The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-04-23
Our Troops Invest
Entire City.
four THOUSAND
MARINES ASHORE
Batt|eships Shell Seaport to
Cover Landing Of Amer
lean Forces. =.

f. !. + !. j. + i. !. !. !. !: + !. j. !. + j
1. i
+ Washington, April 23.-The 1
i. American forces are in COM 1
+ plete control of Vera Cruz. No 1
!. noncombatants were injured in /.
j. the fighting there. This word !
i. was received in dispatch !
i. from Consul Canada. i
j. The White House gave out !
+ the following statement: i
!. "Dispatches received from !
f. Consul Canada at Vera Cruz ]
4. announced that the American !
f. forces are now in complete i
+ possession of the city; that ap- !
i. parently no fatalities occurred i
i. among American and foreign !
+ noncombatants and that firing i
4 had ceased, except for occa- !
+ sional picket Shots" j
FOAo VI W, MCA., APlA Ao--SOAA
plete investment of Vera Cruz by ma
rines of the United States force was
begun early in the day. AS the ma
rines were landed the battleship fleet
shelled the southern portion of the
city.
Before day broke 2,700 marines and
bluejackets had been landed from the
transports and battleships in addi
ton to the storming party of 1,5O(
which had captured the Mexican Gus
toms house and shipping district
Fighting is being continued by fed
eral riflemen from housetops in the
outskirts of the city. The greater
part of Vera Cruz is in the hands OF
Americans. .u~s-...s ... "a
Battieships Open Fire on City.
AS the marines were landed there
was a continuous accompaniment OF
firing from the battleships in the har
bor The fire was directed at the
southern part Of the city, which had
been deserted by all but combatants
Major Buffers force of marines took
possession of all the larger houses
and buildings, routing many of the
ritlemen, who had kept up the fire
from the housetops.
Consul Canada gave out a state
ment that the city will be quiet be.
fore evening. Copies of a proclama.
ton issued by Rear Admiral Fletcher
requesting cooperation of the mayor
and municipal authorities in restoring
order were distributed over the city
The number of those killed and
wounded in the last engagement is
said to be small, as the Mexicans fired
from the shelter of the housetops and
the marines effected their landing and
Investment of the city so quickly that
resistance was almost impossible.
Noneombatants Escape Injury.
Foreigners and Mexican noncom.
'batants who were marooned in hotels
in the heart Of the center of disturb
:ance were told by American officers
they would be protected. None of
them has been injured Many were
taken aboard American and German
ships in the harbor
Admiral Fletcher's proclamation to
the mayor, chief of police and citizens
of Vera Cruz read:
1t has become necessary for the
naval forces of the United States of
America, now at Vera Cruz to land
and assume military control of the
customs wharves of Vera Cruz. Your
cooperation is requested to preserve
order and prevent loss of life.
1T is not the intention of the Unit
ed States naval forces to interfere
with the administration, of civil af-
fairs of Vera Cruz more than is neces-
sary for the purpose of maintaining q
condition of law and order and en-
force such sanitary conditions as are
needed to meet military requirements.
Full Protection Promised.
1T is desired that the civil officials
of Vera Cruz shall continue in the
peaceful pursuits of their occupations.
Under these conditions full protection
will be given to the city by the United
States naval forces.
1t is enjoined upon all inhabitants
and property owners to prevent firing
by individuals from thu shelter OF
their houses upon United States
forces, or upon any one else; such
firing by irregulars not members of an
organized military force is contrary
to the laws of war; if persisted in it