The Lancaster news. (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, April 24, 1914, Page 2, Image 2
VERA CRUZ TAKEN BY ADNIf
FOUR AMERICANS AND 2
United States Sailors Land Fron
in Half Hour Are in Possessi
With no Indication of R<
Firing Begi
SHOTS FIRED FROM HOUSE
ARTILLERY AND RIFLE
score
Mexicans Warned to Discontinue prepi
Til
Firing at U. S. Soldiers. wlth
the s
WOULD USE BIG GUNS. News
rati
Admiral Fletcher's Men Shoot Only *iu? n
When Fired Upon?Mexicans <iu?ir
He treat Hapidly. arm>
all n
Washington, April 21. Marines tlietr
and bluejackets of the American navy whol
today took the customs house and a Rove:
large section of Vera Cruz with a loss Mexi
of four killed and 2 0 wounded. The
loss of the Mexican garrison was not
olBcially known here tonight, but
was estimated at 200 killed. This
was the first step in the program of ,om?
reprisal by the United States against from
the Huerta government for the ar- '
rest of American bluejackets at a<'()l
Tauipico and other offenses "against <an '
the rights and dignity of the United
States." marl
the
It was the first clash between
w our
forces of the United States and Mex- ,
know
Ico since revolution broke out in the .
? . . been
Southern republic in 1910 and gave
the Washington government a Mexi- jU)US(
can problem. , '.
cludi
Thougli fighting had not ceased at work
a late hour tonight. Rear Admiral roadi
Fletcher had warned the federal pied,
commander that he would use the big Ainei
guns of the American fleet if his men trolh
did not 8top firing. The American secth
forces had orders to fire only to de- Til
fend themselves. The United States tjusti
intends to take no offensive steps for sistai
the present. The salute to the flag and
which Huerta refused will not be ing i
satisfactory reparation. It is under- it wj
stood a declaration of apology as of th
well as a salute and a guarantee that to til
the rights and dignity of the United
States would be respected can alone
It*
cause a withdrawal of the American
, ing l
fortes.
faced
While American marines and blue- ;l (je
jackets were fighting, the senate de- (<ona
bated the whole Mexican situation be- r<?tlt|,
fore crowded galleries. The joint .)tne
resolution that pased the house sup- jU)ri
porting the President's nronosa! to ... ?
? \\ rn;
use the arniy and navy to ohUiin re- trans
paration was being debated in the r'.neH
senate at midnight wirh prospect of fl,
an all-night session. Many ll^publi- tjie
can senators wanted the resolution i,OUK
broadened to authoriz? steps to ob- i les i
tain reparation for all offenses '"ii-Jthe
mitted against Americans 'n Mexico. com,
PRESIDENT GOES A11E \ ">. brou'
The administration senators
fought this as tantamount to a decia- ta^pl
ration of war, saying the United j)pn>(
States had no quarrel with the Mexi- p|orj
can people but with the Huerta gov- prii]
eminent controlling a small portion pjor|
motif
The President went ahead on the jjtah
authority of the executive, in accord ' xi
"with precedent, because he believed Was
an emergency existed. He gave .tear citnu
Admiral Fletcher authority to ;ei?e (0 w,
the Vera Cruz customs house to pre- ja,
vent the landing there today hv a throi
German merchant vessel of a ldg con- wate
signment of arms and ammunition
for the Huerta government. | \ ue
1 Secretary Bryan conferred with the , ers
German ambassador, Count Von j proa
Bernstorff, and it is believed the in-j Gent
fluence of the German government men
will he interposed to prevent the consignment
from landing elsewhere in ?ri
Mexico and complicating the s'.tua- w|th
tlon. The ship carries in,000 U'>0 Qen(
rounds of ammunition and 200 w|t
rapid-fire guns and thousands of fron
rifles. mar
The President conferred with the the
secretaries of war, state and navy | T
early tonight. No army orders were but
issued. Rear Admiral Radgor was The
ordered to Tamplco, where another and
customs house may be seized. The froi
President intends to act slowly to stre
force Huerta to yield and hopes to stat
avert war. With the taking of the A
railroad for a few miles Inland from eral
\ Vera Cruz and the custom houses It the
is believed no other aggressive steps actl
will be taken. Many officials admit MA
that offensive action by Huerta may
draw the American forces into a con- 1
flict tantamount to war. All prepara- blu
tion possible has been made by the the
army and navy, but no orders have ant
gone out. to state militia, nor has the twc
naval militia tn">u called upon. firs
Joint plans of the army and navy dlr
were worked ovpr at the departments Jui
during the night and the wireless, the sha
cable and the telegraph ca.-rled ma
it.
RAL FLETCHER; =
00 MEXICANS KILLED s
pe
CO
1 Transport Prairie and ^
on of Custom House
?? th
jsistance, When w
ns. fa
W
TOPS,
!S PUT INTO ACTION
s of government orders, making
irations for all eventualities.
io national capital was thrilled ^
excitment. Crowds thronged a
enate and listened to the debate, hi
jpaper bulletins were eagrly
by thousands as were the fret
extra editions. In execut've la
ters clerks and uilicers of the ti
and navy were busily at work e<
ight. Cabinet members wore at
desks after midnight and the tl
e executive machinery of the w
rnment was adjusted to the ^
ei
can crisis.
b<
! si
From Vera Cruz. < {
ra Cruz. April 21. -Vera Cruz 01
hi is in the hands of forces })(
tIio I'luted States warsmps, out hi
sccupation of the port was not pi
nplished without loss of Amen- ^
lives. J ?t
nir Americans, bluejackes and 6
lies, were killed by the fire of r'
Mexican soldiers and 20 fell ^
ided. The Mexican loss is not (<*
n. but it is believed to have ri
heavy,
ie water front, the customs
p and all important piers, intig
those under the terminal
s from which extend the rail- H
i to the capital, have ben oecu- w
All the territory around the
rican consulate is strongly pa- ai
id and detachments hold otaer C
3xis of the city. O
ie Mexican commander. Gen. jj
nvo Maas, offered a stubborn reuce
to the American advance tr
for many hours there was fightu
the streets. Toward nightfall n
V,
is reported that the main body
e federal ganison was In retreat si
ie westward. , u
LANDING OF MARINES.
o
ar Admiral Fletcher, command- n
Lhe United States warship, preI
his occupation of the port by j!
maud, through the American ti
ul, W. \V. Canada, for >t< sur- M
or. General Maas promptly de- ' '
d to accede to this demand, and 11
tly afterwards 10 whaleboats
sent oft from the side of the p
;port Prairie, loaded with ma
li
2
lose boats effected a landing in
neighborhood or the customs b
e before noon, and a few mluuater.
Capt. William R. Rush of
battleship Florida, who was in
nnnd of the operations ashore
ght his Aug in. V
605 MEN DISEMBARK. v
ptain Rush's men already had '
i up their positions. They num- s,
1 150 bluejackes from the tl
ida, 39 0 marines from the P
rie and 65 marines from the J'
ida. Later these were aug- ({
:ed by a detachment from the
ci
le coming of the American forces J1,
not heralded by any great ex- ^
put, but small crowds gathered !<
fttch the landing. Soon the blue- s
sts and marines marched ''
e
ugh the streets leading from the
r front and along the railroad s<
s. Others proceeded to the
rican consulate, while still oth- ^
were deployed along the ap- c
ches to central plaza. In which n
jral Ma as had concentrated his f
t
If
MEXICANS FIRE VOLLEY. a
hese maneuvers were effected r
f
iout oposition, but suddenly ^
eral Maas challenged the advance
l\the first shota?a volley fired >
i a point three blocks from the (
Ines and two blocks south of ,
main plaza. I
he marines replied immediately I
the action ceased In a moment. (
re was a lull for 10 minutes j
then another brief exchange i
n the west end of Monteslnos i
iet where a Federal outpost was
.toned.
it 12:30 the firing became genI
and at 1 o'clock the guns of
transport Prairie went into
ion.
RINES DESTROY MEXICAN
TOWER.
3rlor to this a detachment of
ejackets from the Utah hod'lng
ground between the Consulate
1 the water front, opened with:
> of their three-inch sjmip. The
t shots from these pieces were
ected against the indent Bon I to
?rez tower, occupied by Mexican
trpahoote*. Lieutenant Comnder
Buchanan of the Florida
TIIE LANCASTER NEW
dered that It be destroyed. FivJj
ots brought the old tower down.
The women of the Amerclau colony
Vera Cruz had reen placed
ioard the chartered steamers Ks>ranza
and Mexico but the foreign
lony, especially the American seeon
was greatly augmented this
orning wheq. three train .oads
rived from the Capital. Some of
ese remained ashore but many
ere taken aboard the steamers. Sc
r as can be learned no refugees
ere Injured.
ri?K Flies Over Vera Cruz.
Washington. April 21.?The Amei
an flag tonight flies over Vera Cruz
our Americans were killed and 2<
ere injured when a detachment o
luejackets and marines from th<
merican fleet seized the custom
ouse, raised the American flag. nn<
ilrmished with the Mexican garri
in.
Desulotory firing was in piogresi
Lte today, a cording to a disnalrl
om Rear Admiral Fletcher, receiv
1 at 6 p. m. At first the garrison ha<
ppeared to he withdrawing. Amei
an Consul Canada repotted thin t<
le State Department at 3 o'clock bu
hen the American forces icarhoi
le customs house, the Mexicans op
led with rifle and artillery lift.
The transport I'raMo immediately
sgati shelling the Mexican positions
owly driving them out. The Mexi
ins fought from housetops and al
ng the streets.
The American forces linvc takei
ossesslon of the cab'e olfice am
old the American Consulate and th<
urt of the city In the vlcln'ty o*. tin
hams.
Rear Admiral Fletcher s dispnt.ri
ime by cable an 1 reached here a
p. m. A hui.*f?'i conference Ma:
illed at the White 1Iouv>. Presiden
Wilson summoned Secretaries Br>ran
arrison and Daniels. They were ii
inference for an hour, emerging ee
ous-faced.
"First blood has been spilled," sail
White House official.
No reports had been received up t<
p. m. of the Mexican casualties.
Secretary Bryan left the Whit
[ouse for the German Fmbass;
here he discussed with the Germai
mhassador the consignment of arm
>r Huerta aboard a Germnn merch
tit vossal due to be landed in Vert
ruz tonight. The capture of the Ver
ruz customs house was ordered b;
le American Government to preven
le big shipment of ammunition am
lachine guns from geting into liner
i's hands.
Congress has discussed all day tli
^solution which wouTd give appro
al to the President's purposes to us
le Army and Navy in the Mexfeai
[tuation. The Senate had recessei
ntfll 8 p. m., while the House ad
lurned until tomorrow at fO o'clock
enate leaders had agreed to take fl
al action tonight.
The Navy Department announce
lat the United States forces in Ver
ru7. ana vicinii) ioiimbii-u v?i mr un
eships Florida. Utah. Connecticu
linnesota and the cruisers San Fran
isco and Chester. gunboats Dolphin
ranRporta Prairie and Hancock hot
ital shlj Solace and collier Cvclon
s well as the charted steamers Ef
eranza and Mexico
The concentration of forces, total
ng about 7,000 sailors and nearl
.000 marines, is made up of Ren
.dmiral Mayo's ships which hav
een ordered from Tampico late Y"e
?rday and the ships which Rear Ad
liral Fletcher has had at Vera Cnr
ir man weeks.
Rear Admiral Radger with the firs
hips of the Atlantic fleet, reache
era Cruz tonight having been dl
erted from Tampico where only th
ruiser Dps Moines remains.
The air had hen filled with al
irts of sensational rumors durln
he day. Officials were nervously ex
ectant. State Department advice
ite in the day made no mention c
f fighting, but spoke of an evacua
ion hv the Federal garrison.
Rear Admiral Fletcher's repot
a me in nuick time from Vera Crus
nwever, describing briefly what ha
iken place. Unbind Secretaries wh
Iscussed Fletcher's report with Pre
lent Wilson for nearly an houi
bowed by their demeanor that th
>ss of life and bloodshed had affe<H
d them greatly.
Information which came fror
ounces close to the Cabinet counc
adicated that the President Exerch
d self-restraint and clamly detei
lined that with the seizure of VeT
'ruz and the prevention of shij
???**? n f rotn rnn/'h In cr IT ituri
urther stops would not be taken l:
he American Government for tl
>resent. The future demands noo
ictlon hv the Huerta authorities, Se
etary Garrison announced emphat
ally that no troop mvrvements hn
>een ordered.
Officials did not believe FTuer'
vould take offensive steps, birt if t
foes the American marines and blu
lackets which will oe assembled !
Vera Cm* within 4 8 hours wITt nur
ber about 15,000. FfstlTnatee he
place the Huerta forces at Mexh
Hity at about three or four thousai
men and Army and Navy officers h
lleve the American forces coutd ta!
the Mexican Capftat without serfo
difficulty.
The bulk of General Tfuerta's am
Is in the North flghttn* the Con*
tutlonallsts.
Just what was the purpose of <
verting Rear Admiral Badger fir
Tampico to Vera Crux has not be
man*' Known inn an n iootct lampi
with one American ship It Is bellev
here the Constttuttonltstfl are makl
ready to take the port
Hear Admiral BadRtr on bain* t
dered to proceed direct to Vera Cr
ordered alao diverted the 14 torpe
destroyers to Vera Cruz.
These will be of much use in i
proachlnK close to the town, and
blockade duty.
The foreign Asbassadors In Waj
Inftton were summoned during (
day bj Secretary Bryan and
formed of developments. The 0
man, French British, Austrian, Ji
anese and Spanish Asbassador l
S, APRIL 24, 1914.
ate conferences with Mr. Bryan. VHBM
Later the Chinese Minister talked j
with the Secretary. All declined to
: talk but it is understood they were | W
given the same information transmitted
abroad to American Embassies
and Legations, being especially told ;
that the American Governmentwould
i not attempt to confiscate goods in the
customs house at Vera Cruz. There
will be no attempt to interfero with
foreign vessels, but it Is believed the Til
American fleet will seize any shipments
of arms to Mexico after they K >
' are landed. j Ti]
? While the Army has received no ' an
orders to move, should it become j ,,
apparant that there will be resistance |
to the holding of Vera Cruz, the four
Array transports at Galveston, carry- 1 ,
ing four or five thousand troops, will
r be ordered under way. I Ba
General Charles J. Bailey of the 1X1$
^ Coast Artillery, will command the ^ri
. first detachment from Galveston a
' when sent, and will he followed by I *,,J
9 Major General Wood In supreme com ha
* mander. an
General Wood's term as chief of |ia
staff expires tonight. The movement
of troops would bring into play the
R plans of the joint Army and Navy ;
1 Board.
" A scheme has been worked out to '
prevent controversies over the rank
r of Army and Navy officers in joint ac
| Hon. Five thousand marines, more ja
J than half of the corps, will be as- j
semhled on the Atlantic and Pacific !
Coasts of Mexico and take a prominent
part in the American Government's
plans.
Representative Butler of Pennsyl
vanin whose so is an officer of ma->
rines at Vera Cruz was at the Navy
department seeking Information
! about the killed and wounded. He
said he had heard the marines prob9
ably would march on Mexico City. ______
8 Secretary Bryan tonight, as a precaution,
had extra police sent to
| guard the Mexican embassy here.
There were no signs of disturbances. I
R hut It was thought best to tuko the I
precaution.
The Americans have captured Vera I
1 Cruz, but at the cost of the 'ives of I
" several men and a much larger num- I
her wounded.
1 The Mexicans, under Gen. Gustavo i i
Ma as, the commandant of Vera Crux, i
o put up a stubborn resistance. General
Mnas challenged the advance of the j
e Americans almost from the first, and .
y made it clear that the Mexicans do [
f not propose to permit a peaceful oe- I
cupatlon.
Less than half an tiour after leava
lng the side of the United States
z transport Prairie, the marines had
y landed and the absence of resistance '
t at the water front and failure of !
tl the Mexicans to contest the takinR i
of a position somewhat In from the
water front caused the curious spece
tators in the street to (auRh and when j
i- one Mexican peon ran for cover, have
inR had the temerity to shout at the,
ti top of his voice "viva Mexico'' loud
d guffaws came from the onlookers.
But the lull was not Indicative of j
compliance. A few shots came wlthI
In a few minutes and later a brief ex- J
change. After another brief Interval, j \y
1 fighting In earnest oegan and hour I
a after hour the Mexicans continued to j
t oppose the Americans fiercely In I
t some quarters. although the main i A
i- body apparently seemed ready to j
i. quit. A
i- Most of the firing was done by out- ,
s post parties from roofs at various
i- points of vantage. <<(
The guns of the Prairie assisted |
I- the landing party. Towards evening
y the fighting contlnoed, but it was i t
r more of a housetop character than a
e determined, organized resistance,
s Finally, the Mexican soldiers who
p. had not been captured, killed or I
r. wounded, retreated westward.
1 o
rt Consul Canada's Report.
d Washington, April 21.?Consul
r- Canada at Vera Cfrrz reported to the
e statp deparement tonight, that sev
eral Americans, Including some wo- ,
If men, who had refwsed to go aboard |
K refugee ships, are now in hotels with
in the firing TTnw. I
s Consul Canada's report follows: B
<f "Marines and bluejackets landed B
i- at 11:30 this morning,. Immediately I
taking: possession of cable office,
t postoflce, beVeKnipft" office and custom B
*. house, also railroad terminals and I
d yards with rolling: stock. Notwlttl- B
o standing flrfng from house tops, we
s are masters of the situation so far I
r, without use of heavy gunH. Our men- I
e are simply defending themselves. ) fi
t- Some resistance from naval vessels
soon silencel by guns on the Prario. I
o "At this time reported four of our
11 men killed and 20 wounded. Amerlcan
newspaper men and several other
r- Americans In consulate. Several
'a Americans, Including some women. __ .
>- who refused to go aboard refugee e-j
a ship, are now marooned in hotels |
y within firing line. Trains from '
ie Mexico City did" not arrive.'
>n
c- Reported 200 MntraiiN Killed,
i- Galveston, Texas, April 21.?More (
id than 200 Mexicans were killed at'
Vera Cruz today In the fighting that m
la followed the landing of the United
ie I States sailors and marines, according
e- to informAtion rt^relved at the cable
in oflta* hwa carry
n- '
^ Spring lAutire and Bt*wt Cleanser. 1
Flush out the accumulated waste , .
e and potitmi of tho wlaUr months; uOlng
cleanse jour stomach. Mrer and kid- dnn't
n? a?r* of all Impurities^ Take Dr.
i Khit's New Life Pills; nothing better elsew
nv 1 for purtfjtng the l>food. Mild, noh- ,
tt- rrlptng laxaUre. Cores constipation; to us
makes jou feel fin*. Take no other.
It. J Re at jour Druggist. Bucklen's some
)Tn Arn'er. Sal re for all hurts. CHn e
Z thing
^ C FOB YOUR DSN C (rood,
^ Beautiful J College Pennants in th
"7 Vale and Harisrd, each 0 In. x 24 In. guar
^ Princeton, Cornell, Michigan . ,
Each 7 h. x 21 In. Iuna
All best qualltl felt with felt head- wjll .
'n Ing, streamers, leflprs and matcot ex- 1
ecuted In proper colors. This splendid
assortment sent postpaid for 50 cents
Lho and 5 stamps to paj postage. Send
'n* now.
of.
Rp. HOWARD SPECIALITY COMPANY
tad Dayton, Ohio.
elling Goods is Easy
When you sell the kind that pleases the customer and
uses them to cofhie back and call for the article again. ^
lat is the kincT of customers that pay and the kind of
ods to sell, iwhen we once get you to try a sack of
p-Top or Melrose Flour, we know that you will call for
other sack amM&atrts'Xhy we like to sell you someing
good. 1
"Bread is the staff of li Je"?if it is good bread. We
ve this week made arrangements with the Rock Hill
ikery's new plant to furuish us GOOD SWEET BREAD
ide from an entirely fceju^process. LISTEN: This #
1 _ A , , 1 iL. * 1 r i.' ? 4-V.^.
tj<tu is never loucnea oy ine h;ihu iruin me i>uuc cue
ur goes into this bakery till /t coines out bread. We
ve a fresh shipment now in sftock. Send in your order
d if you do not pronounce Jx the most toothsome you
ve ever eaten, there is smnejjhing wrong with your
3ter.
SPECIAL FOfyAPRIL.
We are selling 3 pound cans King Carter Tomatoes for
c a can for this month. '
E. W. SISTARE
/*<
"GOOD THINGS TO EAT."
DONfi COOK "
Your 'Cook :
t>r you may want her to cook again. Warm
eatlier and a hot stove will spoil anybody's dis>sition.
So avoid all this by buying a Florence
utomatic Oil Stove or a Fireless Cooker. The
>st is less, the heat is less and the great big trou
e of this world is less. I take your trouble on my
loulders when you buy a "Florence Automatic"
il Stove or an Ideal Fireless Cooker.
J. B. MACKORELL
" I
IE QUALITY STORE WANTS
YOURTRADE
ien you want something nice to eat, come to Edwards &
>n. We buy the very best quality in every line that we
. When you send your orders here you can depend on gat;he
very best the market affords. If you are not already
; your trading here, why not give us a trial and see if you
get a better grade of goods from us than you are gett ng
here. There is one thing sure, when you get accustomed
ing the very best goods no one can ever change you off on
thing that is inferior. When you buy something that you
at and enjoy it that article is cheap. When you buy some:
that you cannot eat, ycur money is wasted. We buy our
3 from the very best and most up-to-date wholesale houses
ie United States. Everything you buy from us is strictly
anteed to give you entire satisfaction or your money reed.
When you get in a hurry for something, 'phone us. We *
get it to you at once. Yours truly,
EDWARDS & HORTON
WE SELL SHINGLES AND BRICK J |
>