The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-05-07
The SITAUTION IN MEXICO
DIPLOMATS TRYING TO All
RANGE DIFFERENCES.
Skirmish with MeNican> at Vera
CruZ.-CarranZa VIII Not
Mediate.


water supply OF the city. \ report
to this effect reached the war de-
Dartment late to-day.
4 report from Gen. Funston to-
night said a few scattered shots had
been fired at the American troops
guarding the wa5er-wOrks outside
Vera Cruz. but no one was killed
or injured. Reinforcements reached
the scene. but were not needed, and
later returned to Vera Cruz.
Funston'S Dispatch.
Secretary Garrison made public
the dispatch from Gen. Funston,
which said that Mexican Federals at
Ell Tejar to-day had demanded the
surrender of the water works at Vera
Cruz. The works were protected by
two companies of American marines
and the dispatch stated detach-
ment of Mexicans, about 500 strong.
appeared under flag of truce and
warned the American forces to with
draw and surrender their position
within ten minutes.
An appeal for reinforcements was
Immediately made to Gen. Funston
and additional troops were sent to
protect the works. In the meantime
however, the Mexicans fired scatter
ing shots, then retreated and disap-
peared when the reinforcements ar
| rived.
Gen. Funston, in second dis
patch. advised Secretary Garrison
that at 10 O'Clock tonight the
Mexican troops were no longer in
sight and that the reinforcements
sent out were returning, with the eX-
ception of two companies left at the
pumping station and another order
ed to guard a railway bridge.
Mexicans Make Threat.
What promised to be the first
fight between the United States army
and the Mexican troops ended in the
exchange of not more than half a
dozen shots.
The Mexicans threatened to at
tack Immediately unless the Ameri-
cans surrendered their position at
the water-works at Ell Tejar within
ten minutes" but failed to fulfil their
menace.
At II o'clock this morning Mexi-
can force, estimated at from 500 to
900 men, appeared mile beyond the
water-works station. AS Major Rus
sell, 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 sur
render within ten minutes.
Major RusseIl's Reply.
Major Russell's reply was: Hurry
right back and do not waste any of
the time your commanding officer
has stipulated.
Major Russell then made prepara-
tions to resist any attack, at the
same time sending message to
headquarters in Vera Cruz that his
outpost was threatened.
Back at headquarters Brig. Gen.
Funston and his staff had been work.
ing out the details of the new gov
ernment which the brigade general
had been instructed to establish.
The wireless message from the water
works station at Ell >Tejar brought
out quick change from the COM
paratively prosaic work to that of
active army duty.
Within a few minutes headquar-
CSiS udU uOtllSu -NdJol 1euSSCii Ihol
reinforcements were on the way to
aid him, and in little more than an
hour. instead Of the 24O marines
comprising the command Of Major
Russell at the outpost of Ell TEAR.
there were in position to support
him more than 200 men, while the
entire garrison of Vera Cruz was
ready for any movement that might
be ordered.
Troops Rushed Forward.
Seven companies of the 4th in
fantry regiment were sent forward
under Col. Roberts C. Van Vliet, as
we'll as two battalions and three COM
panies of marines, commanded by
Col. John Archer Lejeune. All
these troops had been taken from
stations in the outskirts of Vera
Cruz, the men of the infantry regi-
ment entraining for the short run
to Ell Tejar from Los Cococs the
first station on the Mexican railway.
The battaliOnS we're commanded by