Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1914-04-24
COHERENT ACCOUNT OF
START OF ACTION

Vera Cruz, Mexico, April ZZ.-Here
is the first connected story of the
landing of United States marines at
Vera Cruz yesterday, and the skirm-
ishes that followed, in which four
marines were killed and twenty-one
wounded, and in which 200 Mexicans
met death, with twice that number in
jured.
The first shot was fired shortly after
noon Yesterday, when the Mexican
commander, Gen. Gustavo Mas, Or
dered resistance to the advance of the
Americans, who had already taken
possession of the custom house, the
railroad terminals, the postoffice, and
the cable and telegraph stations.
Within few hours four Americans
had been slain and a score wounded.
News of the casualties spurred on the
marines, and before the sun had set
the deadly aim of the invaders had
taken heavy toll, and General Mas
and his troops began their retreat to
the sand dunes.
SELECT VANTAGE POINTS.
There they rested>until, under cover
of darkness, their sharpsbooters could
deploy to vantage points, and attempt
to pick off sentries on silent streets.
A large percentage of the marines
wear across their khaki shirts honor
bars for craftsmanship, and scores of
them were practicing for the first time
on living targets.
When occasion offered they also
took advantage of the roofs, and this
morning occupie d posiiione on tops
OF buildings, where their rifles could
carry with deadly effect.
Prior to the occupation OF the port,
| Admiral Fletcher, through American
| Consel w. w. Canada, had made a
| demand for the surrender of the town
General Mas promptly declined to
accede to this demand
| About an hour afterward, at II
| O'Clock, .khaki-clad marines could be
seen tumbling down the gangways of
the Florida. the Prairie, and the
Utah. Launches pulling cutters and
| whaleboa.s began their course to the
stone landings along the shore. The
tiny craft appeared to be racing for
the honor of landing the first troops
on Mexican soil.
PRAIRIE LANDS 800
From the Prairie, 300 marines were
landed, and these were closely follow
ed by 300 marines and blueJacket'
from the Florida. Captain Rush, OF
the Florida, was brigade: commander
! of the party, which also included
eighty eight m arines from the Utah.
At 1l:1O O'Clock marines were sent
away from the dock in detachments,
to take possession of the various pub
lie buildings. A strong detachment
was sent to surround the American
consulate.
Tbrongs of citizens flocked to the
waterfront to witness the landing, and
the town seemed to take on the APP
pearance of holiday. There was no
hesitation on the part of the American
fighting men. They moved with pre-
cision, and it seemed as if lhe Mexi-
can spectators failed to catch the i'm
port of the ominous proceedings.
HAD DROPPED ANCHOR.
TWAS noon when the marines and
sailors had expeditiously accom-
plished the seizure of the principal
buildings.
Out in the harbor, the German
freighter Yplranga had meanwhile
dropped anchor. Aboard this vessel !
was a vast quantity of war munitions |
to General Huerta. The /
landing had been timed by Fletcher,
SO he could intercept the merchant
mans cargo OF war and prevent
Huerta from receiving the guns and
AS the church bells tolled the An
peIus at noon, the marines we're busy
clearing the cable station and post
office of panic-stricken clerks. Even
then there was no action on the part
of the federal garrison encanped IL
The north end of the city.
Lieutenant Colonel Veville, COM
mandipp a body of 800 marines, was
trooping along the Gale Montesinos,
which runs parallel with the railway
tracks. The marines were pulling
four. machine guns, and all seemed
surprised at the ease with which the
seizure of Vera Cruz was being effect
ed. The detachment stopped at the
Cathedral Plaza, and began making
trenches on the north side
in front of the American consulate
Other marines were posted further
south, on Morelos street, in the gen
eral direction of the center OF the city,
and the federal barracks.
5 Up 10 this time General Mas had
made no effort to communicate with
Rush, Lieutenant Comman
Ter Buchanan second in command, or
With Consul Canada Itswas known
nat Mas had about 800 troops under
nm. but so fa~ nothing had been seen
il them.
About 49, is, when q company OF
marines were on their way to take up
~ lions ia the Gale INDEPENDENTS,
8 which the cable Office is located.
General Mass challenged the invasion
~ ~ first shots. His men fired
lrCn : dis1nnee Of thrse b1ocksL