The Penn's Grove record., 1914-04-24
President Ordered Occupation to Prevent Landing From a German
Vessel Of 200 Machine Guns and 100000 Cartridges for
Which Huerta Had Special Train Waiting
AMERICANS FORCED TO FIGHT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
BEFORE STARS AND STRIPES FLY OVER THE CITY

VERA CRUZ, Mexico.-Naval forces of the United States took
possession of the port of Vera Cruz, but in the fighting that followed
the u~nopposed landing of nearly a thousand marines and bluejackets
four Americans were killed and 20 were wounded.
The loss of the Mexican garrison which resisted the American
occupation from noon until evening has been heavy. One report says
200 Mexicans were killed.
The American forces have complete control of the business dis
trict and most of the other sections of the city. The Federal garrison
is in flight toward the west.
TWO MARINES AND TWO BLUEJAcKETs KILLED.
Two American bluejackets and two marines were killed and
nearly a score wounded. The dead are:
Schumacher, coxswain of the Florida.
Pouisette, seaman of the Florida.
Haggerty, private of marines.
Another marine, name not given.
The names of the wounded so far as is known are:
{: J Leahy:
G. D. Cameron.
j. F. Please.
All the above are seamen of the Florida.
Gisburne, electrician of the Florida.
Davidson, Draine and Mcmillan, privates of the Second Regi-
ment of Marines from the Prairie.
The Presidents decision to act on his own responsibility grew
out of his impatience at the delay of Congress in approving his stand
by a joint resolution.
Orders to begin hoSiities against Mexico went to Admiral
Fletcher at Vera Cruz as follows:
"Use your own Judgment = was in substance the order flashed
to Admiral Fletcher.
Admiral Fletcher was instructed to prevent a consignment of
100000 rounds of ammunition and some machine guns on board
the Hamburg American Liner Ypiranga from getting into the hands
of the Federal forces.
The liner was due to arrive off Vera Cruz that morning. Admiral
Fletcher was ordered not to impede the entrance of the vessel into
the port as this was forbidden in international law in the absence
of a blockade.
His orders were to seize the custom house and take possession
of the ammunition when it reached there.
FLETCHER DEMANDS SURRENDER.
Rear Admiral Fletcher, in command of the United States war
ships prefaced his occupation of the port by a demand through the
American Consul, w. w. Canada, for it's surrender. General Mas
promptly declined to accede to this demand, and shortly afterward
ten whaleboats were sent off from the transport Prairie loaded with
marines.
These boats effected a landing in the neighborhood of the custom
house before noon, and a few minutes later Captain w. R. Rush,
of the battleship Florida, who was in command of the operations.
ashore, brought his flag in. Captain Rush's men had already taken
up their positions. They numbered $50 blueackets from the Florida,
800 marines from the Prairie and 65 marines from the Florida. Later
these were augmented by a detachment from the Utah.
The coming of the American forces was not heralded by any
great excitement, but small crowds gathered to watch the landing.
Soon the bluejackets and marines marched through the streets lead
ing from the waterfront and along the railroad yards. Others pro-
ceeded to the American Consulate, while still others were dep1oyed
along the approaches to Central Plaza, in which General Mas had
concentrated his men.
GENERAL MAS OPENS FIRE.