Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-27
VERA CRUZ A[ED
By MARTIAL LAW
MEXICAN CITIZENS REFUGE re
SURRENDER WEAPONS AND
OBEY AMERICANS.
ADMIRAL FLETCHER THEREUPoN
TAKES CHARGE OF CITY
Officials From United States Navy
Named to Preside Over Various Dc.
partments - Fletcher in Supreme
Command on shore-Food Supplies
Running Short and Worries Officials.

Running Short and Worries Officials.
Vera Cruz, April 27.-vera Cruz is
! under martial law.
Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher,
commanding the American naval forces
on shore, issued a proclamation to this
effect Sunday, and the last opportun-
ity Mexicans had for handling their
own affairs in Vera Cruz under their
own laws disappeared.
Admiral Fletcher and his staff deter
mined that there should be no more
quibbling with the Mexican officials re-
garding forms Of government, and un-
til further notice the residents of this
port will live and be judged by mill
tary law. The word has gone forth
that disorder and unruliness in any
form shall receive swift and severe
punishment.
This proclamation makes Rear Ad-
miral Fletcher absolute ruler ashore.
and 1t generally is agreed that he Will
use this power with stoical regard for
all. to the end that order shall be
maintained.
May Return to Posts.
1t is expected that the martial law
proclamation will have another eff
fect-that of opening the way for more
of the city and federal employees to re-
turn to their posts and cooperate In
restoring the local government furc-
lions. Mexicans point out that these
| men will now be in a position to ex-
| plain to their friends and the exist
ing government at the capital that un-
der marshal law they felt obliged II
return to their work.
An order that all arms be turned in
! by the residents by noon today brought
! to the headquarters Of the provost
j marshal bushels Of small arms and
stacks of rifles, which had not been
discovered by the provost guard on
| their previous searches, and at the
consulate, a huge quantity Of guns OF
| all makes and sizes was stacked up
The city was quiet Saturday in all
quarters and II there was even single
sniper in action the fact was not re-
ported to division headquarters. There
was, therefore, no occasion for the pa
| troll to carry out the order issued by
Rear Admiral Fletcher for summary
action against those who had been
sharpshooting from the housetope.
Americans Who Rule.
A large number OF local Mexican Of
ficials have reported their willingness:
to resume their duties Of office under
the supervision Of the Americans. The
American officials named to date to as
! sist in the supervision OF the municipal
government are: Commander H. Q
Stickney OF the Prairie. captain of the
port; Fleet Surgeon L. W. Spratling
sanitary inspector: Commander D. f
Sellers Of the Arkansas, provost mar
shall, and Commander John NJ. Luby OF
the South Carolina, director OF the
postoffice
Roberto Diaz, the mayor Of Vera
Cruz, is among those who have agreed
to reopen their offices. and it has beer
arranged that the public schools. which
were in session when the fighting be-
gan, shall be reopened tomorrow.
Both the Navy and State depart
ments are eager for all official news
and the feet and the consular officer
have been bombarded with orders t
keep these departments advised OF ever
minute details. This official infornla
|
sages and enormous volume of pres
matter filed by the thirty or more news
paper correspondents has resulted II
so clogsins the three cables sendin
to the outside world that its transmits
sion. except with many hours delay j
virtually impossible.
C.. Mitchell, manager Of the cabl
office, and his staff ire going on ;
minimum of sleep. Twenty more cor
RESPONDENTS are said to be on thei
way here with the soldier transports
| and few more are coming from New
York.
| Food Problem Worries.
: The food supply problem must be re
lieved soon, and for this reason plan
are now under way to open the Al
varado railroad. short line runnin;
; south into the garden and poultry dis
trict. Such food as remains can not b
obtained by the Mexican poorer classe
on account of the increase prices.
The restaurants have cut DOWN thei
list to soup, usually a fish soup. piec
of meat and coffee. and the charge
have been increased. The hotels ar
crowded to their capacity, and tn
refugees who have succeeded in reach
ing mere are uIiulilS OiiA'SuibS AZ w
tanning quarters.
, Relief was given to the lighthous
tenders in the harbor Sunday. Thes
I men have stuck by their work an
practically had been forgotten, bu
;. had they wanted to leave their post
e they would have found swimming tn
E only means. In several cases thel
) food supplies were getting scarce.
|
b No material change has been mad
J. in the disposition OF the America
I forces within. tine ,city Or on the outsid
3 lines. Maj. .Smedley D. Butler still
: M command of the line between tn
: city and General Mas forces, whic
are not large as far as armed map ~