New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-22
DANIELS CALLS THE
FIRING BY MEXICANS
AN ACT OF WAR
Americans Forced to Fight Every Step Of
the Way Before Stars and Stripes Fly
Over the City.
PRAIRIE TURNS SINGH GUNS LOOSE

PRAIRIE TURNS 5-lNCH GUNS LOOSE
Hostilies Continue for Several Hours After Men from
Battleshps Have Landed Mexicans
Finally Retreating.
Vera Cruz April 2l-Vera Cruz is in the hands tonight of
from the United States warshps the occupation of the
port accomplished without
Four Americans blueackets and Marines killed by the
soldiers and twenty fell wounded The Mexican
loss known but believed have been than 2o0
waterfront all important PIERS in
cudng terminal works from which extend the
railroads capital have been occupied All the territory around
the American Consulate strongly patroed and decments hold
other sections of the city
The Mexican commander General Mas stub
the American and for hours there
fighting Toward nighta reported that
the body the Federal garrison in the westward
MARINES THEN LANDED.
Admiral Fletcher, in command Of the United States
ships prefaced his occupation of the port by demand through the
w. W. Canada surrender General Mas
promptly declined accede this demand and shortly afterward
of from the Prairie loaded with
marines
effected landing the neghborhood of the custom
and minutes later Captain W. Rush of
batehp Florida who command of the operations ashore
brought his flag Captain Rush had already taken their
positions They numbered $50 backes from the Florida 3eO
marines from the Prairie and 6 marines from the Florida Later
these were augmented by detachment from the Utah.
The coming the American forces not heradd by
great small crowds gathered to watch the landing
and marched through the streets lead
ing waterfront and along the railroad yards Others pro-
Consulate while still others depoyed
along approaches Central Plaza which General Mas had
concentrated his
GENERAL MAAS OPENS FIRE.
These anuuvres effected without opposition but sud-
denly General challenged the advance with first shotsa voey
fired from point from the and blocks
main plaza The marines replied Immediately but the
action There lu for ten minutes and
then exchange from the end Of Montesno
where Federal outpost stationed.
firing general at 1873 O'clock and at o'clock the
guns of the transport Prairie went into action
Prior detachment of buejackets from the Utah. hold
ing the ground consulate and the waterfront opened
with two guns The first shots from these pieces
were directed against which served light
house This occupied by Mexican saphooers Lieutenant
Commander Buchanan of the Florida ordered that be destroyed
Five shots brought the old Bento tower down
The women American colony Vera Cruz had already
been placed chartered Esperana and Mexico
but foreign colony especially the American section greatly
augmented morning when three ainoads arrived from the cap
M of these remained ashore but many were taken ABOARD
SO be learned OF the refugees was
injured.
SHOOT FROM HOUSETOPS
The pooce telegraph Office and the cable Office
were the first buildings occupied after the custom house squad
6 marines was placed charge Of the cable Office The telegraph
found intact and enough Mexican were
to man lines o Mexico City
After had been driven from his position Central
plaza the Americans themselves the object of fusades from
the tops of houses small groups of soldiers had taken up
It was learned only tonight that the of those
engaged resistance civilians who refused accept the
occupation passivey They obtained and stationed
at points of vantage did much prolong the action
Lieutenant Colonel Wendell Neville commanded the marines
from the Prairie and Reid and Bekey and Captains Hughes
Hill and Dyer along the line Every preauton being taken to
and the lines have been reinforced by
detachment which was originally in position beyond the terminal
works.
Toward the middle of the afternoon large body OF MeXicans
evacuated their position somewhere in the sand nils
back in the interior reported from Mexican sources thev