Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-22
VERA CRUZ VERSION OF OCCUPATION.
American Consulate Strongly Guarded
 and Other Sections Patrolled.

and Other Sections FatroIleo.
 Vera Cruz, April 21-Vera Cruz to- | night is in the hands of forces from the United States warships, but the l occupation was not accomplished with out loss of American lives.
 1 Four Americans bluejackets and marines, were killed by the fire of the 1 Mexican soldiers, and twenty fell 1 wounded The Mexican loss is not known, but it is believed to have been l heavy.
 1 The waterfront, the customs house and all important piers, including those under the terminal works, from which 1 extend the railroads to the capital, have been occupied. All the territory around the American consulate IS strongly patrolled and detaciaments i hold other sections of the city.
 Federal Garrison in Retreat. l The Mexican commander, General l Gustavo Maas, ordered a stubborn re- 1 sistance to the American advance, and 1 for many hours there was fighting in 1 the streets. Toward nightfall it was 1 reported that the main body Of the federal garrison was in retreat to the westward. Rear Admiral Badger, in command of the United States war l ships, prefaced his occupation of the | port by a demand through the Afneri- can consul w. w. Canada, for it's Isur- render. General Maas promptly de- ! shortly afterwards ten whaleboats were sent off from the side of the l transport Prairie, loaded with ma rines. These boats effected a landing in the neighborhood of the customs house before noon, and a few minutes l later Captain William R. Rush of the battleship Florida who was in com Hland Of the operations ashore, brought 1 his flag in. Captain Rush's men had l already taken up their positions. They ois,. .1-rs%1. | Florida, 390 marines from the Prairie l and 65 marines from the Florida Later these were augmented by a detachment 1 from the Utah.
 Landing of American Forces. | fine coming of the American forces was net heralded by any great excite 1nent, but some crowds gathered to l watch the landing. Soon the blue | jackets and marines marched through the streets leading from the water 1 front and along the railroad yards Others proceeded to the American con- l sulate, while still others were deplOyed along the approaches to Central Plaza, trated his men
 1 These manoeuvres wefe effected without opposition, but suddenly Gen eral MaaS challenged the advance with l the first shots-a volley fired from a l point three blocks from the marines l and two blocks south of the main plaza. The marines replied iDamedt- | aIely, but the action ceased in a mo- l ment. There was a lu1l for ten nin- l utes and then another brief exchange from the west end of Montesinos strCut, ..-2aere a federal outpost was l stationed.
 At 1230 o'clock the firing became | general and at 1 o'clock the guns ot
 the transport Prairie went into action
 Good Craftsmanship.
 Prior to this & detachment of blue
 jackets from the Utah, holding the 1 waterfront, ojened with two or theil
 three-inch guns. The first shots from
 these pieces were directed against aI
 ancient tower which once served as 2
 lighthouse. This was occupied by 1 Mexican sharpshooters Lieutenant
 Commander Buchanan of the Floride
 ordered that 1t be destroyed. Five
 shots brought the old Benito Juarel
 tower down.
 The women Of the American colony
 in Vera Cruz had already been placed i aboard the chartered steamers Esper- anza and Mexico, but the foreign col. 1 ony, especially the American section
 was greatly augmented this morning } when three trainloads arrived from tn.
 capital. Some oc these remained oI
 shore, but many were taken aboarc
 the steamers. So far as can be learn.
 ed, none of the refugees was injured 1 The postofflce, government telegraph office and the cable office were tn, first buildings occupied after the GUS , toms house A squad of marines wa.
 placed in charge of the cable office
 The telegraph wires were found intac
 and enough Mexican operators wer'
 retained to maintain the lines to Mex
 ico City.
 General Maas Driven from Position.
 After General Maas had been driver
 from his position in Central Plaza, tn,
 Americans found themselves the objec
 O fuslilades from the tops of houses
 where small groups of soldiers and cit
 1zens had taken up positions. It wa
 learned only tonight that the greate
 part Of those engaged in this resist
 ance were civilians who refused to ac
 cept the American occupation passive
 ly. They obtained guns and statione,
 themselves at points of vantage ant
 did much to prolong the action.
 Lieutenant Colonel Wendell c. Nev
 file, commander of the marines iron
 the Prairie. and Majors Reid and Der
 kelley and Captains Hughes, Hill an, } Dyer along the line. Every precautiol is being taken to prevent a Mexican attack, and the lines have been rein , forced by a detachment which wa originally In position beyond the ter ! Tnina1 works.
 } Toward the middle of the afternoo, large body of Mexieans evacuate, } their position, and arc now soreewher , in the sand hills hack In the interior
 where 1t Is reported from Mexican . sources they are expecting to be jeinet by reinforcements sent down from tn capital
 Flee When Prairie Opens Fire. This withdrawal, however, was no 1 entirely premeditated Those watch
 inG on the EhlHs observed throuSi