The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-04-30
CAPTURE OF THE PORT OF VERA CRUZ
Graphic Pen Picture Of Stirring Scenes by a Special
Correspondent.

| CAIpQ Will Ilcdl
guns of the man-of-war were soon
booming and heavy projectiles were
crashing into the walls OF the C
envy. The Mexicans fed, leaving Q
number of dead and wounded.
Eight Of the Americans, however.
had been shot down at this point De-
fore the ~irregulars were dislodged
from their fortress.
The flag Of Rear Admiral Badger
now floats from the Minnesota, which
he has taken for his flagship.
The stars and stripes ave over the
Terminal hotel, where Rear Admiral
Fletcher, now chief in command OF
land operations, has established his
headquarters. Admiral Fletcher occu'
pies an apartment adjacent to the
rooms used by Special Envoy John
| Lind while he was living at the Ter
minal.
Temporary Hospitals Are
Established In the City.
Temporary hospitals have been co
tablished throughout the city, the chief
one being in the Plaza hotel, of which
DR.. Elliott of the d~readnaught Flor
ida is in charge.
Members of the American Medical
corps have been installed in San Sc
bastian hospital. where there are a
number Of wounded MeXicans.
Early Thursday a number of ma
chine guns were brought ashore from
the newly arrived battleships, some OF
them being posted on the fat roofs OF
the adobe houses. Sunrise found the
roof of the Parochial church, the tall
est building in the city, swarmins
with bluejackets ready to pick of any
Mexican "snipers" that might show
themselves.
A machine gun was placed upon the
roof of the Hotel Diligencia, which was
in the line of fire. and was badly shot
up. All the windows were broken by
bullets.
Other machine guns have been
planted around the railway terminals
the custom house, the United States
consulate. the post office, the cabls
office and other structures.
British Tars Cheer U. S..
Marines Hurrying to Attack.
One incident occurred during tbs
landing of American reinforcements
which shows the spirit of friendship
among the armed forces on the bis
international fleet.
A Mexican sharpshooter had been
taking pot shots at British sailors on
+hp rr,,ieo- I-.znv arI A1hnrt Lipohnr
paymaster, had been wounded. When
several whaleboats, carrying United
States marines, swept close to the
English warship on their way to the
customs house wharf, the British tars
gathered at the rail and cheered with
might and main.
The Americans have behaved with
the utmost gallantry since operations
began, and there has been no com
plant of any kind. Rear Admiral
Fletcher Is proud of his boys" and
sent the following message addressed
to the men of the fleet:
THE division commander desires to
express his admiration at the splendid
and efficient work of the naval brt
gade which captured Vera Cruz and
efficient support of the cruisers, whicl
reflects great credit upon the accN
racy of the fire of the gunners.
During the night the Americans OF
the western side of the city captured
a number of struggling Mexicans, most
of whom were armed with rusty, old
muskets. The freight sheds were
turned into detention pens and the
prisoners were locked up until they
could be transferred to the warships
Many of the Mexican dead were
also buried during the night without
any attempt at identification. Prac.
tically all were men OF low caste.
whose fighting had been without a
single spark of patriotic animation"
Work preliminary to the seizure OF
the railroad from Mexico City to the
eastern s~eacoast already has been
done.
Soldiers Ordered Not to :,
, Drink Vera Cruz Water.
; The American on the firing line
1 suffered greatly from lack of water.
!, They were under orders not to drink
: the city water for fear 1t might con-
tain poison, and most Of them had ex
hausted the contents Of their can
teens.
: A number Of Mexicans, mostly wom-
} en- with babies in their arms, ap-
, pealed to American sailors and ma
rines for food. Most of the appeals
were needed, Notwithstanding the fact
that the hard work ashore had made
Jack a hungry man himself.
The details which searched the
houses for hidden men and secret mu.
milton of wal worked quickly and with
precision. Little resistance was Of
fered and In cases where doors were
locked they were battered down.
Armed men were disarmed and thou
sands OF guns. ancient swords and
a1-t,I-o, x-aro .S.-