Evening star., 1914-04-22
Personnel Of Landing Force.

ne NAVY 0cpsI lAueut at osoV CkOCA
last night said:
The landing force probably was COM
posed OF about an equal number of
sailors and marines. One battalion of
marines of the second advance base regi-
ment from the Prairie, the marines at
tached to the other ships and a portion
OF the sailors. probably about one-hah
of each ships company, formed the
force Admiral Fletcher's flagship is the
Florida
At 10 o'clock last night this statement
was given out by the Navy Department:
AT 10 am. Tuesday Rear Admiral
Atlantic feet. was informed by radio
that Admiral Fletcher had been ordered
to seize the customhouse at Vera Cruz.
Rear Admiral Howard, in command Of
the Pacific feet, also was informed that
admiral Fletcher had been ordered to
seize the customhouse at Vera Cruz.
THE cruiser Denver has been ordered
from Corinto. Nicaragua. and the An
na polls from Acapulco TO Sa1ina Cruz,
the west coast terminus of the Tehuante
pee route to protect American interests
Threat to Use Big Guns.
Shortly after 10 pm. the Navy Depart
Ilent made public a dispatch from Vera
cruz. dated at $50 Pm, probably from
ADMIRAL Fletcher:
our men are firing only when fired
We prepared a flag of true with
Il essage to Gen. Mas to cease firing or
our big guns will be used. Now about
1880 marines and sailors ashore All
business here suspended since noon.''
Navy Department bulletin, issued
shortly after 10 pm. said:
The following dispatch was received
from Consul Canada at Vera Cruz:
Marines and bluejackets landed at
m0rninO INN cd diafa 70 n 10
possession of cable Office. post office and
telegraph office and custorhouse, and
also railroad terminal and yards, with
rolling stock. notwithstanding firing
from house tops. we are masters of sit
uation SO far, without use of heavy guns.
Firing all around consulate. Several
shots have struck building. Our men
simply defending themselves. Some re-
sistance from naval forces soon silenced
by guns on Prairie At this time repor,
four of our men killed and twenty
wounded. American newspaper men and
others in consulate. Some Americans
aboard refugee ship. now marooned in
hotel within firing line. Trains from
Mexico City did not arrive"
At 1910 pm. the Navy Department
said:
Admiral Badger on his flagship. the
Arkansas. will direct the ships accom-.
panying him. the Louisiana. New Hamp-
shire. Vermont, New Jersey. South Caro-
lima and Michigan. to Tampico and Vera
Cruz as he thinks best to meet the ex.
isting conditions
Chaplains Ordered on Duty.
The bulletin issued at 1890 pm. said
The Secretary of the Navy tonight Is
sued orders for all ehaplalns on duty a
shore stations to proceed Immediately I,
Mexico by the first available ship Chap
lain Stone of the Boston navy yard al
ready has been directed to proceed will
the ships of the Sd Division, which wil
leave next week. and Chaplain Patrick
who is stationed with the marine regi
ment at Norfolk. has been directed to q
on the Moro Castle, the chartered steam
er. which leaves Norfolk Wednesday,,
Later Secretary Daniels issued order
for six additional chaplains to procee
Immediately to Mexico. They are
George L. Bayard, Washington nav
yard, to take passage on the Moro CastI
from Philadelphia for Vera Cruz: Waite
c. Isaac. New York navy yard, to tn
Virginia, at Boston; NJ T. Pearce, New
port training station to the Georgia a
t:oston: James d. McNair. from the Mar
island navy yard to the cruiser Mar.
land: g. K. Evans. from the trainin
station, California, to the cruiser Sout
Dakota; L. N. Taylor, frcm the We:
Virginia, IN reserve In Puget sound,
the cruiser Chattanooga
Ships to Be Put Into Service.
) At 1880 pm. the following bulletin wa
issued:
orders have been issued to place tn
scout cruiser Salem and the gunbos
castine in commission at the earliest DO:
sible hour. The Salem is now at Phils