The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-20

The dreadnought Florida. one OF the
newest and largest of Uncle Sans fight
ing fleet. steamed up the East River early
yesterday morning. and tied up alongside
the Utah in the New Yorl; Navy Yard
with $50 marines and sailors. nearly half
OF whom had borne the brunt OF the first
days fighting In the streets of Vera Cruz
Capt. William L. Rush. her comma nder
led the American landing forces and had
charge OF the captured city until Admiral
Fletcher went ashore with the rest Of his
stan.
The Florida came UP the coast after her
long sojourn in Mexican waters in record
time-five days and twenty hours--with
one brief stop at Key West TO land the
body OF Capt. Clarence Senior owen Of
the United States Marine Corps. VINO had
died OF Illness. The vessel is here for q
two weeks stay for Inspection purposes
but the two weeks Is a wclcum" respite
| for the men Of the crew,
Capt. William II. Rush who brought
the Florida up from Vera Cruz gives high
praise TO the work OF the American forces
in Vera Cruz not only IN the taking Of
the city but also in making ii a beautiful
healthtul and peaceful place In which to
1--we. Now 1t is known as the "spo;less
town he said last night, and It we'll de-
serves its name. for he considers it as
| healthy as any other city in the world
Town Ia Clean and HenIthfuI.
1T is quiet and clean down there now"
| said Capt. Rush. who was in charge OF
| the entire force when the city was cap
tured in April IAN the flies and mos
/ aAtArminatah
along The street one sees neat ash cans.
| numbered and painted which the citizens
| have been taught to use. Business IL pick
| ing up and the city Is once more pros
! porous. II IL orderly, peaceful and moral.
when we reached there IL was "A loose
| careless typical Mexican town, with
| everybody content to sleep or smoke a
| cigarette and wait for something 20 turn
! up. All that IL changed now, hut | don't
| think the natives care any more about
| Americans than they ever did. was
there some months before the actual fight
| ing and several months after.
! "Our money is being circulated and IL
recognized az good Mexican money.
| The cost of living. by the way. has gone
| up. The markets have improved and farm
products are being brought into the city.
but prices have about doubled. The popu-
| latlon has increased too, for many farmers
| have moved into the town, fearing either
|
they are safe under the protection OF our
| forces.
| II doubted once If would ever get
| out OF there. We heard all kinds of ru-
mors OF Huertas resgning and Of his
ref ling to resign. but | didn't know he
! rea..y had retired until I read a paper
/ TO-DAY, the first in weeks. Nobody there
seems TO know what is going to happen
Huerta, | believe. IL still strong. What
the policy Of the Government Is we are
not told and IL Is impossible to guess how
| long the troops will be there. They prob
ably will stay for some time. at least
until stable Government Is established.
Troops In Good Health.
There is no disease in the city and
no fear of an epidemic OF any kind. The
Objectionable districts have been cleaned
| out The health of the troops II very
| good. one man, ] believe, was drowned
| and another accidentally shot. but we had
only three hospital cases for the Solace
| when she returned from her northern trip.
| believe this was due 10 the outdoor life
Of the troops In "A temperature which is
equahle, though high--at times very high
THE men have behaved splendidly in
the face OF all kinds of temptations They
are in barracks in town and also line the
def"nces outside the city at the sand hills
to the north aud at the waterworks seven
miles outside, ! did not hear Of n single
case of intoXlcatlon. although we had
10 go into saloons and hotels frequently
! ana the men could have roided the bar
when the officers backs were turned"
II may be- that the Florida will he called
on for active service again soon--this time
In Hayti. In two weeks capt. Rush ex-
poets to take Admiral Fletcher down to
Iiayti. The Florida will r,lcve one OF
The battleships now at the West Indies
the Kentucky or the South Carolina Her
men are Just as ready to land there with
business in view, as they had been to