The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-04-24
IT WAS EASY
Fighting at Vera Cruz was a Picnic
Compared to What Will
Follow

ion Of bluejackets and marines be
landed yesterday and drawn up in
the plaza before the railroad station
and they proceeded to take the en-
tire town, he acted only after giving
warning and after fifteen shells from
been thrown into the steel frame
work of the market. A persistent
but scattered fire came from rifles
in the market during all the early
hours Of the morning, and our men
landed to the whining accompani-
ment Of rifle bullets over their
heads.
When the rush started, the jack
les, clad in orange colored clothing.
made for them on the cruise down
by dyeing white uniforms with iron
rust, moved in close column forma-
ton up the waterfront, past the mar
ket and across the front of the naval
college, long three-story structure
built of adobe stone. The column
IAoNOo otCddiiy LII al llc
first company had passed beyond the
college and the remainder were COW
ering the whole front against the
wall
Their Baptism of Fire
Suddenly a spatter of rifle firing
broke out. Flames from the rifles
,rsci Ia in hn
of the college and along the roof
The jackies stood their ground
pluckily. Some of them huddled
close to the wall to avoid the hail of
bullets from above, while others
dashed across small open space di-
rectly in front of the building. The
sailors dropped on their stomachs
and lifted their rifles high in order
to get a range on the windows above
Finally the officers hustled their men
either forward or backward until
they were in shelter OF nearby build
ings.
Prairie's Target Practice
The jackies in front held their
places, however, and the Prairie sent
shell after she'll from her three-inch
battery into the windows of the col
lege, huge columns of red dust leap
ing forward as each shot went home.
The Chester also joined in with her
six-inch shells and tore great gaps
in the roof of the college.
San Francisco's Splendid Shooting
Far to the right in the harbor the
mine ship San Francisco opened with
her five-inch guns. Taking the
front of the college, the mine ship
shot out window by window, plant
ing the shells with the precision of
target practice.
Routed Them Out
After fifteen minutes of firing the
Prairie and San Francisco ceased
and the column of bluejackets form
ed again and pushed sturdily ahead,
deploying around the front of the
college. A few shots were directed
at them, but none came from the
college. The Chester continued hurl-
ing shells into the building where
the suburbs.
The jackies went steadily ahead
spreading out thru the waterfront
section, selling the highest building
and organizing squads of guards al
street intersections
The fire along the front gradually
slackened and then died out, but
the Chester sent few shots into the
hills before ceasing.
Ulloa was Idle
In the center Of the inner harbor
San Juan de Ulloa, an ancient stone
fortress, few the Mexican flag thru
out the attack. The commandant
and sixty armed men and 800 work
men in the navy yard peered from
the embrasures at the Prairie and
ether ships Smelling the naval acad-
envy. In the dungeon were 500 pris-
oners.
Captain Stickney of the Prairie,
went thru the fortress several days
ago, and found some heavy guns,
five torpedoes and a torpedo tube
in corrugated iron shed outside the
wall of the fortress. When the land
ing Of the Americans was ordered,
Captain Stickney sent word to the
commandant of Juan that the fort
ress would be shelled if it opened
fire against the Americans, but that
otherwise it would not be disturbed.
The commandant replied that he
would answer if fired on, but that he
would not begin hostilities When
the engagement ashore began the