Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-24
Battleship Louisiana
Arrives at Vera Cruz
and Lands Detachments
By Associated PRESS

vera Cruz, April 24.-The battleship
Louisiana arrived to-day and imme-
and bluejackets. The Mississippi also
prepared to- send ashore 700 marines
and battalion of bluejackets, as we'll
as two aeroplanes.
The marines who had been holding
the outposts were relieved to-day by
a battalion of bluejackets.
Detachments of bluejackets and ma
rines are quartered all about the city,
while squads patrol the streets.
BY tomorrow the total force on
shore will probably reach $500 men.
The outposts have been equipped
with twelve machine guns and several
S-inch field pieces. which were taken
horses to each gun. The animals were
frightened by the unaccustomed work
and the marines had hard struggle
with them.
Rear Admiral Fletcher's headquar-
ters at the Terminal Hotel are guard
ed by machine guns. while seven field
pieces are held in reserve in the
vicinity.
Supplies Distributed
The commissary. ordnance and quar-
termasters departments worked very
efficiently so that along the docks
there were no piles of merchandise, as
is usually the case whine an armed
forced is landed. All supplies were
promptly distributed among the troops
who also received distilled water from
the ships under the superintendance
of the medical department.
over $50 Mexican sick and wounded
were found in the San Sebastian Hos
pital when it was inspected to-day by
navy surgeon. Among the wounded
was only one woman, who had been
shot through the arm.
In the mortuary of the hospital forty
unburied Mexican deda were lying. A
supply of ammunition was also found
here. The building had been protected
from the gunfire of the warships and
tho rife fire of the landing parties by
the hospital flag, although it appears
certain that there was much sharp
shooting from the roof of the hospital.
Conditions in the hospital were
found to be so bad that three navy
surgeons were dtailed to-day to assist
the hospital authorities. Food and
medicine were supplied from the
Solace.
Wounded On Solace
All the American wounded have
been taken on board the Solace. The
navy surgeons are enthusiastic over
the care and attention they are able
to give the stricken men, owing to the
excellent equipment of the vessel.
Until the arrival of the Solace the
wounded and the prisoners had been
sent on board the Prairie. which soon
became crowded. That vessel is ILL
suited for hospital work.
The medical department to-day
made an inspection of the sanitary
conditions of the city and opened
negotiations with the Mexican health
officials in the hope of inducing them
to return to their work.
With Commander Herman o. Stick
| ney. of the Prairie, appointed COM
mander of the port. the American au-
thorities to-day undertook the man
| agement of the customs. For time
there will be in reality two customs
houses. Mariana Ascarraga, the Mex
lean customs collector, is no tinclined
, to serve under American supervision
but declares he will take charge of the
undfspatched business which was in
hand at the moment of occupation.
Commander Stickney and his men are
to look after the new business and
believe they will have no difficulty in
retaining a few of the old officials.
one of the reasons given by Ascarraga
for declining to continue his duties
| was tha the would be violating the
Mexican law. as the port of Vera Cruz
has been closd by orders from the fed
eral capital.
huniFai FIetCher Busy
Rear Admiral Fletcher has begun
the general supervision of the city and
| he and his staff are working very
| arduously in Strengthening out local
affairs.
Very few of the former heads of
the city departments have returned to
take UP their positions and most of
them seem to have left the city.
The sanitation plant of the munich
pality was placed in operation again
to-day under new chief and the
tial service.
Numbers of shops and restaurants
We're opened yesterday and crowds
| walked about the streets and the open
| places. Except for the passing of an
| occasional patrol the city seems to
have resumed almost normal con-
| ditions.
Music for Civilians
! Bands from the American fleet
played in various parts of the city YES
terday and attracted large crowds of
civilians. The idea of providing music
! for the people was suggested by Can
tain Rush. who only few hours be-
| fore had been directing the artillery
| and machine gun fire against the same
| people.
| Large numbers Of Mexicans called
at Rear Admiral F'letcher's headquar.
ters to-day pleading for the release OF
! friends and relatives who had been
made prisoners. The almost invari-
able reply was that all whose inno-
cence could be established would be
released in short time. CAPTAIN
| Huse. chief of staff of Rear Admiral
| Fletcher addressed one group in Span
| ish, telling them that the sniping from
| the housetops must cease and that all
! MeXicans within the American lines
| must respect American authority.
| The total number of prisoners taken
was about 500. but many have already
| been released.
BY Associated Press
| Wa ashi nInn u @ Anr.i1 o L..