Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-05-16
GRAPHIC STORY
 BY 4 FIGHTER Official Report of Vera Cruz Invasion Spartan like
 in Terseness.
TALE OF GALLANTRY
Ensign Martin of Invading Force Makes No Attempt at Literary Style, Yet Tells Thrill-
 ing Story.

Washington, D. C., May 15.-With spartan terseness are written the army, navy and marine reports which officially tell the story of our advance into Mexico. There is little attempt at literary style and none at bring ing into prominence spectacular events and heroic deeds. Yet through these dignified, ghtforWard pages runs an undercurrent for the care ful reader that thrills with a tale of romance and gallantry
 Here is how Ensign Ralph Martin adjutant of the marine battalion of the San Francisco, writing from the customs house at Vera Cruz tells his brigade adjutant of the capture of the town. He heads his letter, "data concerning landing engagements"
 "The San Francsco's battalion landed at midnight April 21. This force consisted of nine officers end 116 men comprising two four-squad infantry companies, two Benet- Mercier automatics and special de- tails with guncotton party.
 April P. 7
 Upon landing reported to regi-
 
 nal and then proceeded to customs house in rear of which our battalion was directed to erect a barricade be- tween No. 1 warehouse and the water front in prolongnation of Calle Miguel Luerdo. This work was com pleted and barricade manned before daylight.
 One of our automatic guns and one from Utah mounted on the roof of south wing of Customs house be- gan firing on Hotel Oriente at day light. Hotel was captured and sev eral prisoners were taken. Desut- tory firing all along our front dur ing morning and forenoon, which. we succeeded in silencing by volley fir ing.
 About 9 a. m. the Second naval regiment passed in rear of customs house and proceeded to southward of our line. When they came abreast Naval academy and the incompleted market they were subjected to a heavy fusillade principally from these buildings and Estacion Sanidad. After a sharp engagement in which ships in harbor assisted by shelling, the Naval academy and market were taken. The San Franciscos guns were firing on the Naval academy Fire again became desultory after this engagement and at 10:30 Our regiment was deployed along Calle Zaragoza from c. Benito to c. Estaban Morales.
 "The San Francisco's battalion act ed as support all along the line. At noon We were quartered in customs house and have since held customs house and surrounding territory as- signed to our precinct. This district comprised the section of the city from Calle Zaragoza to water front between c. Vicario and c. Montesi- nos. Our position was fired on by snipers from time to time during night.
 April 23.
 "Snipers continued firing along our front principally from incompleted market-building This fire was silenc- ed as often as it broke out.
 Having suspected firing from the Sonora, a Mexican steamer moored to the sea wall just to northward of melle Fiscal, we arrested the crew of this steamer and they were incarcer- ated in the municipal jail
 April "A.
 Same conditions as preceding day except arrested chief engineer of Sonora and secretary of the Navi- gation company of Mexico who were on that vessel. These men were placed in municipal jail. German steamer Ypiranga and Spanish steamer Libertad were docked at Muelle Fiscal. Both allowed to land passengers and baggage.
 "Patrolled district under our charge day and night.
 During the period covered in above