Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-04-24

According to best informed oificiak
these would consist Of the following:
1. Seizure Of the ports Of Tampic0
and Vera Cruz.
2. Seizure Of the Mexico gunboats
in those waters.
8. Seizure of the railroad between
Vera Cruz and the Mexican capital,
| to a point including trestle twenty
miles west Of Vera Cruz, to prevent
the route to the Mexican capital be-
ing blocked.
4. Probably request for a special
appropriation to carry out these meas
lures.
This latter point, however, was not
definite early today.
Vera Cruz, April 21.-The Ameri-
cans have captured Vera Cruz, but at
the cost of the lives Of several men
and a much larger number wounded.
The Mexicans under General Gus
tavo Mas, the commandment at Vera
Cruz, put up a stubborn resistance.
General Mas challenged the advance
of the Americans almost from the
first, and made it clear that the
Mexicans do not propose to permit a
peaceful occupation.
Crowd Laughs at Landing.
Less than half an hour after leay-
ing the side OF the United States
transport Prairie the marines had
landed and the absence Of resistance
at the water front and failure On the
part of the Mexicans to contest the
taking of a position somewhat in from
the water front caused the curious
spectators in the street to laugh and
when one Mexican ram for cover hav-
ing had the temerity to shout at the
top Of his voice viva Mexico loud
outlaws came from the onlcokerS.
Shots Drive Spectators in.
But the lull was not indicative Of
compliance. A few shots came thin
a few minutes and later a brief ex-
change, and the spectators, whose
curiosity alone brought them into the
streets, fingered, thinking it was on
ly a show of resistance. But after
another brief interval, fighting in
earnest began, and hour after hour, |
the Mexicans continued to oppose tie
Americans, fiercely in some quarters,
although the main body apparently
seemed ready to quit.
Most of the firing was done by out |
post parties, placed ON roofs Of house
at various points Of vantage, whose
only choice was to keep ON firing or
surrender.
Mexican Troops Retreat.
The guns of the Prairie assisted
the landing party. Toward evening the
fighting continued, but it was more
of houSetop character than a de-
termined organized resistance.
Finally the Mexican soldiers who
had not been captured, h'lsd or
wounded, reiterated westward.
Washington, April 21.-The Amer.
can flag tonight flies over Vera Cruz.
-Four Americans we've killed and TWEEN
ty wounded when a detachment of
bbe-jackets and marines from the
American fleet seized the customs
house, raised the American flag and
sAdrmished with the Mexican garri.
son.
Desultory firing was in progress
aoe today, according to a dispatch
iron Rear Admiral Fletcher, receE.
ed at 6 p. M. At first the garrison
had appeared to be withdrawing
American Consul Canada reported
this to the state department about )
O'Clock, but when the American fore
eS reached the customs house the
MeXicans opened with rifle and artil.
lery fire.
Prairie Shells Mexicans.
The transport Prairie Immediately
began sheling the Mexican positions,
SLOWLY driving them out. The Next
cans fought from the hOusetops and
along the streets.
The American forces have taken
possession of the cable office and
hold the American consulate and the
section Of the city in the vicinity Of
Uhe wharves. Rear Admiral Fletch.