The Washington herald., 1914-06-07
Tells HOW HE
TOOK VERA Cruz
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

4 I~D8Ltaifou mas 3uOtcQ Oths AhC bnfI1ihi
force of the Florida showed on at th
same time and were Joined by the Panam
contingent of marines from the Utah
This made a total force Of 7H oficeI
and men of whom SOC were marines. a
under the command of Capt Willial
r. Rush. U. 8. N. captain of tn
| Florida
/ .At 1l:3o a. m. the Prairie signaled
Battalion has landed. no evidence Of an
resistance thus far
AT 1f:S a. m. signal was receive
from the consulate, Gable station o. X.
and this meant that the cable static
was in possession Of our forces on shor
and that communication with Washing
ton was assured.
AT so a. m. a signal was receive
from Capt. Rush on shore that head
quarters had been established at tn
Hotel Terminal and a signal station Sc
up there.
Federals Open Fire.
AT 11:55 a. m. Rush signaled. .'Tele
graph and postoffice occupied and doini
business as ever This was followed by
Firing In town; no casualties as yet.
At 12:21 p. m: commenced firing oi
shore; federals have commenc u firing OF
United States troops
One thousand men with machine gum
reportdb in this vicinity: desultory firing
heavy at intervals; hurry Utah's troops.
/ signaled Utah: Send your battalior
ashore: urgent; you may steam In closer.
AT 12:H D. m. Rush reported his firs'
casualties"
Up to the time of the orders ashore
for the bluejackets Of the Utah the fir.
ing had been at considerable range
The landing of the Utah's contingent
served to justify the first forward
movement into the city Of Vera Cruz
as the report relates:
Marines Clear streets.
Immediately on landing the marine
regiment under Lieut. Col. Neville. ad-
canved up Gale de Montesinos, seizins
cable office and detachipg one company
to seize the power plant north Of the
terminal station, and to cover ap-
proaches from the westward along rail-
road tracks The head of the marine
column had advanced to Avenida Brave
yhenNat 1:5 a. m. they were fired into
from all directions. The marines Colt
automatic revolvers went into action at
1ndependencia. Cinco de Mayo. Cortes
Hidalgo and Bravo and cleared these
streets Immediately. The men took po-
sitions in front of warehouses. lining the
north side Of Montesinos and fired at
the enemy VINO had occupied the house
tops. windows and towers on the opposite
side of the street The marine regi-
ment then was ordered not to advance
but to hold original position.
In the meantime the Florida seaman
battalion under Lieut.. Wainwright, had
advanced and seized the customs-house
and customs warehouse. postofice and
railroad terminal. They were under
steady fire from the enemy in houses on
Benito Juarez and Morelos streets, which
was returned. The artillery section OF
the Florida went into action In front of
the American consulate and shelIed the
enemy out Of the old lighthouse toward
on Benito Juarez street When the first
report of casualties was received, the
Solace was ordered from Tampico to
Vera Cruz by radio"
Goes Onto Prairie.
The troops had been ashore nearly two
hours before ii seemed necessary to the
commander that the heavier naval artil-
lery aboard the ships should be brought
into play. Then Admiral Fletcher Ieft
the flagship and took up his headquar-
tiers aboard the Prairie. He continues:
AT l p- m 1 repaired aboard the
Prairie with Capt Huse and Lieut..
Courts, of my stan. and from this point
directed joint operations ashore and
af1oat- The Prairie opened fire at LID
p. m. with three-inch gun on the enemy's
mounted troops in the sandhilIs beyond
the city. Indirect fire was used with a
church tower as a point of aim: range.
2.5cO to 5000 yards. The second shot feIl
among their troops and drove them be-
yond the sandhills
Building and the New Market had been
firing steadily on pier No. 4, where all of
our boats were landing. Chief Boat
swain McCloy, in charge of three picke.
launches. armed with one-pounder guns.
put out from pier No. and steamed full
speed around the end of fiscal pier, di-
rectly toward the Naval School Building
When within few hundred yards, the
launches opened fire simultaneously with
at the windows of the
Naval Academy. They thus drew the fire
OF the Mexican forces along that section
Of the waterfront. but located their posi-
lions for the Prairie. who Immediately
opened hre with three-inch battery over
the heads OF the launches. silencing the
hre OF the Aexicans in that section of
the city. The picket launches in their
gallant dash were hit many times with
shells from the Naval Academy.
thief Boatswain McCloy was wounded in
The leg. and one seaman was fatally
wounded.
Stick to Their Post.
The brigade signal station ON ton
II the Terminal Hotel was exposed tc,
he fire of the Mexicans from all di-
'ections- The signal squad under En-
'ign Mcdonnell remained at their posts
Turing the twenty-four hours fighting
ind though three Of the seven signal
men were shot while wig-wagging
Messages. communication between bril-
'ade headauarters and the Prairie was
lever interrupted"
Fear of injury to noncombatants on
he part of Admiral Fletcher seemed
It this stage of the fighting to prompt
reconnaissance of the city by the
'ivil and naval officials. BY their con-
iuct, gallant and patriotic as it might
AVE seemed to themselves. the Mexi-
ans were by resistance endangering
he lives of women and children and the
rreparable destruction of public and
'rivate property. Admiral Fletcher
ays:
"S p. MI did not desire to force the
lghting through the city and use the
runs of the ships as long as there ex-
sted reasonable chance to avoid this
evere measure. Every effort was be-
ng made to get into communication
With the Mexican authorities. both di-
ect and through the American consul.
nd to represent to them the futility
4 further resistance on their part and
he serious consequences that would
nsue. My chief Of stan. Capt. Huse, in
with the American consul
dr. Canada, endeavored until after 5
clock to get into communication with
ny authorities in control. but their ef-