The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-06-26

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Vera Cruz, Mexico.-Monthss before
the landing of, the American naval
forces at Vera. Cruz and the. capture Of
the Mexican port. plans han- been
worked out Tor the occupation Of the
city. They contemplated resistance
by the 4Mexicans and were not merely
plans fora peaceful ~apatf6lling OF
streets and administration Of civil du-
ties. 49,,
FIVE months ago the battleship
New Jersey was sent to Vera Cruz
and her officers we're detailed 'imt1e-
distely for a military survey Of the
city. Outwardlyi the groups of young
officers who were ashore daily were
merely sightseeing. riding or walking
through the quaint old city and hav-
ing the best Of times. Actually, the
city was as carefully charted Is II It
were a coast OF dangerous reefs and
shoals. d The spots along It's water.
front were selected where the men OF
the sea should land whenever hostili-
ties might start. The straight streets
which might be swept by the deadly
hail OF bullets from machine guns
We're. marked. 9aa essn.@~ i se Ne
Streets Very Crooked.
In a seventeenth century Spanish
city such as this straight streets are
the exception. Many streets are
curved and more have joys every few
hlOnLu - that TIM cfR0of nroo r0
to. end abruptly until the end Is
reached, when It is seen to continue
q hundred feet or SO to the right or
left.
The buildings whose commanding
roofs would sweep these streets were
listed. The dozen or more high para
petted stone and plaster towers which
overlooked various parts OF the city
were known even to the location OF
atairways, SO that no time might be-
lost In reaching their commanding tur-
refs. The dat roofs were: charted like
steps. They we're to be occupied In
successive series. all the time advanc-
ing over the housetops until the city
Vas swept and secured.
The developments Of the day
showed that the precautions were
wisely taken. The capture Of Vera
Cruz In the Warless war vas . fight
over the housetops. Behind the roof
parapets and from the high towers
the Mexican snipers fought like de-
tenders Of . beleaguered medieval
castle. Each city block OF the gray
stone city made 4 separate castle.
Had their defense been as determined
and as united as the attack Of the
men from the ships the story Of Amer
lean death and bloodshed would have
been far more bitter. American fore
sight knew more about their own city
than they did themselves. It struck
straight for the high spots.
Fighting sobers tackles.
To probably more than half the
bluejackets and marines the first two
days OF lighting In Vera Cruz was .
sudden awakening that life in tho
navy II not Ill pomp. parade. travel
and play. Many had seen a fell
low being cold In death. much less .
man killed., or been under fire before.
Il was . changed body OF young men
that came back to the ships. Shore
expeditions before had been for dis
play or pleasure. This had been grim
business. 81 which comrades Of the
other happy shores had died. where
the blood lust Of revenge had run
high, and In . twinkling they had
changed from carefree boys to hard
eped men, 5.6M5 800 u
In the Pla8a d'Cathedral the hos
pital corps gathered up the mangled
fauaains u . Mexican defender. A
threeipch shell had torn away both
legs. The close hre Of q machine gun
had chopped the body - II with
knives Across the plaza to the ears
Of On of1cer to whom war had.ceased
to be play came the ribald chatter.
Garry the body down the street!'
he directed the hospital orderlies.
It was lifted on 1 stretcher. The
men with the red Cross on their
sleeves etarted at . brisk pace. Gu
rtopsly the nearest boys stepped for
wefd to look With . shudder they
dew back. The words froza on their
lips> It was q II some invisible hand
Or Ice had stt7ed their heart beats.
Along tn lima moved the human
wreckaSS Or TIER bullets. II was
deaths miner. One glance sunce0.