The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-04-22

hear ADMIRAL Fletcher. In command
OF the United States warships. pref
aced his occupation of the port by n
demand, through the American consul.
W. w. Canada. for its surrender. Gen
eral Mas promptly declined to ac-
cede to this demand. and shortly af-
terward ten whaleboats we're sent OF
from the side of the transport
Prairie loaded with marines. These
boats effected landing in the rC;gh-
borhood of the customs house before
noon and a few minutes later Captain
William II. Bush of the battleship
Florida. who was in command OF the
operations ashore. brought his flag In.
Take Up Positions.
Captain Bush's men had already
taken up their positions They num-
bered $50 bluejackets from the Flor
ida, 29O marines from the Prairie and
% marines from the Florida Later
these were augmented by a detaCh-
ment from the Utah.
The coming OF the Americap forces
was not heralded by any greaN excite
ment. but small crowds gathered TO
watch the landing Soon the blueiac.
kets and marines marched through
the streets leading from the water
front and along the railroad yards.
Others proceeded TO the American
consulate. while still others deployed
along the approaches to Central
flaza, where Ge2eral Mas has con.
centrated his men
These maneuvers were effected
without opposition. but suddenly Cen
eral Mas challenged the advance
with the FIRST shots-a vOlley fired
from point three blocks from the
marines and two blocks south of the
main plaza. The marines replied i'm
mediately but the action ceased in n
moment. There was lull for ten
minutes. and then another brief ex-
q
tesinos street. where a Federal out
post was stationed.
AZ II 30 the firing became general.
ana az one O'Clock the guns OF the
transport Prairie went into action.
Used Three Such Guns.
Prior 10 this detachment OF blue
jackets from the Utah. holding the
ground between the consulate and
the waterfront. opened with two OF
their three inch guns The first shots
from these pieces were directed
against an ancient tower which one
served as lighthouse. This was oc-
cupted by Mexican sharps hooters.
Lieutenant Commander buchanan OF
the Florida, ordered that 10 be de
strOyed. Five shots brought the old
BenitO JuareZ tower down
The women Of the American colony
In Vera Cruz had already been placed
aboard the Chartered steamers rs
peranza and Mexico but the foreign
colony. especially the American sec
tion was greatly augmented this
morning. when three trainlOads ar
rived from the capital Some OF
these remained ashore but many we're
taken aboard the steamers So far
as can be learned none Of the refugees
was injured.
The navy department announced
that the United States forces IN Vera
Cruz and vicinity consisted Of the
battleships Florida. Utah Connect
cut Minnesota and the cruisers san
Francisco and Chester. gunboaf Dol
Dhin. transports Prairie and Han
cock. hospital ship SOlace AMI collier
CyclOps a. WI as the chartered
steamers Esperanza and Mexico
This concentration of forces. total
Ing about 1000 sailors and nearly
1000 marines o. made up 5f Rear
Admiral Mayos ships which had been
ordered from Tampico late yesterday
and the ships which Rear Admiral
Fletcher has had o. Vera Cruz for
many weeks
Rear Admiral Badger with The first
ships Of the Atlantic feet reached