The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-25
HOW THE Battle WAS WON.
REPORT OF TIE OCCUPATION OF,
VERA CRUZ BY MARINES.
Marines Made Clean Sweep of City
Driving Out MexicaIls Who Fought
From Ambush.

! vera Cruz' April 22.-Rear Ad-
miral Frank f. Fletcher has taken up
headquarters at the Terminal Hotel.
He is in command of the land opera
lions, while Rear Admiral Badger
ommander-in-chief on the Atlantic
heet. has brought his flag into tho
harbor on the Minnesota.
After the general advance began
this morning Mexican sharpshooters
on the roofs put up stubborn re-
sistance.
The paymaster of the British cruis-
er Essex, Albert w. Kimber was
wounded on board his ship by a
"sniper" shore.
The British bluejackets crowded to
the bows and vociferously cheered the
American marines as they proceeded
in-shore for the landing.
The flags on the Essex and Fortress
San Juan de Ullua were half-masted
when the dead were carried to the
boats.
Rear Admiral Badger has not de-
cided to proceed to Tampico, and it is
believed his departure will be delay
ed. An indication of this is found in
the fact that his flagship has enter
ed the harbor.
Major Smedley d. Butler, with ma
rines from the Prairie, made a sortie
up the railway for a considerable dis
tance late today.
Rear Admiral Fletcher at $50
o'clock this morning ordered a gen.
eral movement for the occupation of
all the town. Bluejacket columns ad-
vanced and passed the uncompleted
market place and Naval College. When
they had reached the walls Of the
College u terrific rifle fire was poured
in all directions from the roof and
windows. The bluejackets, helpless to
return the fire against the stone
walls, scattered.
The Prairie, Chester and San Fran
cisco opened with their five and six
inch guns and shattered the walls.
The bluejackets formed again and
advanced against the fire. which had
diminished. BY 10 o'clock there was
only desultory firing from the inshore
side of the tower. Battalions Of
bluejackets had made their way along
the water front to the southern end
OF the town and cleared several
streets. but the sniping from houses
continued at intervals.
The scout cruiser Chester pound
ed buildings on the outskirts with
six-inch shells, firing over tho heads
OF the men ashore and showing al
most perfect craftsmanship.
The general movement from all the
positions taken yesterday began in
the direction of the main plaza. Ma
rines under Lieut.. Col Wendell c..
Neville moved to the southward
along parallel streets toward the CEN
tire, while marines commanded by
Lieut.. Commander Buchanan, of the
Florida. and Lieut.. Commander Arth-
ur B. Keating. of the Arkansas, were
ordered from their positions east of
the centre towards the plaza.
The two forces swung forward with
rush for distance of three blocks.
The machine gun and rifle fire was
supplemented by shell fire from the
smaller guns OF the Prairie and Ches-
ter. The ships guns supported the
movement of clearing the roofs TO the
south and east, occasionally dropping
shell few hundred yards in ad-
vance.
Buchanan's men. under direct com
mand of Lieut.. Guy w. O. Castle,
moved forward to position one
block directly east OF the plaza. Other
detachments occupied positions TO the
north and west. Both marines and
bluejackets dragged light field pieces,
but there was little work for them.
There was no organized resistance,
but from the beginning of the ad-
vance smart fire came from defend
ers on house tops. which invariably
drew merciless fire from the ad-
vancing parties The mahcine guns
sounded their tap. tap" in all quar-
ters. and American sharpsh ootcrs,
posted at street corners and other
points Of vantage, picked off at will
any man who appeared to them act
inc gtISDici,nSlV