The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-03

| tion on the Mexican railway. The bat talions were commanded by Maj. Charles c. French and Maj. Paul A. | Wolf.
 Not Hard Pressed
 1 When Colonel Van Vliet and Colonel 1 Lejeune, with their supports arrived at the waterworks station, Major Rus sell and his men were not hard pressed. l The Mexicans had contented themselves with a scattering fire consisting of not more than four or five shots at a range of about 1900 yards.
 1 From Major Russel's lines only one | shot was fired
 The waterworks station at Fl Tejar forms the most advanced post in the American lines and was placed there because the authorities regarded 1t as essential to protect the city's water supply.
 General orders had been given for the American troops not to assume the offensive and not to fire unless at tackled It is not regarded here at all probable that Gen. Gustavo Maas, former federal commander at Vera Cruz, has any idea of attempting to retake the city but he is tightening his long. irregular lines about the l city apparently in effort to pre- vent the entrance from the country districts of supplies. In this district If has been partially successful and truck gardeners have found it almost impossible to reach thesVera Cruz mar kets with their produce.
 Little More Than Bluff | It is generally assumed that the Mexican threat today to take Fl Tejar was little more than a bluff, and it is thought the Mexicans perhaps hoped the American outpost at that place, l lxrhi ioh onlx ha1 their number, might surrender or that | they might defeat the Americans be- fore endorsements could arrive. l The Mexican troops were in uniform and consisted mostly of infantry, but there were some cavalrymen, evidently belon ging to the regular establishment. | While army authorities hereydo not fear that the Mexican troops will make a serious Att, K, it is realized that 1 considerable inconvenience soon will be created unless something is done to open the roads into districts whence | garden and dairy products comes The supply of any but imported 9fticles IS getting smaller and the small amount of foodstuffs brought in from the out skirts is not enough to supply the de- mand Prices Fare increasing as the volup,e Of products decreases Little may be expected to arrive here from other ports of Mexico, as no ships are cleared for Vera Cruz, which is a closed port so far as the Mexican gov | ernment Is concerned.
 Washington. May s-A detachment of several hundred Mexican federal soldiers | today advanced on the waterworks out side Vera Cruz and made an attempt to
 destroy the water supply of the city. A
 report to this effect reached the wal department late today.
 px..ef. .r.xr fAa .sie lA had llearned of the attack from several un official sources. He would make no comment he said, until official reports had been received. War department of ficials feared the Mexican federals at tacking the waterworks might have fired upon the American outposts. An official report on the incident was ex pected tonight.
 l report from General Funston to- night said a few scattered shots had been fired at the American troops guarding the waterworks outside Vera Cruz but no one was killed or in jured. Endorsements reached the scene but were not needed and later returned to Vera Cruz.
 Secretary Garrison made public the dis patch from General Fu>ston which sai6 the Mexican federals at El Tejar today had demanded the SUI render of the wa terworks at Vera Crus. The works wer, protected by two companies of American marines and the dispatch stated, de tachment of Mexicans, about 300 strong 1 appeared under flag of truce ant warned the American forces to withdraw
 and surrender their position within \ minutes.
 An appeal for endorsements imme- diately was made to General Funston and aditional troops were sent to protect the works. In the meantime. however. the
 Mexicans fired scattering shots, then re- treated and disappeared when the rein. forcements arrived.
 General Funston in | second dispatch
 advised Secretary Garrison that at 7:1t i o'clock tonight the Mexican troops were I no longer in sight and that the rein l forcements sent out w-r~ returning. witf the exception of two companies left al
 the pumping station and -nother ordered
 to guard a railway bridge.
 Funston's Dispatch
 General Funston's first dispatch, dated
 Vera Cruz. at 2:3O p. m. today, read:
 Hour and half ago rorce of Mexicar
 troops appeared at TeJar, where two
 companies marines are guarding pump ing station, and Mexican commander. un der flag of truce, demanded surreundel
 within 10 minutes, but has not attacked Two forces now facing each other. Have given stringent orders not to fire firs
 shot. About 800 MexicaNs in sight. Rein
 forcements are going cut. Fear an at
 tempt may be made to cut pipe lint tonight FUNSTON"
 The second dispatch from General Fun ston. under date of Vera Cruz at 7:lO D m, tonight, read
 Mexican troops at pumping station nc longer in sight Before seaving they firet
 a few shots. Reinforcements sent ou
 are returning. except two companies lief