The Sentinel=record., 1914-05-03

here, which asked for aid.
 What had promised to be the first fight between the United States army and the Mexican troops today ended in the exchange of not more than half dozen shots.
 The Mexicans threatened to "at- tack immediately unless the Ameri- cans surrendered their position at the waterworks at Fl Tejar within 10 minutes" but failed to fulfiil their menace.
 The MeXicans are still holding a position beyond the waterworks sta ton and the American troops have received no orders to advance. At II o'clock this morning a Mexican force estimated at 300 men appeared at a mile beyond the waterworks station. As Major Russell, of the marines, had received orders not to assume the offensive, he and his men watched the Mexicans with much interest.
 Suddenly a Mexican lieutenant and non-commissioned officer bearing a white flag advanced and presented a demand for the Americans to surren- der within ten minutes. Major Rus sells reply was;
 Hurry right back and do not waste any of the time your commander has stipulated
 Major Russell then made prepara- tions to resist any attack, at the same time sending a message to headquarters in Vera Cruz that his outpost was threatened.
 Back at headquarters Brigadier General Funston and his staff had been conscientiously working out the details of the new government which the brigade general had 3een instruct ed to establish.
 The wireless message from the wa terworks station at Fl Tejar brought about quick change from the com paratively prosaic work to that of active army duty.
 Within a few minutes headquarters had notified Major John H. Russell that endorsements were on the way to aid him and in little more than an hour instead of the 240 marines comprising the command of Major Russell at the outpost of Fl Tejar there was in position to support him more than 1900 men, while the en- tire garrison at Vera Cruz was ready for any movement that might be or dered.
 Several companies of the Fourth infantry were sent forward under Colonel Robert c. Van Fleet as well as two battalions and three compa- nies of marines commanded by Col onel John Archer LeJeune.
 All these troops had been taken from stations in the outskirts of Vera Cruz, the men of the infantry regiment entraining for the short run to Fl Teiar from Los Cocos, the first station on the Mexican railway.
 The battalions were commanded by Major Charles G. French and Major Paul A. Wolf.
 When Colonel Van Vleet and Col onel LeJeune with their supports ar- rived at the waterworks station, Ma ior Russell and his men were not hard pressed. The Mexicans had con- tented themselves with a scattering fire consisting of not more than four or five shots at a range of about r. 800 yards.
 The waterworks station at El Te- jar forms the most advanced post in the American lines and was placed there because the authorities regard ed it as essential to protect the city's water supply.
 General orders had been given foI the American troops not to assume l the offensive and not to fire unless attacked It is not regarded here at all probable that General Gustavo Maas, former federal commander at Vera Cruz, has any idea of attempt ing to retake the city but he is tight ening his long irregular lines about the city, apparently in an effort to l prevent the entrance from the coun