The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-01
~ DUDLEY HARMON.

sss~'.Ss
Special Correspondent Of THE Sun cifh
Admiral Badgers Fleet.
VERA CRuz. April 3O-Gen. Fred
erick Funston and the Fifth Brigade
Of the United States army are now
In military control Of Vera Cruz. After
nine days OF fighting. followed by Ell
cient administration. the navy sleeps
aboard the great fleet swinging out at
anchor In the harbor. Rear Admiral
Fletcher. on his flagship the Florida.
and Capt. McLaren Huse, his chief OF
staff. are taking the first rest they have
had in all that time. The wounded
sailors in the sick bays are all recover
ing and every map on sixteen war YES
sells tonight is eager to get back into
the fray.
1t Is reported that Admiral Fletcher
may leave tomorrow with his squad
ron for Tampico. where something else
may have to be done. There is. how
ever. nothing definite about this. 1t Is
not known whether or not Rear Ad-
afioat. has received orders from Wash
ington.
The ceremony Of the transfer Of
powers to-day was simple but most
impressive. Although the sailors were
all ready to return aboard their ships
yesterday 1t required almost up TO 2
o'clock for all the army men TO get
ashore with their impedimenta. The
mountain artillery which came In on
the SaltillO and San Marcos was dis
embarked early. 10 that shortly before
the hour everything was In readiness.
When the navy line swung into sight
to march past the thousands OF specta-
tors, American refugees and visitors,
men Of all nations. Spaniards and even
Mexicans, clinging everywhere, became
suddenly silent. The marching was
perfect, the alignment just right. but
the uniforms and men made the differ
ences. Perhaps the uniforms were
clean "A week ago last Monday, when
they dashed ashore. but now all the
dirt. dust and mud Of n trOpic town
had been rubbed into them. They were
torn: they were bedraggled. Hats
clung only half to the head. for there
was not enough hat or cap; legginss
were missing. shoes were ripped, hands
and faces were ingrnined with dirt.
Once IN a while a man could he seen
| lmping a little or another wearing a
bandage around his head. not bad
hurt. merely n crease from sniper's
bullet.
SO they passed and the silence grew
more intense until 1t ended in !; gasp
as the men who had just come In from
outpost duty arrived. They also were
unshaven. unwashed dirty from the
trenches in which they had kept watch.
There was One-half hour Of this. al
though the bands played merrily and
the march Of the men was very fast.
| The silence still continued as they
broke line for the boats. hut then Just
as the officers ashore gave the command
lat ease to the marines and infantry
men one husky marine of Col. Long 4
command sprang forward. His voice
rang above the tumult.
Three Cheers for sailors.
"Now, boys. give It to 'em" And
lp from that great cOncOurse Of people
came a cheer such as Vera Cruz had
never had before. II was not Just three
cheers, but roar, continuing over three
minutes at least, a din which shook the
buildings, and looking back into the
crowd You could see that women, with
tears rolling down their cheeks were
joining In just AZ hard as the men.
Back from the men tumbling into
the launches, tugs and whaleboats came
II roar In reply and a waving OF the
dirty caps. and Just as all human voices
were falling the big band struck up.
The cheers died In an instant and
up came 5000 voices singing "Auld
Lang Syne." Gen. Funston himself was
not the impasslve comma nder OF thu
moment before when he heard that and
Admiral Fletcher got very busy with
his sword belt.
Tho tune ended and the cheers began
again When tho soldiers were called
. to attention the citizens continued and