The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-27
Federal Troops and Lib
Grated Prisoners Re-
Sist Americans.
MAAS PREVIOUSLY
AGREED TO PLAN
First Uncensorcd Story of Fall
of Vera Cruz Is Wired by Spe-
cial Correspondent-Adnirals
Seek to Convince Mcxi-
cans State, of War
Does Not Exist.

From Roscoe Conklin Mitchell.
Abonrd United States Ship Louisiana,
Taken or at Sea by Dispatch Boat
Bailey Saturday Night. and Trans
mitted by Point Isabel. Texas. as First
Uncensored Story Of Fall OF Vera Cruz,
Point Isabel, April 26.-When word
reached Admiral Badger on the nag
ship Arkansas just before Thursday
night OF the strong possibility Of
Hncrta anc Villa, the rebel chieftain,
joining forces TO drive tho Americans
from Vera Cruz. and to Tesist an at
tack on Mexico City. Instructions were
flashed to Captain Cooper to proceed to
Galveston at fun speed.
Despite tho fact thnt her landing
force of AIS tackies and marines had
been sent ashore In the afternoon, the
Louisiana was stcaminE out OF the
harbor OF Vera Cruz at twenty-nv
minutes TO l o'clock Friday morning.
Captain Cooper was on the bridge whom
a radiogram from tho flagship warned
him TO keep a close watch for the
three Mexican gunboats Saragoza, Vera
Cruz and Bravo. which II was suspect
cd were cruising north OF Tampico
ready to attack the army transports
do not fire on the Runboats unless
some overt act l. committed" was the
81
tions
Throw Up EntrencIments.
When / left Vera Cruz on Thursday
night, the marines, under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles c. Long,
were throwing up entertainments to the
cast and north OF the city. In astici-
patton OF an attack by the Federal
forces under Minister OF War Rlan-
quet, who was expected to come from
Mexico City with rcinforcements TO
Join Genera! Mas. who had retreated
when tho arst detachment OF marines
and tackles were landed by Admiral
fietcher on Tuesday afternoon.
Refugees had just arrived from
Mexico City on a special train flying
the British flag. and guarded by armed
sailors OF Admiral Cradocks British
flagship Essex. and reported that their
train had been stopped by the Federals
half dozen times between Mexico
city and the San Francisco bridge of
the Mexican Railway, near Vera Cruz
Tho situation was reported as grave In
MEXICO city. where on Tuesday night
the American flag was trampled under
loot ana spit upon in the plaza by a
mob of Huerta partisans.
one OF the leading daily newspapers
of Mexico City denounced the Ameri-
cans bitterly, and called upon all pa
tr!ottc MeNicans to take up arms in
defense OF the national honor.
patriotic MeNicans. recapture Vera
Cruz. and make sausage meat or the
cowardly American sailors to feed your
dogs" was one of the flaming head
lines OF this newspaper.
Quiet In Vera Cruz.
There was quiet In Vera Cruz as the
Louisiana put to sea.
JacEies with rifles and bayonets are
patroling every street In the city.
only an occasional shot was fired at
them by the 'snipers," who caused SO
much trouble from Tuesday afternoon
until Thursday morning.
Marines were making house-to-
house canvass OF tho city, confiscating
all arms and ammunition. Scores of
the shnrpshooters were arrested, while
some We're shot. On the housetops OF
many buildings the marines found
"sntpers" with half bushel baskets
hllcd with ammunition.
Captain Harry Mel. P. Huso. Ad-
mfral Fletchers chief of staff, denied
that any prisoners had been executed
lie told me, however. that 1t probably
would be necessary TO resort to such
tactics.
Because OF the rigid censorship en-
forced by Admiral Fletcher over all
cable dispatches. tho full story of the
fail of Vera Cruz has not been told be-
Tore this. Naval Constructor Gate
wood. the censor refused for many
hours to permit the correspondents to
cable the names of the dead and
wounded Americans.
Fletcher Notifies 1Iaas.
ADMIRAL Fletcher notified Governor
Maas on Tuesday he would take pos
session OF the custom house, and es-
labiish blockade to prevent the land
ing of arms and ammunition consigned
TO Huerta. He asked the corporation
OF General Mas, and gave assurance
liiat there would be no interference
with the municipal government
General Mas, who months ago had
peen Informed of Admiral FIctchers
program. should * become necessary
10 occupy the city, and had agreed to
me plan left Vera Cruz in hired
mack when he received F1etcher's mes
sage He carried with him eight ma
chine guns, and was accompanied by
practically the entire force Shortly
before his departure, 600 convicts wer.
released from the famous San Juan
ne Uiloa Prison, and supplied with
rifles and ammunition. These liberated
convicts. many of whom were political
prisoners. and Federal troops in civil
ian attire, strongly defended the city
mhen the 1ackies and marines were
landed in the afternoon. Windows
were barricaded. and sharpsho hooters
were stationed at points of vantage on
housctops.
As tho first boat of Jackies from the
Elorida was nearing the Ward Line
COCKS, two MeXicans, who were stand
ing on tho pier. opened fire. The boat
swain was wounded In the right thigh.
When the jackies put foot on Mexican
soil the firing became general. Tho
Americans returned the fire. and soon
several street battles were in progress
Four Americans wero killed and twen.
ty wounded. No record was kept of
the Mexican casualties, but before sun
down dead bodies were found scattered