Mountain advocate., 1914-04-24
Americans Blood Shed To
Prevent Huerta From Re-
ceiving Ammunition
Federals Expect To Blow Up
Bridge To Stay Progress
Of the Yankees
-Four Americans Killed and twenty
one Wounded


aHd Mexico are now engaged in their
second war.
The conflict began when RI. Adm.
Fletcher, acting under instructions
from the president. communicated to
him by the secretary of the navy.
seized Vera Cruz, the gateway to Mex
leo City
The finer dfferentiations OF interna-
tional lawyers as to what constitutes
or does not constitute an act OF war
we're swept aside when marines and
bluejackets we're landed from Fetch.
er's squadron, and by force OF arms
took possession Of the principal sea
port on the east coast OF Mexico.
Blood is Shed.
The blood of American enlisted men
was shed in this attack. aud when
Fletcher sent a cable to the navy de-
partment that the casualties number.
ed four dead and 2l wounded 1t
became idle to bubble about the pre-.
else legal character of the operations
of the United States.
terizing the aggression Of the national
administration by the harsh terms Of
war, but preferred TO describe the &C
ton agains' Vera Cruz as an act OF re.
prisal for an affront TO the American
dag, were less resolute in defending
their definition Of the seizure os that
seaport when they we're told OF the pur-
port OF Rr. Adm. Fletcher's dispatch.
Fletcher Sends Message.
Fletchers first message announcing
the seizure Of Vera Cruz, As given out
at the white house and navy depart
ment, read as follows.
In face Of approaching nOrther,
landed marines and sailors from Utah,
Florida and Prairie and seized GUS
tom house. Mexican forces did not
oppose landing, but opened fire With
rife and artillery after our seizure OF
custom house.
prairie Smelling Mexicaus out of
their position. Desultory firing from
housetops and streets. Hold custom
house and section Of city in vicinity
of wharves and consulate. Casualties.
four dead and p wounded
The text OF this dispatch was trans.
miJted to the senate when that body
convened after the dinner recess and
senators gravely We're forced 10 admit
that the United States was now en-
gagged in a war with the de facto gov
eminent OF Mexico. OF which Victor
iano Huerta is the recognized head
This dispatch from Vera Cruz was
made public by the navy department.
1T is reported that Commandant
General Mas left Vera Cruz in car
riage, that his family followed in an
other carriage and that he had not
been heard from since The Mexican
troops were turned loose 10 act as they
pleased, few if any officers remaining 70
The ca1amitous development which
most men in congress had been hoping
:" would be averted had taken place, and
the situation is described by the single
word. War"
Subsequently another aerogram
came from Fletcher, in which he an
nounced that the railroad yards and
rolling stock, cable Office and other i'm
portant buildings had been taken pos
session Of By his men, indicating that
he was proceeding in an energetic
, way to- prepare for operations on a
large scale by the superior naval force
"that is soon TO arrive aud by the reg
ular army that Is TO sail from Calves
ton.
May Blow Up Bridge.
Naval officers manifested deep in
terest in the fall of a railroad trestle
IL miles out OF Vera Cruz which pos
sesses great strategic value. Il is fear,
ed that the forces OF Gen. Huerta will
attempt to blow up this trestle 10 stop
railroad traffic between Vera Cruz and
the capital and stay the progress OF
American arms No information was
received Up TO late hour respecting
operations near the trestle,
The part OF Vera Cruz seized by the
American forces early in the day in
eludsd 80 area facing the harbor in
the h9fheEn part of the city.