Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-09

way 10 treat conStlpauOn.-AuV
| ensue. My Chief of Staff, Captain
| Huse, IN conjunction with the Ameri-
| can Consul, Mr.. Canada, endeavored
! until five o'clock to get into commune
| cation with any authorities III control
but their efforts were unavailing. Any
| further advance at this time of the
| day would have brought the lighting
into the most densely populated part
| OF the city after nightfall 1t was
therefore decided to hold our present
position and in case of unforeseen con-
| tingencies the heavy warehouses on
Piei No. could be securely held.
AT p. NJ an officer was again sent
to Fort San Juan d Ulloa to inform
the Commanding officer that there
| must be no sign eff military movement
in the fort during the night, and that
10 one would be allowed to leave the
fort. The Commanding Onicer agreed
to this arrangement and promised TO
remain neutral
"A Mexican naval officer from the
Naval Station in Ulloa came or board
the Prairie about p. III. He had serv-
ed in the Spanish Navy and was on
board the Don Juan de Austria at the
battle of Sianila. He requested in the
name OF the Commandment that about
three hundred navy yard workmen and
sailors be allowed to leave the station
and join the forces under Gen. Mass.
The practical difficulty of allow
ing this was pointed out to him and
he was told to inform the Command
ant that the matter would be taken UP
as soon as order was feestablished in
the City.
The Florida was ordered to sweep
the entrance of the harbor inside
breakwater for mines with wires re-
ported leading to Ulloa and before the
dragging was completed the San fran
cisco and Chester entered the harbor
during the night Investigation and
aeroplane observations subsequently
proved that there were no mines in
the harbor.
AT p. NJ. the following radio was
| sent to Flag Officer Arkansas:
VIII hold pier number four for
the night. Desultory street firing con-
tinues. You should be prepared to
land infantry battalions and artillery
Immediately on arrival under cover of
darkness. Captain Huse or myself will
repair on board on your arrival to ad-
wise you of the situation.
'(SO Fletcher
'Desultory firing continuous until
midnight with occasional shots
throughout the night. The dead and
wounded were sent aboard the Prairie
and the medical officers of the Carlos
V and Essex came aboard and offered
their services which were gratefully
accepted.
Reports Were received that the enc
my were preparing to attack with ar
tillery during the night and the Utah
and Florida anchored outside the
breakwater were directed to be pre-
pared to use turret guns and search
| lights if ordered. The Prairie kept
searchlights trained on points along
shore from which sniping had occurred
during the day.
AT P. NJ. the San Francisco enter
ed the harbor and anchored three hun
dred yards north CT the prairie. She
Immediately landed fer battalion of
| two seaman companies which reported
| to Brigade Commander On Shore. The
| Chester entered the harbor at 1905 A.
NJ. April 22d, and anchored off Sandal
| Pier. Her battalion of seaman and
| marines were landed Immediately. At
l A. NJ. censorship was established
| over the cable station.
Rear Admiral Badger with five
| battleships of his feet came to anchor
| in the outer harbor, and with Mr.. Chief
of Staff I repaired on board the Flag
ship at 2.45 A. NJ After explaining the
situation to the Admiral, he decided
| to land his forces and the seaman and
| Marine battalions of the Arkansas,
| New Hampshire, South Carolina,
Michigan and New Jersey, landed at
A. M. under cover Of darkness and
promptly moved to their assigned posi-
| lions joining the organization on shore.
The Final Advance.
| early in the morning of the 22d eff
| forts to get in communication with the
authorities were renewed. By eight
O'Clock it YVES definitely ascertained
| that the firing of the enemy was not
under organized control or acting un-
der the direction of competent author
| ity and the following instructions were
| issued:
Brigade Commander, U. s. Naval
Forces, Vera Cruz, Mexico:
Subject; Re-advancing and taking
| possession of the City of Vera Cruz.
| 81. All efforts to get IN touch with
| responsible authorities on shore have
| failed and efforts have been fruitless
| to have the authorities stop firing.
| "'2. l am well Informed that the
regular troops have withdrawn and
the people now firing are irresponsible
people under no control or authority
80. You will advance in your dis
erection, and suppress this desultory fir
ing, taking possession of the city and
| restore order respecting as much as
| possible the hotels and other places
! where foreigners are lodged.
"a You are cautioned against the
possible use by the enemy of machine
guns and artillery.
"'(Sd) F. F. FLETCHER.
"At $50 A. NJ. Rush signalled:
Advance begun Please shell mill
tary positions.
| "(Sd) Rush
1.-THE marine forces advanced through
all streets to the north of Avenida In
dependencia where they were met with
heavy rifle and machine gun-fire from
houses hotels, hospital, church steeples