The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-22
THE STARS and STRIPES
Continued From rage One.
Yesterdays Fiaht,

Yesterdays Fight.
Less than half an hour after leav-
ing the side Of the United States
transport Prairie, the marines landed
without resistance at the water front.
The failure on the part of the Next
cans to contest the taking possession,
OF the portion in from the water front
caused curious spectators in the street
TO laugh, n when n Mexican ran
for cover, after shouting Viva Mex
ico," loud outlaws came from the on
lockers. But the lull was not indica-
tive of compliance. and a few
shots came shortly, and a few mo-
ments later a brief exchange. After
another brief interval the fighting be-
gan in earnest Hour after hour the
MeXicans continued to oppose the
Americans, fiercely in some quarters,
although the main body apparently,
seemed ready to quit. ""' -
Firing From Housetops.
Most Of the firing was done by out
post parties. placed on roofs at vari-
Gus points OF vantage, whose only
render. The guns Of the Prairie as
sisted the landing party. Toward
night the fighting continued, but it
was more Of a housetop character
than a :. determined, organized resist
ance. Finally, the Mexican soldiers
who were not captured, killed or
wounded, reiterated westward.
Fletcher Makes Demand.
The demand for a, surrender OF
Vera Cruz was made by Rear Admiral
Fletcher through Consul Canada at
in the morning. The consul called
on General Mas by telephone and
presented the demands, saying that
the United States forces were about
to occupy and hold The town. He
called upon him to surrender in the
name of humanity and assist the
Americans in restoring order. Mas
replied that a compliance with the de-
mand was. impossible, and asked for
q personal parley. The consul said
he had no instructions to grant a par
ley ant ended . the conversation
Fletcher ordered the marines to land.
and they entered ten w~haleboats and
effected a landing in half an hour.
The information that Huerta was
counting on receiving from the steam
err Ypiranga of the Hamburg-Ameri-
can line, due to arrive today, a big
consignment Of ammunition, rifles and
machine guns, was responsible for the
occupation Of the customs house
somewhat earlier than might other
wise nav been the case
The Ypiranga is still outside the
harbor and has aboard, among other
supplies, 10000 rifles and 100000
cartridges. ~ '.- .s <-
Public Buildings Taken. s-
The, postofice, the government tele-,
graph office and the cable office were
the first buildings occupied after h
customs house. A squad of marines
was placed in charge OF the cable
ofise. The telegraph wires were found
intact and enough Mexican operators
were retained to man the lines to
Mexico City.
After General Mas had been driv-
en- from his position in the central
plaza, the Americans found themsel-
YES the object of fusillades from the
tops of houses, where small groups
of soldiers and citizens had taken up
positions. It was learned that a great
er part of those engaged in this resist
ance were civilians, who refused to &C
cept the American occupation passive
ly. They obtained guns and stationed
themselves at points OF vantage and
did much to prolong the action.
To Prevent Attack.
Lieut.. Col. Wendell C.. Neville com
manded the marines from the Prairie
and Majors Reid and Berkely and
Captains Hughes, Hill and Dryer along
the line.
Toward the middle OF the afternoon
a large body of Mexicans evacuated
their positions and are now some
where in the sand hills back in the in-
terror where it is reported from Mexi-
can sources they expect to,$be Joined
by reinforcements sent down from h
capital.
This withdrawal, however, vas not
entirely premeditated. Those watch
ing on the ships observed through
their glasses a large force of Mexicanss
moving over the hills in the western
outskirts OF the city, apparently with
the intention Of thanking q battalion OF
marines in the railway yards and
west and north from the American
consulate.
Big Guns used.
Instantly the five inch guns Of The
Prairie let go. breaking the Mexican
formation and causing a l1asty retreat.
This ended the fianking movement.
Only a few minutes before the three
inch guns of the Prairie were used EFF
fectively near the shore.
A small detachment Of Mexicans
had gained positions near the customs
house and the concealed marksmen
shots from the Prairie guns served to
time the same guns played their shells
along the line Of the shore, keeping
that territory comparatively free Of
sharp shooters. In the action about
the customs house. two bluejackets
In a launch, which carried a rapid fire
gun were wounded.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES