The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-05-20
REPORTS ON FIGHTING
TERsE DISPATCHES TELL OF
BATTLE AT VERA CRUZ.
Events Following Landing Of Ameri-
can Marines Told by Ensign Mar

tin.
With Spartan terseness are written
! the army, navy and marine reports
which officially tell the story Of our
advance in Mexico. There is little at
tempt at literary style and none at
bringing into prominence spectacular
events and heroic deeds. Yet through
these dignifed, straightforward pages
runs an undercurrent for the careful
reader that thrills with a tale OF
romance and gallantry.
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 br1-
gade asiutant of the capture OF the
town. He heads his letter data con-
corning Landing engagements.
1.-THE San Francisco's battalion
landed at midnight, April 21. This
force consisted of nine officers and
1l6 men comprising two four-squad
infantry companies, two Benet-Mer-
cier automatics and special details
with gun-cotton party.
April %.
upon landing reported to Reg1-
mental headquarters at Hotel Ter
mina1 and then proceeded to custom
house in rear Of which our battalion
was directed to erect barricade be-
tween No. l warehouse and the water
front in prolongation Of Gale Miguel
Luerdo. This work was completed
and barricade manned before day
light.
lone of our automatic guns and
one from Utah mounted on tie roof
of south wing Of custom house be-
gan firing on Hotel Oriente at day
light. Hotel was captured and sew
eral prisoners we're taken. Desultory
firing all along odr front during
morning and forenoon, which we sue
ceeded in silencing by volley firing.
About 9 a. m. the second naval
regiment passed in rear OF custom
house and proceeded to southwark OF
our line. When they came abreast
naval academy and the incompleted
uarket they were subjected to e heavy
tusiilade principally from these
buildings. TIE regiment deployed a
the plaza between these buildings
and Estaoion Sanidad. After sharp
engagement in which ships in hsr5or
assisted by shelling, the naval acad-
envy and market were taken. the
San Francisco's guns were firing on
the naval academy. Fire again be-
came desultory after this engagement
and at 1890 our regiment was de-
ployed along Gale Zaragoza from c.
Benito to C. Estaban Morales.
"The San Francisco's battalion act
ed as a support all along this line.
At noon we were Quartered in Gus
tom house and have since held Gus
tom house and surrounding territory
ASSIGNED to our precinct. This dis
trict comprised the section OF the
city from Gale Zaragoza to water
front between V. Vicario and c. Mon
tesinos. Our position was fired on
by snipers from time to time during
night.
April %.
"snipers continued firing along our
front principally from incompleted
market building. This fire was
silenced as often as it broke out.
"Having suspected firing from the
Sonora, Mexican steamer moored
to the sea wall Just to northward OF
muelle Fiscal, ne arrested the crew
of this steamer and they were incar-
cerated in the municipal jail.
April "a.
Same conditions as preceding day
EXCEPT arrested Chief Engineer OF
Sonora" and a secretary of the Nav
ieation Company of Mexico who were
on that vessel. These men were
placed in municipal jail. German
steamer "Ypiranga" and Spanish
steamed "Libertad" were docked at
Muelle Fiscal. Both allowed to land
passen gers and baggage.
"Patrolled district under our
charge day and night.
During the period covered IN
above report the San Francisco's bat
TALON has suffered no casualties. The
battalion were quartered in No.
warehouse in the custom house COM
pound during this time.
"The list of dead and wounded
cared for by the San Francisco's nos
nita1 corps after the engagement on
April %, 1914, is attached hereto.