Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-07
Of to advance. but to hold original posi-

not to advance. but to hold original posi-
ton.
IN the meantime the Florida seamer
battalion, under Lieut. Wainwright, hao
and custom warehouse. post office and
railroad terminal They We're under
steady fire from the enemy in houses on
Banito Juares and Moreles streets, winch
was returned. The artillery section OF
the Florida went into action in front OF
= the American consulate and shelled the
enemy out of the old lighthouse tower on
p Banito Juares street. When the first re-
port of casualties was received tine Solace
was ordered from Tampico to Vera Cruz
by radio.
Directs Joint Operations.
AT 1 pm / repaired aboard the
Prairie with Capt Huse and Lieut..
Courts of my staff and from this point
directed joint operations ashore and
afloat. The Prairie opened fire at ITO
nm. with three-inch gun on the enemy S
mounted troops in the sandhills beyond
the civ Indirect fire was used with a
church tower point OF ann. Ianse
$500 to 5000 yards The second shot ieii
among their troops and drove them oe-
yond the sandhills.
"Sharpshooters in the Naval School
building and the new market had been
firing steadily on Pier NO. 4. Where an
of our boats were landing. ChlN 6oat-
swain McCIoy, in charge of three plcket
launches armed with one-pounder guns.
put out from Pier No. and steamed run
speed around the end Of fiscal pier. ol-
rectly toward the Naval School buildils.
When within few hundred Earos tne
launches opened fire simultaneously with
one-pounders at the windows OF ahe
Naval Academy. They thus drew the tire
Of the Mexican forces along that sectioH
of the water front, but located their Po-
sitions for the Prairie. who immedlaleiE
opened fire with 3-inch battery over the
heads of the launches. silencing the ire
of the Mexicans in that section of the
city. The picket launches in their gal
liant dash were hit many times with riie
bullets and three times with one-pounder
shell from the Naval Academy. Ghlef
Boatswafn McCloy was wounded in the
leg and one was fatally wounded.
Signal Station Exposed.
The brigade signal station on top of
the Terminal Hotel was exposed to the
fire of the Mexicans from all directions
The signal squad. under Ensign Mcpon-
nell. remained at their posts during the
twenty-four hours fighting, and though
three of the seven signalmen We're shot
while wig-wagging messages. commune
cation between brigade headquarters and
the Prairie was never interrupted
800 PM did not desire to force the
fighting through the city and use the
guns of the ships as long as there eA-
listed a reasonable chance to AVOID TINS
severe measure. Every effort was beins
made to get into communication with the
Mexican authorities both direct ana
through the American consul, and to rep
resent to them the futility of further re-
sistance on their part and the serious
consequences that would ensue- Ny cnie1
of staff. Capt. Huse. in conjunction win
the American consul. Mr.. Canada, en-
deavored until ) o'clock to get into COM
rnunication with any authorities IN CON
troll but their efforts were unaFalhns.
Any further advance at this tune or the
day would have brought the iightlns INTO
the most densely populated part or the
CITY after nightfall. 1t was therefore de-
cided to hold our present position. ana
in case of unforeseen contingencies the
heavy warehouses on Pier NO. 4 could
be securely held
Promises to Remain Neutral.
LAT pm. an officer was again sent
to Fort San Juan d. UIloa to inform the
commanding officer that there must be
no sign of military movement in the
fort during the night. and that no one
would be allowed to leave the fort. The
commanding officer agreed to this ar
rangement and promised to remain neu-
trail.
"a Mexican naval officer from the naval
station in Ulloa came on board the
Prairie about PM. He had served
in the Spanish navy and was on board
the Don Juan de Austria at the battle
of Manila. He requested In the rianle of
the comnandant that about 100 navy
yard workmen and sailors be allowed to
leave the station and join the forces
under Gen. Mas The practical difficulty
of allowing this was pointed out to him
and he was told to inform the command
ant that the matter would be taken up
as soon as order was re-established in
the city.
.'The Florida was ordered to sweep the
entrance of the harbor inside break
water for mines with wires reported
leading to Ullea, and before the drag
Eing was completed the San Francisco
and Chester entered the harbor during
the night. Investigation and aeroplane
observations subsequently proved that
there were no mines in the harbor.
: Message to Flag Officer.
: AT I pm. the following radio was sent
to flag officer of the Arkansas:
''wiu hold Pier No. for the night.
Desultory street firing continues You
should be prepared to land infantry bat
-talions and artillery Immediately on ar
rival under cover Of darkness. Capt.
Huse or myself will repair on board on
your arrival to advise you of the sit
-uation. tSigned) FLETCHER"
''Desultory firing continued until mid
night. with occasional shots throughout
the night. The dead and wounded were
sent aboard the Prairie and the medical
officers of the Carlos V and Essex came
aboard and offered their services, which
were gratefully accepted
Reports were received that the enemy
were preparing to attack with artillery
during the night, and the Utah and
Florida anchored outside the break
water. were directed to be prepared to
use turret guns and searchlights il or
dered, The Prairie kept searchilyhts
trained on points along shore from which
sniping had occurred during the day.
More Men Are Landed.
Az pm. the San Francisco entered
e the harbor and anchored 600 yards north
OF the Prairie She immediately landed
her battalion of two seaman companies.
which reported TO brigade commander
on shore The Chester entered the har-
Dor at 1905 m. April %. and anchored
on Sanidad pier. Her battalion of sea-
men and marines were landed immedi-
ateiy AT am. censorship was estab-
llshed over the cable station
Rear Admiral Badger with five battle
ships of his fleet came to anchor in the