The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-08
FLETCHER GIVES A
 FULL ACCOUNT OF
 TAKING VERA CRUZ
tContinued From Page Ons)

S~~~~~~~~~~~-~-~~~~~~-~~r vanced to Avenida Bravo when at ;57 a. m they were fired Into from all direc- tions The marines Colt automatic guns vent into action at Independence, Cinco de Mayo, Cortes, Hidalgo and Bravo, and cleared these streets immediately. The men took positions in front of ware houses, lining the nortlislde of Montesinos and fired at the enemy who had occu- pied the housetops, windows and towers on the opposite side of the street The marine regiment was then ordered not to advance but to hold original position.
 Customs House Seized
 Tn the meantime the Florida seaman battalion, under Lieutenant Wainwright had advanced and seized the customhouse and custom warehouse, postoffice and rail- road terminal They were under steady fire from the enemy in houses on Benito Juarez and Morelos streets, which was returned. The artillery section of the Florida went into action in front of the American consulate ana shelled the enemy out of the old lighthouse tower on Benito Juarez street. When che first report of casualties was received the Solace was ordered from Tampico to Vera Cruz by radio.
 "At 1 p. m. I repaired aboard the Prairie with Captain Huse and Lieutenant Courts of my staff and from this point directed joint operations ashore and afloat The Prairie opened fire at 1:10 D. m. with three-inch gun on the enemy's mounted troops in the sandhills beyond the city Indirect fire was used with a church tower as a point of aim, range 25Oo to 5000 yards. The second shot fell among their troops and drove them beyond the sand hills.
 Sharpshooters in the naval school building and the new market had been Gt-t.. e.t. our boats were landing. Chief Boatswan McCloy, in charge of three picket launches armed with one-pounder guns, put out from pier No. 4 and steamed full speed around the end of Fiscal pier directly toward the Naval School building When within few hundred yards the launches opened fire simultaneously with one pounders at the windows of the Naval academy. They thus drew the fire of the Mexican forces along that section of the waterfront but located their positions for the Prairie, who immediately opened fire with three-inch battery over the heads of the launches, silencng the fire of the Mexicans in that section of the city. The picket launches, in their gallant dash i were hit many times with rifle bullets and three times with one-pounder shell from the Naval academy. Chief Boatswain Me Cloy was wounded in the leg and one was fatally wounded.
 The brigade signal station on top of 1 the Terminal hotel was exposed to the | fire of the Mexicans from all directions l The signal squad under Ensign McDon- | nell remained at their posts during the 24 hours fighting and though three oi the seven sgnamen were shot while wig wagging messages, communication be. tween brigade headquarters and the Prairie was never interrupted.
 xxx 300 D. m--I did not desire tc force the fighting through the city an6
 use the guns of the ships as long as there existed a reasonable chance to avoid this severe measure Every effort was
 being made to get into communication with the Mexican authorities. both di rect and through the American consul and to represent to them the futility oi further resistance on their part and the serious consequences that would ensue My chief of staff, Captain Huse, in con | junction with the American consul MT 1 Canada, endeavored until 5 o'clock to get into communication with any authorities | in control but their efforts were unavail- | ing. Any further advance at this time | of the day would have brought the fight
 ing into the most densely populated part
 Of the city after nightfall. It was there-
 fore decided to hold our present posi- l tion and in case of unforeseen contin- l gencies the heavy warehouses on pier 1 No. could be securely held.
 l At 5:00 D. m. an officer was again | sent to Fort San Juan d. Ullea 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 tral.
 "A Mexican naval officer from the | naval station in Ullea came on board tn, | Prairie about 800 D. m. He had served | in the Spanish navy and was on board the Don Juan de Austria at the battl, of Manila. He requested in the nam,
 of the commandant that about 300 nav, yard workmen and sailors be allowed tt leave the station and join the forces un der General Maass. The practical diff culty of allowing this was pointed out t, him and he was told to inform the com | mandant that the matter would b
 taken up as soon as order was re-es
 ts blished in the city.
 No Mines in the Harb0r
 ''The Florida was ordered to swee
 the entrance of the harbor inside break 1 water for mines with wires reporte
 leading to Ulloa and before the draggin
 was completed the San Francisco an