The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1914-04-24
FIRST BLOOD OF
WAR is SPILLED
-Four Americans Killed and q
Wounded at Vera Cruz.
u. S. MARINES TAKE The CIT


Occupies Port Without Firing ST.
Later Attack Is Begun re
Houses-BattIeship Prairie Retu'i
Fire of AssaiIants.
Washington, April 22.-An uncon
frmed report was in circulation here
that Arnold V. Shanklin, United
States consul general at Mexico City,
had been shot during riOting in that
city. The state department has 10
information concerning this On the
contrary their latest adVices were
that it was orderly and quiet in Next
co City.
New York, April 22.-The steamship
MORO Castle of the New York and
Cuba mail fleet, better known as the
Ward Line, has been chartered by the
government as a transport and is thuo
the first American merchantmen to be
requisitioned here for that service.
All Ships to Vera Cruz.
Washington, April 22.-Secretary
Daniels announced that Rear Admiral
Mayo with his flagship Connecticut
and most of the other vessels under
his command at TampicO had steamed
for Vera Cruz All the vessels OF
Real Admiral aBdger's fleet had been
ordered to go directly to Vera C-uz.
Aviators Off to Vera Cruz.
Pensacola. Fla, April 22.-The bat
tleshfp Mississippi, with 900 marines
aboard, sailed for Vera Cruz. The war
snip also carried four aviators with
their hydroaeroplanes The tender
Dixie departed for the Mexican port.
Washington. April 22.-American
marines and blue Jackets are now in
possession of Vera Cruz, the principal
port of Mexico. The seizure of the
CITY cost the Americans four lives and
twenty wounded while the MEXICAN
losses have been estimated unofficially
as between one and two hundred men.
The first shedding of blood ca me
when the Mexicans under General
Mas opened fire on the American
1anding force from Admiral Fletcher
fleet. With the firing of these shots,
the last hope of avoiding an open
declaration of war disappeared. The
United States will now be forced to
nave against Mexico with all the
forces of it's tremendous military and
naval power. No attempt was made
here to conceal the tremendous con-
sequences that are likely to follow
from the days developments. Is
means the expenditure of millions of
dollars and the risking of thousands
= lives.
While no formal action has been
taken by the president, it is believed
that Charge O'Shaughnessy will be i'm
mediately recalled from Mexico City
aud the Mexican charge at Washing
ten, Senior Algara, will be given his
passports without delay.
The first news of the fighting at
Vera Cruz and the seizure of the city
comes in this report from Admiral
Fletcher received at the navy depart
.Dent at o'clock in the evening:
Tuesday in face of approaching
norther, landed marines and sailors
from Utah, Florida and Prairie and
seized custom house. Mexican forces
did not oppose landing but opened
fire with rifles and artillery after our
seizure Of custom house. Prairie she'll
Jig Mexicans out of their positions.
Desultory firing from house tops and
streets. Hold custom house and sec
ton of city in vicinity of wharves and
consulate Casualties four dead and
twenty wounded"
The American casualties and the
mtn wounded in the first engagement
were as follows:
The dead: COXswain Shoemaker.
Corporal Haggerty. marine corps;
Seaman Pouissett.
The wounded: J. F. Please, c. L.
Leahey, c. D. Cameron, T. Schwartz,
ID. L. CacAlillan, private marines, and
Electrician Geisburne OF Battleship
Florida.
This bulletin was filed at Vera Cruz
at about tw o'clock in the afternoon.
it was followed in about an hour by
another dispatch from Admiral Fetch
er which read:
Holding the vicinity of the railroad
station and the yards and desultory
firing continues. Also holding the
vicinity of custom house and cable OF
fee. Light norther is blowing"
This dispatch was filed at Vera Cruz
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. At $50
s'clock, Vera Cruz time, Admira!
Fletcher sent this dispatch:
Our men are firing only when fired
at. We prepared a flag of truce witt.
message to General Mas to cease f,r-
ing or our big guns would be used
Now about 900 marines and sailors
ashore. All business here suspended =
Soon after this the state department
received the following dispatch from
United States Consul Canada at Yea
Cruz, filing at Z o'clock in the eycn.