Arizona republican., 1914-05-12
Bluejackets and Marines Who Gave Their Lives at Vera Cruz Memorialized by President, Officials and Civilians.
SAYS WERE BRAVE
 MEN FACING DUTY
Seventeen Collins Lie in State in Battery Park Plaza Preceding Great Procession Through New York City Streets.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATcHl

NEW YORK, May 11-More than a million persons joined in memorializing with simple dignity the heroism of nineteen bluejackets and marines who gave their lives at Vera Cruz. As the impressive funeral pageant started on it's solemn route from the Battery to the Brooklyn navy yard, it was as if the pulse of the city had temporarily stopped All business was suspended and over the commercial section of the city there fell reverential hush
 In the line of mourners that followed the artillery caissons bearing the dead were chiefs of state and city govern ment and many more distinguished men of nearly every calling, but every eye of the throng turned first to the car riage in which the president rode close behind the last funeral car. The pres ident came from Washington during the night and was with the procession from the time it left the battery until the end of the ceremony
 On the stand with the president at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, were rela- tives of the dead soldiers and sailors, mothers, sisters and wives-but in all the throng of mourners none seemed more deeply touched than the man whose word sent the lads of the navy to fight for their country's honor at Vera Cruz
 To the president was left the privil- ege of voicing the nations grief
 The feeling that is uppermost" he said. ''is one of profound grief, yet there is mixed with that grief pro- found pride that they should have gone as they did and if I may say it out of my heart touch of envy of those who were permitted so quietly and so nob- ly to do their duty
 The presidents voice shook with emotion as he declared his creed:
 We have gone down to Mexico to serve mankind if we can find out a way. We do not want to fight the Mexicans. We want to serve them"
 There was a wistful note in his voice as he added:
 T was never under fire, but I fancy there are some things as hard to do as to go under fire. I fancy it just as hard to do your duty when men are sneering at you when they are shoot ing at you When they shoot at you, they can only take your natural life; when they sheer at you they can wound your heart
 From birds eye view the multitude aligned along the route of the funeral procession presented a picture of vast human stream connecting the two arms of a sea. The muffled voices. soft spoken commands by military officers and the melancholy tolling of the Trim ity church bell, emphasized the hush that had fallen over the city of noise. The dead were landed by the tugs Traffic and Correction.
 Early in the morning the bodies lay in state in Battery park plaza for over an hour before the procession started. There were seventeen collins. The other two victims Of the Mexican snip CTS honored today, died after the Mon tana left Vera Cruz with the bodies of their comrades. A police escort head ed the funeral cortege, followed by naval battalions from Wyoming and Texas. Then came the seventeen gun caissons, each draped in an American flag and carrying the dead
 Each caisson was drawn by four horses. astride two of which rode mem bers of the first and second regiments of field artillery. There was an addi- tional mounted police escort for each caisson Four sailors on each side acted as pail bearers. These men had been called from Vera Cruz especially for this service.
 Directly behind the caissons which stretched out in single file were the carriage of the president, Governor Glynn. Secretary Daniels. Mayor Mitchell and other distinguished guests. As the procession entered the City Hall plaza, the treble voices of 800 children rose to meet them. The children sang Nearer My God To Thee Mayor