Evening star., 1914-04-22
learned none of the refugees was
injured.
Public Buildings Seized.


The post office. government telegraph
office and the cable office were the first
buildings occupied after the custom
house. A squad of marines was placed
in charge of the cable Office. The tele-
enough Mexican operators were re-
tanned to man these lines to Mexico
City.
After Gen. Mas had been driven from
his position in central plaza, the Amer
leans found themselves the object of
fusillades from the tops of houses. It
was learned that most of those en-
gagged in this resistance were civilians.
They did much to prolong the action
Lieut. Col. Wendell c. Neville COM
manded the marines from the Prairie
and Mats. Reid and Berkeley and Capts
Hughes, Hill and Dyer along the lines
were reinforced by a detachment which
originally was in position beyond the
terminal works.
Toward the middle of the afternoon
a large body of MeXicans retired to
the interior. where it was reported
from Mexican sources they were ex-
pecting reinforcementS from the capital.
Halted Flanking Movement.
This withdrawal, however. was not
entirely premeditated. Those watching
on the ships observed through their
glasses a large force of MeXicans mov-
ing over the hills In the western out
skirts of the city, apparently with the
intention of fianking a battalion OF
marines in the railway yards and along
Montesinsos street. near the American
consulate.
Instantly the fve-inch guns of the
Prairie belched forth. breaking the
Mexican formation and causing a re-
treat. This ended the thanking move
nent.
Only few minutes before the 3-inch
Of prai ri xI,ar Of jt-olx
near shore. A small detachment of
Mexicans near the customhouse were
causing some trouble A few shots
from the Prairie's guns silenced them
From time to time the same guns played
their shells along the line of the shore
keeping the territory comparatively free
Of sharpshooters
In the action about the customhouse
two bluejackets in launch that carried
a rapid flrer were wounded.
Huerta Counting on Arms.
Information that Gen. Huerta was
counting on receiving from the steamer
Ypiranga of the Hamburg-American line,
which was due to arrive yesterday, a big
consignment of ammunition. rifles and
machine guns, was responsible for the
occupation of the customhouse some
what earlier than might otherwise have
been the case. The Ypiranga Is still out
side the harbor. She has on board among
other supplies 10000 rifles and 15,OOO.O0O
cartridges.
Gen Huerta has been making every
effort to safeguard this consignment and
had given orders that 1t be unloaded i'm
mediately. placed on special train
drawn by two locomotives and rushed to
the capital.
Gen. Mas Fled the City.
Gen. Gustavo Mas commander of the
garrison at Vera Cruz left the city in
carriage at noon yesterday, half an hour
after the first boatload CT American ma
rines landed from the warships. This
was stated officially today, and 1t was
also declared that he had not been seen
or heard from since that hour.
The commanders family followed him
in another carriage.
1t is stated that the Mexican troops
forming the garrison of Vera Cruz were
turned loose as soon as 1t was seen that
the Americans were about to land, and
were told to act as they saw mt. Very
few IL any, of their officers remained
with the Mexican soldiers. whose opera
tions were carried on without any one to
direct them.
some Of the Mexican troops obtained a
looting two stores. AS a result many Of
them were in a condition which made
them equally dangerous to natives and
foreigners who came within their range
Col Cerrillo was one of the few officers
who remained with the Mexican troops.
He was the commander of the 18th Bat
talon. and was wounded in one arm
early in the fighting.
The Mexican troops had one I5-milli-
meter gun. which they placed in position
at the corner of Esteban, Morales and
Main streets.