The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-04-24
Carranza Objects Landing;
O'Shaughnessy TO Get Out
COMPLETES CAPTURE
OF MEXICAN SEAPORT
UNITED STATES FORCE TAKES
WHOLE CITY.
Six Dead and 30 WOunded-Adyance
Under Hot Fire-Mexican Author
tiles Flee in Haste.

Vera Cruz, April 22.-Six Americans
killed and about 80 wounded marked
the complete investment of Vera Cruz
at noon today by the United States.
Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher mas
taken up headquarters at the Termi-
nal hotel The entire city is strongly
patrolled and quiet prevailed tonight.
Rear Admiral Fletcher is in command
Of the land operations, while Rear Ad-
miral Badger, commander in chief Of
the Atlantic fleet, has brought his flag
into the >harbor on the Minnesota.
After the general advance began
this morning, Mexican sharpsnooters
on the roofs put up a stubborn resist
ance. There was one brisk action,
guns OF the Prairie and Chester assist
ing in silencing a heavy fire from the
naval college. Shells from the Prai-
rie finally shattered its walls.
The General Advance.
Rear Admiral Fletcher at $50
o'clock this morning ordered a general
movement for occupation of all the
town. A bluejacket column advanced
and passed the uncomple;ed market
place and naval college When they
reached the wall of the college a ter
rife fire was poured in on them from
roofs and windows The bluejackets,
helpless to return the tire against the
one walls, scattered.
The Prairie, Ches er and San Fran-
cisco opened with their five and six
! inch guns and shattered the walls.
The oluejackets formed again and ad-
yanced against the fire, which had
diminished. BY ~ o'clock mere was
only desultory firing from the inshore
side Of the tower. Bat.alions of blue
j4ckes had made their way along the
waterfront to the southern end of the
town and cleared several streets, but
the sniping from houses continued at
| intervals.
The scout cruiser Chester pounded
buildings on the outskirts with six
inch s4ells, firing over the heads of
the men ashore and showing almost
perfect Workmanship.
The general movement from all the
positions taken yesterday began in the
direction OF the main plaza.
Maries under Lieut. Col. Wendell
C. Neville moved to the southwark
along parallel stree,s towards the
centre while marines commanded by
Lieut.. Commander Buchanan Of the
Florida and Lieut. Commander Ar
thur &. Keating of the Arkansas were
ordered from their positions east Of
the centre towards the plaza.
Rush Three Blocks.
The TWO forces swung forward with
a rush for a distance of three blocks.
The machine gun and; rife gun was
supplemented by shell fire from the
smaller guns of the Prairie and Ches-
ter. The ships guns supported the
movement of clearing roofs to the
south and sast, occasio lally dropping
a shell a few hundreds yards in ad-
vance.
Lieut.. Commander Buchanan's men,
under direct command of Lieut.. Guy
w. o. Castle, who moved forward /
to position one block directly east
OF the plaza, and other detaehments
occupied positions to the north and
west. Bo.h marines and blueiackets
dragged light field pieces but there
was little work for them.
There was no organized resistance,
but from the beginning of the ad-
vance smart fire came from defend
ers on house tops, which invariably
drew a merciless fire from the ad-
vaneing parties. The machine guns
sounded their "tap tap" in all quar-
ters and American sharpshooters
posted at street corners and other
points of vantage picked off at will
any man wao appeared to them to be
acting suspiciously.
The city, after day and night Of