Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-07-02

the situation TO the admiral, he deeid-
ed to land his forces and the seaman
and marine battalions OF the Arkansas.
New Hampshire. South Carolina. Mich
igan and New Jersey, landed at a.
n, under cover OF darkness and
promptly moved to their assigned Pc
sitions Joining the organization on
shore.
Earlv n the morning of April %
efforts to get in communication with
the authorities were renewed BY
eight O'Clock it was definitely ascer.
tanned that the firing Of the enemy was
not under organized control Oh. aetIng
! under the direction of competent al
thority
The marine forces advanced
through ell the streets to the north
AveRida Independencia, where ther
were net with heavy rife and machine
gun fire from houses, hotels, hospital
church steeples and military barracks
They advanced slowly, clearing houses
and roofs Of snipers and entering ey-
cry house in every block as they az
vanced.
The second seaman regiment under
Captain Anderson, U. S navy, was
marched toward the waterfront and IL
front Of the new market, naval schoa
and artillery barracks In crossln.
theA open ground between the nava
school and Benito Juarez lighthouse
about three hundred and fifty yard
/ in width, they were met by a heav,
rife, one-pounder and machine gut
fire from the naval school building
This situation looked critical Tbs
Chester, Prairie and San Francisco
simultaneously opened fire with three
inch, four-inch and fve-inch batterie
against the second story of the nava
school building. In a short time TIL
upper story was riddled by 40 shots
and the fire siIenced.
Our forces advanced steadil,
through the city, entering houses from
which they were being fred upon ant
disarnling the occupants. The Ches
ter, from a favorable position com
manding the southern part of the city
shelled the enemy out of houses alon@
the water front, cid Fort Santiago
and from the vicinity Of the military
barracks. By II a. m. our forces were
in complete possession of all parts OF
the city and fighting had practically
ceased.
The following signal was sent to
the cruisers Chester, Prairie, Sac
Francisco, and to brigade headquar
tiers on shore:
The division commander desires
to express his appreciation and adj
miration for the splendid and efficient
work of the naval brigade in their cap
ture of the city of Vera Cruz, and the
efficient support given them by the
cruisers in the harbor reflect a great
credit On the accuracy of fire of their
gunners.
FLETCHER.
The Atlantic fleet under command
of Rear Admiral Badger approached
the harbor Of Vera Cruz on the night
Of April q at full speed, all ready to
land, and came to anchor in the outer
harbor several hours ahead Of the ex-
pected time. I am not allowed to com
mend my superior officer, but I think.
it only proper to say in this report
that Rear Admiral Badger during the
naval operations on shore at Vera
Cruz afforded me the most prompt and
willing assistance and my slightest re-
quest or recommendation or call for
aid was in all cases met with immedi-
ate compliance. 1t is q great pleasure
for me to record the thoroughly fine
and generous spirit that was shown
By him and his staff in their hearty
support of the work on shore.
The work of the three vessels,
Chester Commander Moffett), Prai-
RE Commander Stickney), and San
Francisco Commander Harrison), in
supporting our troops on shore was
most effective and is deserving special
praise. Initiative and clear judgment
were required on the part of the COM
handing officers and the results
showed in a striking manner the eff
cheney of the ships under their COM
mands."