The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-24
MAJOR RANDOLPH c. BEnI>ELEy

Writing from Vera Cruz under date
II May 6. Major randolph {. Beckeley,
commanding the First Battalion of the
Second Regiment Advance Base. United
States Marines. tells a relative Of the
capture Of Vera Cruz by the marines
and blucjackets and Of the street
lighting. Major Berkelcy's regiment.
from the transport Prairie. was the
first TO get To- shore. and Major Bcrke-
ley was the first man Of the invading
party TO set foot on Mexican soil
lie expresses surprise that the boats
landed without being fired upon. and
coinmcnds the marines for their BRAY
cry. declaring that they We're as cool
under fire as they were Oh the rifle
ranges. One man was killed and six
wounded III Major Bcrkeley's battalion,
and all of the wounded are recovering.
Tho part OF the letter relating 10 the
fight ut Vera Cruz Is as follows:
Your letter, with newspaper ex-
corps enclosed. came to-day. 4 am
surprised 10 hear of my prominence in
tho Virginia eye. II never entered my
mind. when coming ashore, as to
whether should he the first to land.
] WAS only surprised that We were
not shot up while In tho boats We did
not encounter any opposition until we
had advanced up tho Gale Montescnos
about two blocks on our way 10 take
tho rouudhouse.
We then deployed across the head
Of about four streets and vigorously
responded to their fire. In my com
mand, the First Battalion OF the Sec
ond Advance Base Regiment. had
three companies OF ! 90 men each. which
command ! still have.
Reid commanded a battalion com
poHed of two ships guards and a COM
~
having arrived until late that night
Melville commanded the regiment com
posed OF these two Dattalions. l had
ono man killed and six wounded In my
battalion. and all cf my wounded arc
getting well Most OF these casual
ties took place 1T the head OF tho
Gallo Cinco de- Maio. when we faced
the masonry barracks Of the N!ntcenth
Infantry Regiment tMcNico). In a
little while we had loopholcd con
crete wall, behind which We placed
our rircnicu and machine guns. cover
ing different streets. ana after that
We never hud 4 man touched. could
huyc advanced on the roundhousc, but
received orders 10 clear the streets and
housctops. and Reid WAS sent around
my rear TO the roundhouse.
9TH. second day NC cleared out the
town BY advancing through tho houses
and over the housetops, while my ma
chine guns held the streets running
north and south. We did i good Job.
without the loss or man. our men
were AS Ypol and collect under lire as
OH the target range.
Lying down III the heads or the
streets, before they had any cover.
they worked in pairs. giving each other
the ranges. and picking their tarEcia.
We expended about thirty rounds or
ammunition per man. including ma
chine gun irirg, in two days OF fight
ing only once did I sec more than
one man at !, time empty his maGu-
zine, and that never happened a sec
ond time. Also TO show how our Sen
behaved, we occupied the storehouse
Of a brewery the first night. and n
railroad warehouse. where there was
all kinds of liquor, and not man
touched Il drop.
For two weeks since they have be-
haved just as well, and we are very
proud OF them. After the two days
fighting, nay battalion moved TO the
outposts position. covering the north
west section OF the city. and about two
miles out from the city. We are liv-
ing III an old warehouse. with part or
the command. and In box cars with tho
rest, on the road TO Mexico, If we ever
get started.
The biuciackGts, lacking the infnn-
try training of our mon had q num-
Der OF mon shot, though. of course. they
all fought bravely and did splendid
WDrIt -