Evening star., 1914-04-23
10Y ON NbATTLESH|P
TURNS TO CRY FOR
GRIM VENGEANCE
Michigan's Men See Bodies of
Dead Americans Taken
From Vera Cruz.
BIG GUNS OF u. S. FLEET
TO BOMBARD MExICANs
Shells Will Be Hurled Into Te-
jeria, Fifteen Miles
Inland.


Inland.
BY WINGRovE BATHoN.
at Vera Cruz.
VERA CRUZ, Mexico (by ca
BILE to Galveston, Tex.), April %.
The battleship Michigan of Ad-
miral Badgers fleet arrived at
Vera Cruz early this morning. On
the final stretches of the trip the
vessel steamed at the rate of
eighteen knots an hour, under or
ders from Washington communi-
Gated through Admiral Badger on
board the flagship Arkansas.
AS the Michigan steamed into
the harbor of Vera Cruz the men
and officers, bluejackets and ma
rines, crowded to every available
point in the bows and along the
sides, singing and cheering Justify,
the cheers being returned with
vigor by the men on board the
other United States ships and the
war craft of foreign powers al
ready in the harbor.
Pass nead Mar;,o.
AS the battleshfp moved slowly to her
anchorage, cutters and boats belonging
to the Utah and other ships were passed.
These boats, it was Immediately seen,
bore the bodies of dead American sailors
and marines. as well as numbers Of
wounded who were being taken to their
ships.
Then the singing hushed abruptly, and
the cheers died away. while officers and
men along the sides barred their heads in
honor of those who bore the brunt of the
first lighting on Mexican soil. Muttered
excla0iations and deep-throated growls
of anger replaced the carefree merriment
and enthusiasm of a moment before, and
from every part OF the big fighting ma
chine came threats Of vengeance against
the forces of Huerta.
AS soon as the Michigan reached her
anchorage, boats loaded with bluejackets,
marines. officers and the few correspond
ents on board raced to the big docks,
and those on the Michigan heard their
first disconnected stories of the stirring
events of the past few days.
1t was a grim-appearing. tight-lipped
body of men who stood on the wharf and
listened to the stories Of guerrilla war
fare, the sniping of Americans by private
citizens concealed on housetops, in church
spires and behind the walls of schools.
converts. hospitals and other places be-
lieved by the guerrillas to be secure from
a return OF the fire.
Break Into Houses.
Early this morning the marines and
bluejackets began breaking into the Mex
lean houses in a thorough search fol
concealed sharpshooters and for the pur-
pose of confiscating all arms asd ammu-
milton. Some. pot shooting continued
throughout the morning from housetops
and other points of vantage. where the
hidden citizens lurked as they shot at an
occasional marine sailor
About the streets many of the MexicaI.
dead were still lying where they fell be-
shooters. Practically every man of the
marine forces is a sharpshooter or a
marksman and wears the little badge
that proves it. They don't need the
badges, though; the work they have al
ready done, and the still forms of the
Mexicans that are to be seen here and
there about the city. are ample proofs
of the deadly aim of the Americans.
Men Are Rapidly Landed.
The entire fleet under command of
Rear Admiral Badger. IS now at Vera
Cruz. and men are rapidly being landed.
AS fast as the boats loaded with the
United States fighting men tuoch the docks
the men leap ashore and under orders is
lily establishing order in the city. The
work of provosting Vera Cruz, it is ex-
pected, will be completed by this after
noon. AS this dispatch is sent the Mime
sofa is landing a battalion of marines,
and other vessels of the fleet are swinging
out boats loaded to the Waterline with
men eager to take hand in the Clean
up work that remains to be done here.
Gen. Mas, commander of the Mexican
federal troops. has withdrawn to Tejeria,
about fifteen miles from Vera Cruz, where
it is said he is hourly expecting the ar
rival of a reinforcing column of 1000
| federals from Mexico City. Information
available is to the effect that as soon as
the expected reinforcements arrive-if
they do Join Gen. Mas decimated COM
mand-an attack in force is to be made
, on the city Of Vera Cruz.
Big Guns to Be Csed.
In preparation for the attack said to
| be contemplated by the federal COM
| mander. Admiral Badger this morning
| issued orders to the fleet under his COM
| mand to be ready to turn the big guns
| loose.
| Meanwhile. Just to show the forces
| commanded by Gen. Mas that the
American navy has a long arm, a bonn
bardment of the federals' position at
Jejeria has been ordered for tomorrow,
The big guns may begin to boom before
| that time, and the huge shells from the
| battleships may carry death and de-
| struction into the ranks Of the Mexicans
before the. sun sets, tonight. It all de-
pends on the movements Of the Mexicans
/ themselves.
AS l write these final words the ma-
rines from the Hancock have just come
ashore.