The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-04-23
Go %VeYnnIcnt Offices Sci


cd organized resistance.
&c yeTnnIcnt Offices Seized.
The postoffice, government tele-
graph office and the cable office We're
the first buildings occupied after the
customs house. A squad of marines
was placed in charge of the cable of
flee. The telegraph wires were found
intact and enough Mexican operators
were retained to mar the lines TO
Mexico City.
After General Mas had been driv-
en- from his position in the central
plaza, the Americans found them
selves the objects OF fusilades from
the tops CT houses, where small
groups of soldiers and citizens had
taken up positions.
Lieutenant Colonel Wendell c.. Ne
Vile commanded the marines from
the Prairie and Majors Reid and Ber-
kelley and Captains Hughes, Hills
and Dyer along the line. Every precau
ton is being taken to prevent a Mex
lean attack and the lines have been
reinforced by a detachment which
was originally in position beyond the
terminal works.
Toward the middle of the after
moor a large body of MeXicans evacu-
ated their position and are now
where in the sand hills back in the
interior, where, it is reported from
Mexican sources, they are expecting
to be joined by achievements from
the capital.
Stop Thanking Movement.
III withdrawal, however, was not
entirely p~remeditated. Those watch
ing on the ships observed through
their glasses a large force of MeXi-
cans moving over the hills to the
western outskirts of the city appar-
entity with the intention of Thanking a
battalion OF marines in the railway
yards land along Montesinos, which
runs east and west, not far from the
American consulate. Instantly the five
inch guns of the Prairie let go break
ing the Mexican formation and caus-
ing a hasty retreat. This ended the
thanking movement.
With the eastern side of the city
ocmupied and also the tracks of the
railway as far as the road house near
the western edge, and with the Mex
leans unable to do more than keep
up an annoying but ineffective fire
from the h~ousetops, Captain Rush, 1t
1920 o'clock, sent, under a flag of
truce, a messenger, chosen from a
mong the natives, to General Mas to
ask If he was not ready to surrender.
1t was learned that unless the Mex
leans yielded, Captain Rush had his
choice of continuing the fighting I'M
der the tactics he was using or of
clearing all positions and calling on
the warships for a bombardment.
Captain Rush was loathe to resort to
a h~ombardment and on other hand
did not desire to lose any more OF has
men by charges.
He recognized that the tactics of
the Mexicans might leave the house
top fighters in thenr positions indefi-
nitely and that it was not impossible
that those who were fighting from the
roofs might be reinforced by others
during the night.
Mas is Warned.
The messenger was told to remind
General Mas that while there were
at that time only a few more
than 1000 men, there would be avail
able for the American forces by morn
ing some 10000. IL was left to Cen
eral Mas to draw his own inferenceI
this message.
There was no cannon firing from
the Mexican side and it is supposed
their artillery pieces were taken from
the city early in the day. With the
exception of a few shots from the
field pieces of the b%luejackets
and a few from the Prairie, it was a
of rifles.
Bravery was shown everywhere
among the Americans. The young-
sters, wearing the blueiackets of their
vessels, behaved as well under fire as'
marines who along the line hand
ed themselves like veterans. Some of
marines had seen service before
In Central America and other places.
In the earlier part of the engage
small detachments of the Am
orleans, who were guarding the APP
to the central part of the city,
stood without flinching while bullets
from the rifles of the Mexicans sang
about their ears.
1900 MEN IN WATERS
ADJACENT To VERA CRIyZ