commander -in-c chief of the Atlantic fleet, who was speeding toward this port with five Warships Admiral Fletcher decided to take ac- ton and marines began leaving the side of the Prairie shortly after Il o'clock. They entered ten whale boats and effected a landing at the customs house al number four pier, which extends almost from center of shore line into the port at the terminal of the works.
 The information that Huerta was counting on receiving from the steamer Ypiranga of the Hamburg American line, which was due to ar rive today, a big consignment of am munition, rifles and much guns, was responsible for the occupation of the customs house somewhat earlier than might otherwise have been the case. Ypiranga is still outside the harbor. She has on board among other SUD- plies 10000 rifles and 15,000,000 car tridges.
 President Huerta had been mak- ing every effort to safeguard this consignment and had given orders that it was to be unloaded immedi- ately on a special train drawn by two locomotives and rushed to the capital.
 DesuItory Firing Continues
 WASHINGTON, April 21-A dis patch from Admiral Fletcher, under date of four o'clock received at sev- en twenty tonight, announced that desultory firing was still in progress It is said he was holding that part of Vera Cruz in the vicinity of the railroad yard, customs house and the consulate. All the rolling stock of the railroad is safe, he said. Admiral Fletcher warned General Maas, Huerta's commander at Vera Cruz, that the big guns of the Ameri can fleet would be used unless he stops his men from firing. Fletcher officially reported he haC landed marines and sailors from the battleships Utah and Florida and the transport Prairie and seized the cus- toms house. The Mexican forces die not oppose the landing but opened
 with rifles and artillery after tht seizure of the customs house. There , was desultory firing from the house , tops. We held the customs house
 and the section of the city in the vi cinity of the wharves and consulate
 The casualties are four dead anC
 twenty wounded"
 The Attacking Force
 One battalion of marines of thu !, second advance base regiment iron the Prairie and marines attached t' other ships, as well as a portion O
 the sailors, probably about one hal
 of each ships company, composed tn
 force which engaged the Mexicans a t Vera Cruz.