Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-25
GENERAL
ADVANCE
Admiral Fletcher Orders 0CCu-
panCy of Whole City.

a. iCbShCA az GOV " NlONh III OiiN
morning ordered a general move
ment for the occupation of all the
town. A bluejacket column advanc-
ed and crossed the uncompleted mar
ket place and naval college. When
they had reached the walls of the
college a terrific fire was poured in
all directions from the roof and win
dows. The bluejackets, helpless to
return the fire against the stone
walls, scattered.
The Prairie. Chester and San Fran
cisco opened with their five and six
inch guns and shattered the walls.
The bluejackets formed again and
advanced against the fire, which had
diminished. By 10 o'clock there was
desultory firing from the in-shore
side of the tower. Rattaions of
bluejackets had made their way
along the water front to the south
ern end of the town and cleared sew
eral streets, but the sniping from
houses continued at intervals.
The scout cruiser Chester pounded
buildings on the outskirts with six
inch shells, firing over the heads of
the men ashore and showing almost
perfect Workmanship.
The general movement from all the
positions taken yesterday began in
the direction of the main plaza. Ma
rines under Lieutenant-C Colonel Wen
dell c Neville moved to the south
ward along parallel streets toward
the center, while marines command
ed by Commander Buc-
hanan, of the Florida, and Lieuten-
ant-Commander Arthur B. Heating,
of the Arkansas. were ordered from
their positions east of the center to-
wards the plaza.
The two forces swung forward
with rush for a distance of three
blocks. The machine gun and rifle
fire was supplanted by shell fire from
the smaller guns of the Prairie and
Chester. The ships guns supported
the movement Of clearing the roofs
to south and east, occasiona ly drop
ping a shell a few hundred yards in
advance.
Buchanan's men, under direct COM
mand of Lieutenant Guy w o. Cas-
tie moved forward to a position one
block directly east of the plaza. 9th
er detachments occupied positions
to the north and west. Both marines
and bluejackets dragged light field
pieces, but there was little work for
them.
There was no organized resistance
but from the beginning of the ad-
vance smart fire came from defend
ers on house tops, which invariably
drew a merciless fire from the ad-
vancing parties. The machine guns
sounded their tap, tap in all quar-
tiers, and American sharpshooters
posted at street corners and other
points of vantage, picked off at will
any man who appeared to them act
ing suspiciously. II Americans kill
ed and wounded marked the COM
plete investment of Vera Cruz by
the United States forces.
Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher
has taken up headquarters at the
Terminal hotel. The entire city is
strongly patrolled and quiet prevail
ed tonight. Rear Admiral Fletcher
is in command of the land opera
tons, while Rear Admiral Badger,
commander-in-chief of the Atlantic
fleet, has brought his flag into the
larbor on the Minnesota.
After the general advance began
his morning, Mexican sharpshooters
,n'the roofs put up a stubborn resist
lnce. There was one brisk action,
runs of the Prairie and Chester as
listing in silencing a heavy fire from
he naval college. Shells from the
'rairie finally shattered its walls.
The number of Mexicans killed
yesterday is estimated st $50 With