Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-22

mand of the United States warships,
prefaced his occupation of the port
by demand, through the American
consul, w. w. Canada, for its sur
render. General Mas promptly de-
clined to accede to this demand, ana
shortly afterwards, ten whale boats
We're sent off from the side of the
transport Prairie loaded with ma
rines. These boats effected a landing
in the neighborhood of the Customs
House before noon, and a few min
utes later Captain William II. Rush,
of the battleship Florida, who was in
command of the operations ashore,
brought his flag in.
Captain Rush's men had already
taken up their positions. They num-
bered $50 bluejackets from the Flor
ida, 800 marines from the Prairie and
So marines from the Florida. Later
these were augmented by a detach-
ment' from the Utah.
The coming of the American forces
was not heralded by any great ex-
citement, but small crowds gathered
to watch the landing. Soon the blue
Jackets and marines marched through
| the streets leading from the water
front and along the railroad yards.
/ Others proceeded to the American
/ consulate, while still others were de-
| ployed along the approaches to Gen.
| trail Plaza, in which General Mas
had concentrated his men.
These manoeuvres were effected
without opposition, but suddenly Gen
eral Mas challenged the advance
with the first shots-a volley fired
from a point three blocks from the
marines and two blocks south of the
main plaza. The marines replied i'm
mediately, but the action ceased In
a moment. There was a lull for ter
minutes and then another brief ex-
change from the west end of Monte
sinos street, where a federal outpost
was stationed.
At 1890 the firing became general
and at one O'Clock the guns of the
transport Prairie went into action.
Prior to this, a detachment of blue
jackets from the Utah, holding the
ground between the Consulate ant
the waterfront, opened with two o.
their three-inch guns. The first shots
from these pieces We're directed
against an ancient tower which ono,
served as q lighthouse. This was oc
cupied by Mexican sharpshooters
Lieutenant Commander Buchanan
of the Florida, ordered that it be de-
stroyed. Five shots brought the ole
Benito Juarez tower down.
The women OF the American colony
in Vera Cruz had already been placed
aboard the chartered steamers Esper
ANA and Mexico, but the foreign
colony, especially the American sec
ton was greatly augmented thil
morning, when three train loads ar
rived from the capital Some of thes'
remained ashore, but many wer,
taken aboard the steamers. So far a.
can be learned, none of the refugees
were injured.
The postoff1ce, government tele
graph office and the cable office wer,
the first buildings occupied otter hh
customs house. A squad of marine
was placed in charge of the cable of
flee. The telegraph wires were foun,
intact, and enough Mexican operator
were retained to man the lines t
Mexico City.
After General Mas had been driver
from his position in Central Plaza
the Americans found themselves tn
object of fusillades from the tops o
houses, where small groups OF sol
diers and citizens had taken up posi-
lions. 1t was learned that the great
er part of those engaged in this re