Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

VAT.-'VXVTTT MANNING, S. C, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 29114N4 MOBS CRY TO U. REFUGEES AT VERA CRUZ TELL STORN PAPERS FAKED NEWS 1Mexican Capital Scene of Exciting Times When Newspaper Extras Tell of Seizure of Ver'a Cruz- Peo pre Are Told That Border Towns Have Been Captured, That U. S. Battleship Louisiana Has Been Sunk and That Constitutionalists Have Allied Themselves With Fed eraLs. A refugee train of fourteen cars from Mexico City carrying 150 Ameri cans, 100 Germans and 300 Spaniards and Mexicans and 50 Englishmen ar rived at Vera Cruz Thursday evening. The exodus from the capital was ar ranged through the joint action of the British and German diplomatic officials with the war office. About three miles from Vera Cruz a section of track nearly a mile long was found torn up. The refugees carried their baggage to a train on the Vera Cruz end of tb3 break, which the British, co-operating with the Americans, had sent out. A de tachment of British marines unarm ed, acted as escort to the refugees on this last stage of their journey to Vera Cruz. From the refugees it was learned that on Wednesday there were fur ther street demonstrations by mobs. In one of the principal streets an American flag was thrown to the ground and trampled by the demon strators. It then was draged out and the performance repeated. Later it was torn to shreds amid the yells of the crowd and handclapping from spectators in windows and balconies. Immediately after the .news of the landing of American bluejackets and marines at Vera Cruz was made known in tht federal capital by extra editions of the local newspapers, crowds of students and government office employees began to gather. By dusk a mob had been assembled in front of the American club where they smashed windows and howled insults and threats at the American citizens inside, all of whom they threatened to assassinate. An ap peal to the governor of the federal district brought police protection. but not before the crowd had shattered many of the windows In the clubhouse and in adjoining properties belonging to Americans. Until 2 o'clock in the morning bands of excited Mexicans marched through the streets singing the Mexican national anthem and shout ing "death for the Americans". An American jewelry store was looted by the mob at midnight. The police looked on but took no action. The newspaDers, probably acting under the directions of Gen Huerta issued many extra editions in which Sthey printed dispatches stating that El Paso, Laredo, Nogales and other places had been taken by the Mexi . sans. Other dispatches announced that the federal troops had gained a great victory at Vera Cruz where they - expected to surround and drive the invaders into the sea.* Th papers also declared that the battleship Louisiana had been sunk by Mexican torpedoes. An alleged dispatch from the south said that Emillano Zapata, the southern rebel was coming to join forces with Gen. Hluerta. FEAR FOR HIS SAFETY. Bryan Telegraphs to O'Shaughnlessy Now in Mexican CapitoL Secretary Bryan going to the White House at 1:15 Wednesday said he had received no word from Charge O'Shaughnessy since Monday. The last message from Mexico City came from the American consulate Tuesday forenoon. Mr. Bryan appeared worried about Mr. O'Shaughnessy and cabled him to report. The secretary was sure, however, that if anything had hap pened to O'Shaughnessy, legations would have through their home gov ernment informed the United States. Press reports have stated that tele graph wircs from Mexico City to Vera Cruz were cut Tuesday, which would probably account for the lack of in formation. STAND) BY WILSON. Senator Glore Hears From Democratic Delegates to Baltimore. That the people back home are with the President in his position on the rcpeal of the exemption clause of the Panama Canal act was indicat ed Tuesday by Senator Gore, who i! taking a poll of the delezates to the Baltimore Convention, which nomi nated President Wilson. lHe ha! heard from 625 di the 1,094 dele gates to the National Convention Five hundred and four have declared themselves in favor of the repeal bill 98 are opposed to it and 23 and nor committal. Charge O'Shaughnessy Departs. Escorted by Gen. Huerta's chief 0: stat! American Charg~e Nelsor O'Shaughnessy left the Mexican cap ta1 Wener.day night. "DEATH" S. CITIZENS WONT JOIN HUERTA VILLA SAYS ALL EUROPE WOUL LAUH AT THE REBELS WISH AMERICANS LUCK Rebel General Says He Hopes the Americans Will so Bottle Up Vera Cruz That the Mexicans Can't Even Get Water-Say it Would Take Him a Long Time. Gen. Francisco Villa, head of the rebel military forces, informed Geo. C. Carothers, special agent of the United States department Thursday night that he will decline to be drag ged into a war with the United States by anybody. "Why," he smiled, as the threw an arm about the shoulders of the gov ernment representative, "all Europe would laugh at us if we went to war with you. They would say, 'That little drunkard, Huerta, has drawn them into a tangle at last.'" Villa said he was not consulted in the drafting of the Carranza note transmitted to Secretary Bryan Wed nesday night, and which was regard ed as somewhat hostile in tone. The rebel leader told Carothers, who re ported the interview to the State de partment,.that one of the chief rea sons he came to Juarez was to show the American people that his attitude was friendly, and that he did not fear to trust himself on the border with out a military escort behind him. Carothers took supper with Villa and canvassed the situation thorough ly. "Honest," said the rebel general between mouthfuls, "I hope the Americans bottle up Vera Cruz so that they can't. even get water into it. Your admiral is doing something it would have taken us a long time to accomplish, even if we could have accomplished it all." Villa said he had arranged with all foreigners, except Spaniards, to ship out their cotton from Torreon on pay ing a war tax, to which the foreign ers had agreed. Roberto V. Pesquiera, Carranza's confidential agent, insist ed that the note of his chief to Sec retary Bryan was not hostile, but was intended as a basis for further nego I tiations. He was expecting a reply from Mr. Bryan setting forth the views of the State department. The rebel position is that the American troops should be withdrawn from Mexicon soil, Carranza recogniz ed as de facto president or at least as a belligerant, and the punishment of the individual Huerta and the oth er individual offenders left to the rebels. Cararnza, if recognized, would not hesitate to apologize and disavow the acts of one whom he con siders a traitor. He was asked if the words used by Carranza, "will drag us into an un equal warfare with dignity, but which until to-day we desired to avoid," did desire war. "Not at all," he replied. "It couldn't mean that, because I know my chief wants peace." Pesqueira said, as giving evidence of the peaceful intention of the rebel government, that Carranza had re fused a number of officers from Fed eral garrisons to join him if he would take- the field against the United States. "To all of these offers, we have returned negative replies," said Pesquiera. "We can not join forces with Huerta for iny purposes." MINERS FIGHT. Strikers of Colorado Join in Fierce a Conflict With Troops. A 14-hour battle hetween strt-king coal miners and members of the Colo rado National Guard in the Ludlow district Monday culminated in the killing of Louis Tikas, leader of the Greek strikers and the destruction of the Ludlow tent colony by fire. Re ports received place the dead at 13, including 11 strikers, one soldier and one non-combatant. After an all-day battle between armed strikers and small detach ments of State troops, the Ludlow district practically was isolated. All telephone wires were down and tele graph service was limited to one rail road wire. The military force totals about 100 and fully 400 armed strik ers were said to be in the hills. Negro Switchman Killed. While coupling a train at Abbeville Saturday Frank Jackson, a negre switchman, lost his balance and fell under the wheels. Rebels Demand Tampico's Surrender. The Mexican rebels Wednresday de manded the surrender of the port of Tampico, now in the hands of the Federals. Three Burned to lDeath. Three persons were hurned to death in a fire which destroyed a Philadelphia residence Tuesday. Place Order for Horses. Fort Rieno, Okla., has received or ders to deliver at once at Galvestonl twelve hundred cavalry horses. Stars and Stripes Torn D~own. . Ameriran flags decorating a San Aonio building were -rn down b3 Mens Mornday night. CARRANZA'$ REPLY NOTE WHICH LED WASHINGTON TO EXPECT ALLIANCE Of REBELS AND FEDERRLS Telegraphic Letter to Secretary Bryan Caused a Flutter in Administration Circles, Which Had Not Expected to War Against the Rebel Part of the Country. News that Gen. Venustiano Car ranza, Constitutionalist chief, might regard the seizure of Vera Cruz by the American naval forces as an act of hostility to the Mexican nation fell like a bombshell in official circles at Washington Wednesday night. President Wilson had especially disclaimed any act of hostility to the Mexican people, particularizing Gen. Huerta as the object of the American operations to secure resprisal for of fences at Tampico and elsewhere against the American flag. Conse quently the Washington government had hoped the Constitutionalists would not interject themselves into the imbrogfilo. The Carranza letter, however, confirmed the fears of many officials that the Constitutionalists might side with Huerta. In connection with this we call at tenton to the conference between Villa and American Special Agent Carothers on Thursday in which the possibility of joint action between the rebels and Federals was swept away. Read the article in another column entitled "Won't Join Huerta." Be low we give Carranza's complete note for those who would like to read it: The unofficial translation of the text of the letter, which was directed to United States Consul J. C. Caroth ers to be transmitted to Secretary Bryan and by him to President Wil son, is as follows: "Awaiting the action of the Ameri can Senate on your Excellency's mes sage directed to said body, caused by the lamentable incident which oc curred between a crew in a whaleboat of the cruiser Dolphin and the sol diers of the usurper, Huerta, certain acts of hostility have been executed by the naval forces under command of Admiral Fletcher at the port of Vera Cruz, and in the face of this violation of national sovereignty which the Constitutionalist govern ment did not expect from a govern ment that had reiterated its desire to maintain peace with the Mexican peo ple, I comply with the duty of ele vated patriotism in directing this note to you with a view of exhausting all honorable means before two friendly nations sever the pacific relations that still unite them. Acts Not Legitimate. "The real people of Mexico have not recognized as its executive a man who had pretended to launch a blem ish on its national integrity, drown ing in blo'd its free institutions, con sequently the acts of the usurper, Huerta, and his accomplices do not signify legitimate acts of sovereignty, and much less do they represent the sentiments of the Mexican nation. "The lack of representative char acter n Gen. Victoriano Huerta, as concerning the relations of Mexico with the United States as well as with Argentine republic, Chile, Brazil and Cuba, had been clearly established with the .iustifiahle attitude of these nations, who have refused to recog nize the usurper, in this way lending a valuable moral support to the noble cause I represent. "The usurped title of the president of the republic can not invest Gen. Huerta with the right to receive a de mand for reparation on the part of the United States, nor the right to grant such satisfaction as is due. Huerta a Culprit. "Victoriano Hluerta is a culprit, who is amenable to the Constitution alist government, to-day the only one under the abnormal circumstance of our nation, which represents the na tional sovereignty. "The illegal acts committed by the usurper and his partisans and those which they may yet perpetrate shall be tried and punished with inflexi bility an'd promptness by the tribu aals of the Constitutional govern ment. "The individlual acts of Huerta never will be sufficient to involve Lihe Mexican nation in a disastrous war with the United States, because there is no solidarity whatsoever between the so-called government of Victo riano Huerta and the Mexican nation. "Moreover, the invasion of our ter ritory and the permanency of your forces in the port of Vera Cruz are a violation of the rights that consti tutes our existence as a free and in dependent sovereignty and will drag us into an unequal war with digity, but which until to-day we desired to avoid.! A Weakened Nation. "In the face of the real situation, through which Mlexico traverser, weak, more so than ever after three years of bloody strife, and compared with the formidable powver of the American nation in considering the acts committed at Vera Cruze as acts highly offensive to the dignity and in dpndance of the nation and contary to your reitertarted declaration of not dsiring to sever the state of peace and friendship with the Mexican na tio, and~ in contradiction also with the resolution of the American Sen ao'. which has just declaredl that the' 'nited States does not assume aginst te MeTxir:an pueple: neit her (1o they rprs to levy war against it. conf siderins also that the hostile acts al ready accomplished exceed those ex atd by equity, for the desired end which may be considered as satisfied. "It not bein:: on the other part. the THREE MORE ARE KILLED DESULTORY FIGHTING STILL GO. IN ON AT VERA CRUZ. Admiral Fletcher Wires Secretary of the Navy That There Are 5,400 Marines Ashore. Admiral Badger Thursday night reported to the navy department that three more men had been killed and twenty-five wounded in the fighting at Vera Cruz. This is in addition to the four killed and twenty wounded on the first day. Secretary Daniels Thursday night gave the news in this statement: "Admiral Badger wires that he landed the battalion from the Min nesota, Michigan and South Carolina yesterday afternoon, and that the landing forces now ashore totals. about 5,400 men: The Minnesota, Chester, Prairie and San Francisco are lying in the inner harbor. "Admiral Badger reports that as a result of desultory firing, which con tinued about the city Wednesday night and Thursday morning, three mei American sailors were killed and about twenty-five wounded. "The landing party now occupies all the city and outposts have been stationed on the sand hills in the rear, who have been engaged in con tructing defensive works. "Admiral Badger, in command on shore, is making every effort to in duce Mexican municipal authorities to resume their duties and take up the early administration of the city. Ie reports negotiations fairly suc ,essful. All work In the city is still ,topped and no business is being transacted. The public service util tes have stopped because the em ployees refuse to run the eventual risk of resuming employment. "Very little food supply has been :oming into the city and it is thought :hat in a few days the question of eeding the people of the city will be !ome paramount and that it is pos ible the United States will be called >n to furnish food. The .water sup 31y is causing anxiety. "The Mexican forces are disposed flong the railroad, and while Ad niral Badger reports the rumor that hey are preparing to attack, he adds :hat it is doubted that this is true, ind expresses his belief that any at :ack can be successfully resisted. ARRESTED ON LIBEL CHARGE. 3overnor's Stenographer Issues War rant for Editor Columbia Record. Editor James H. Moore, of the Co umbia Record, was arrested Thurs lay morning on two warrants sworn >ut by W. F. Blackburn, alleging riminal libel against Gov. Cole L. Blease as the result of editorial pub lications in The Record. The war rants were served on Mr. Moore in he editorial rooms of his newspaper y Deputy Sheriff Heise. He was re leased on a bond of $5,000 to await rial, Col. August Kohn and Editor W. W. Ball, or the Columbia State, signing the bond. The warrants were taken out under the Act of 1912 and charge Mr. Moore with "filfully and maliciously, and with malicious intent, originat ing, uttering, circulating and publish ing certain false statements concern ing one Cole L. Blease." Mr. Black burn is stenographer for the gov ernor. There are two speefic instances of alleged libelous statements appear ing in the Record, the dates being April 16 and April 21, 1914. Each of the articles referred to were pub lished in the editorial columns of The Record. In each of the affidavits it is charg ed that the alleged editorial utter ances had the effect to injure the said Cole L. Blease in his reputation, both personal and political, in violation of an Act of the General Assembly ap proved February 2, 1912. The State of South Carolina appears in both in stances as prosecutor. FLETCHER'S REPORT. Itear Admiral Sends Dispatch Telling of Mexican Fighting. Secretary Daniels made public at Washington the following dispatch received from Admiral Fletcher at six p. m. Tuesday:, "Tuesday, in face of approaching norther, landed marines and sailors from battleships Utah, Florida and transport Prairie and seized customs house. Mexican forces did not oppose landing, but opened fire with rifle and artillery after our seizure of customs house. Prairie shelling Mexicans out of their positions. Desultory firing from housetops and streets. Hold customs house and section of city in vicinity of wharves and consulate. casualties, four dead and twenty woun ded.' the right to constitue a reparation, I interpret the sentiment ot a great ma jority of the Mexican people, which is so jiealous of its rights and respectful of foreign rights. I invite you solely to suspend the hostile acts already initiated, ordering your forces to eva cuate all places a the port of Vera Cruz, and to formulate before the (on stitutionalists' government, which I represent as Constitutionalist Gov ernor of the State of Chihuahua and first chief of the Constitutionalist anmry. the demand on the part of the Unitedl State for the acts which or-gii nated at the port of Tampico, in the secrity that the demand will be con sidered in a spirit of elevated justice an'L conciliation. "The Constitutionlist Governor of the State of Coahulia and first chief of the Constitutionalist army. THE FIRST FIURT HOW AMERICAN TROOPS CAPTR ED PORT Of VERA CRUZ STORY OF THE FIGHTING Mexican Troops Opened Fire Upon American Soldiers and the Trans port Prairie Returns Assault With Telling Effect-Navy Turns its Guns Towards Huerta's Position. The city of Vera Cruz was in un disputed possession of the American invading forces early Wednesday af ternoon. Although there was no or ganized force used against them and the snipers were less in evidence than at any time during the fighting, eight Americans were killed and some 30 wounded. While the Mexicans suffered more severely the number of their vasual ties has not been ascertained but the best estimates obtained by Captain Wm. R. Rush, of the battleship Flor ida, indicated that in the engage ments of Tuesday and Wednesday their dead amounted to about 150. No person knows how many Mexicans fell wounded as a large part of them were hidden by friends. In the streets aboufthe plaza Wed nesday afternoon lay 15 or 20 bodies, a majority of them attired in citizens clothing. Some of the men evidently had been dead since the engagement of Tuesday and the tropical heat made their immediate disposal im perative. When the city was taken, the American marines were ordered to advance carefully and search every building for men bearing arms. Scores of prisoners were taken, most of them protesting that they were not guilty of any unfriendliness what ever toward the Americans. Accus tomed as the Mexicans are to their own contending forces shooting im mediately all prisoners, the captured men could not believe that they would receive less drastic treatment at the hands of the Americans. The most spirited action of Wed nesday, was the taking of the naval academy. Aside from that fight there was no definite organided opposition encountered by the Americans. A hot fire was poured into the marines from the naval college, which for a time held them back, but a few shots from the cruisers Chester, San Fran cisco and Prairie tore gaping holes in the stone walls and silenced the rifle fire of the Mexicans inside. The bluejackets then were enabled to pro ceed with their task. A squad of soldiers continued to give considerable trouble to the Americans from the battered Benito Juarez tower. After they had been silenced and removed from the tower, it was discovered that they had con tinued fighting for lack of ability to :1o anything else. The shells from the warships Tuesday had torn away the stairway in the tower and the men had been compelled to remain in At 10 o'clock Wednesday morning the Americans were in undisputed possession of all the city except the southwest Quarter in which the bar racks are situated and a few outlying districts. At noon they had taken the barracks. When the city prison, which faces the main plaza of the city, was captured, Lieutenant Comn mander Buchan of the Florida in spected. There was great surprise among the Mexicans who had gather ed tbere that the prisoners were -not released. They had been accustomed to seeing the victor always release prisoners and then impress them all in his own army. Chief of Police Anontio Villa Vin cencio was taken prisoner by the Americans shortly after they had oc cupied the main plaza of the city. It was suggested to him that he con tinue in his official capacity to direct the city's protective system. He took the matter under advisement. Had the frightened mayor made up his mind to accede to Admiral Fletcher's suggestion, the Mexicans might have been spared the humiliation of being forced from their positions and un doubtedly a number of lives would not have been sacrificed. Coincident with the orders for the general advance of the Americans, an aged Mexican carrying the white flag of true came down a street from the center of the city. He carried a let te- to the chief of police, the only authority he hoped to reach, and de sired Consul Canada to read it. It was an urgent appeal to the chief of police to call off the snipers and pre vent the bombardment he believed would follow if they continued their shooting. Even before the messen ger had climbed the stairs into the consul's office, Captain Rush was in formed of the contents of the note and immediately sounded "cease fir ing" and "halt". But it was too late. The action had been begun all along the line and it was not considered wise to attempt further measures to stop it. The commanders ordered their men forward at double quick, which they carried out with a vigor that afterwards gave them the city. Blood bespattered sidewalks, brok en windows and bullet scarred walls gave the plaza a gruesome aspect. Within the Diligencia Hotel there were 40 Americans--most of them women-who had been there since the beginning of hostilities. When the square was taken they were im mediately notified that they might go to other places if they so desired, but that they probably would incur no further danger uy remaining in the hotel. It was not until late Tuesday that the last of Gen. Maas' men on top of the hotel received written orders from HAVE ARMED CAMP COLORADO STRIKERS GIVE DES PERATE BATTLE. i Striking Miners Shoot Women and Children According to Lieutenant Governorfc Statements. With the toll of Wednesday's fight ing still unknown three mining prop erities burned, others reported de stroyed the fate still in doubt of thir ty refugees who took refuge in the Empire mine and a rapidly increasing number of armed men, the situation in 'southern Colorado Thursday was more critical than at any time during the strike. Eleven persons are said to have been killed in the fighting near An guilar. and a score are reported miss ing. Property damage is estimated at $2,000. The time of the arrival of the state troops is indefinite and even their arrival may not serve to quell the disorders. Large bodies of armed men are reported near the railroad approaches to the Aguilar district. Twenty-five armed men left Wal senburg Thursday in the direction of Anguilar and Ludlow. Armed men from northern New Mexico are still coming into the district and a large force from Fremont county is said to be marching across Huerfano couinty. Large numbers from Trinidad are re ported to have joined the Ludlow strikers 'who have been entrenched in the Black Hills, northeast of Lud low, since Monday night. Continued bloodshed and rioting In the southern Colorado strike zone caused Lieutenant Governor S: R. Fitzgerald Wednesday night to order Adjutant Generr~ "hase to entrain for strike zone with as many members of the State militia as he considered nec essary to restore order in that sec tion of the State, and to arrange for the issuance of a proclamation calling a special session of the State legisla ture to finance the maintenance of the militia in the strike zone. Concerning the events of the last three days in the Trinidad district, Lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald said: "My investigation of the riots near Trinidad have disclosed the most ter rible conditions; conditions which have never been equaled in this or any other state, not even West Vir ginia. Even granting all of the strik ers' claims concerning the actions of the miliita, it is not justifiable that the strikers themselves should mur der women and children as they have done and are doing, nor for them to burn and destroy hundreds of thou sands of dollars' worth of property. "They have no justification for murdering men whose only offense is that they are seeking to earn a living without a permit from the United Mine Workers of America. The trou ble was started ,by the strikers killing a non-union man whose offense was in walking to his work without their permission. They waylaid him and shot him down, riddling his body ith bullets. There was no excuse for the reason, no justification for the precipitation of a civil war. "And that is a situation which I will not tolerate so long as I am con ected in any official manner with the state of Colorado. It Is terrible to contemplate this merciless slaugh ter and it must end." tion. The order was obeyed by a portion of the hundred men who were ccupying the roof and vantage points in the interior .but some of the band determined to disobey the orders and fight to the last. Nevertheless they surrendered Wednesday morning. A lieutenant In command of the Mexi cans was led out a prisoner and al though he had fought despesately he trembled and turned pale In the belief that he would be summarily executed. None of the American women were in any way mistreated by the Mexi cans during the occupation of the building. A few of the women help ed the Mexicans in caring for the wounded. In the center of the inner harbor, San Juan De Uloa, an ancient stone fortress, flew the Mexican flag throughout the attack. The com mandant and sixty armed men and 300 workmen In the navy yard peer ed from the embrasures at the Prairie and the other ships shelling the naval academy. In the dungeons were 500 prisoners. Capt. Stickney of the Prairie wenti through the fortress several days ago and found some heavy guns, five tor pedoes and a torpedo tube in a corru gated iron shed outside the wall of the fortress. When the landing of the Americans was ordered Capt. Stickney sent word to the command nt of San Juan De Uloa that he would blow him to pieces with the Prairie's guns if he opened fire against the Americans, .but that oth erwise he would not be disturbed. The 'anmandant replied that he would answer with his cannon if fired on hut he would not begin hostilities. When the engagement ashore began. the commandant hosted a brilliant new Mexican flag, which flew all day long. Rear Admiral Fletcher instructed the Spanish cruiser C'arlos V to go give the Prairie roonm to fire her guns. The Spanish commander refused, say ing that he dared not mnanoeuver his boat in so small a space at night. He also declared he needed to take on a supply of~ fresh water. Admiral Fletcher insisted that his order he carried out and the Carlos V mnovedl outside just before the attack on the center of the city .began. When Admiral Fletcher directed that hattalions of bluejackets and marines be lande'd from ar Ad miral Bladger's ships before dlawn and drawn up in the plaza before the rail road statiou and then proceed to take the entire town he acted only after giving warning and after fifteen shells from the Prairie's three-inch (Continued on page four. ) WARSHIPS I MEXICA ARMY TO AID NAVY TROOPS TO BE SENT TO VERA CRUZ TO BACK UP TARS BOTH AMBASSABORS QUIT Passports Are Given to Them by Re spective Governments at the Initia tive of Huerta-Brazil Has Been Asked to Look After American In terests-Wilson Warns Carrauza. United States tr.,,,s moved Thurs day night to reinforce the American navy at Vera Cruz; the embargo on arms into Mexico was formally re stored, and troops were ordered to the Mexican border, primarily to re lieve uneasiness among border resi dents, but also as a precaution against hostile m ilitary operations along the international line. Secretary Garrison announced that a brigade of infantry and some artil lery, under Brig. Gen. Frederick Fon ston, had been ordered to embark on the four army transports at Galveston for Vera Cruz, to support the expedi tionary forces of marines and blae jackets there. The chance that Gen. Maas, the Federal general, might make a return attack on Vera Cruz with reinforcements, and the possible necessity of a forward movement to ward Mexico City to protect fleeing Americans and the Vera Cruz railroad were underlying reasons for the mil itary movement. The restoration of the embargo on arms was officially announced after the pronouncement of Gen. Carranza, the Constitutionalist chief, that he re garded the seizure of Vera Cruz as a violation of the Mexican sovereignty, had been considered by the adminis tration. While Mexican Constitu tionalists protested that Carranza's real attitude was friendly, the Ameri can government decided to take no chances, and abruptly stopped the shipment of all arms into Mexico. President Wilson earlier in the day had issued a statement warning Gen. Carranza, the Constitutionalist chief, that the United States was dealing now, and would continue to deal, with those whom Huerta commands "and those who come to his support." No fighting of any consequence was reported from Vera Cruz. The Amer ican land forces pushed their way three miles inland to some important breastworks to make their position secure. Rear Admiral Fletcher and merican Consul Canada were occu pied most of the day in Vera Cruz andling hundreds of American refu gees. British and German vessels took off more than 1,200 refugees t Tampico and a general exodus of mericans from other Mexico cities was reported. The national capital was nervous with excitement, while the diplomatic relations between the Huerta govern ment and the United States were be ing finally severed and the army and navy continued to put themselves on war basis. Revelation of the pur poses of Carra-nza and Huerta is be ing awaited before a complete mili tary campaign is developed. The United States intends to take no of fensive action for the present, pre paring to hold Vera Cruz until the situation crystalizes. Both Nelson O'Shaughnessy, the merican charge d'affaires, and Senor lgara, the charge d'affaires of the Mexican embassy, were given their passports Thursday. The United States has chosen Brazil to look after its interests in Mexico. Where there are no Brazilian consuls French con suls will act for the United States. The choice of Brazil instead of European powers was regarded as very significant. Not only has Brazil, ike Argentine and Chile, refused to recognize the Huerta government, but the fact that the United States consid ered as its friend in a crisis a South American nation. emphasized Pan American solidarity. In the present case France stood ready to give its services, and the United States took advantage of that readiness with a request that the American consulates be taken over at all points where Brazil did not have consuls, to which France complied. The president, in the course of the day, talked of the Mexican situation frankly with his callers. He referred to the crisis as serious, and thought it was his duty, he said, to confine his announcements to facts, reserving in formation about contemplated steps until plans matured. Mr. Wilson does not regard the present situation as state of war, and holds that so far as his authority is concerned, only acts of reprisal have been undertaken. One of the president's callers men tioned to him the statement issued from Tokio of the intention of Japan to remain neutral during any event uality. Mr. Wilson had not read of it hut spoke of his assumption that all powers would remain neutral, no matter what steps were taken by the United States. The president made it clear that no blockade had been de clared and that foreign governments would be notified before such a step would be taken. Hie said he did not know whether H-uerta proposed a declaration of war, or what succeed ing moves the Hluerta government planned. An attack on Vera Cruz lby Cen. Mass and reinforcements, which he is reporte to be retting from Puebla. BOMBARD ,N SEAPORT 3,000 SAILORS LANDED IN COMPLETE CONTROL 150 MEXICANSKILD American Troops Land Under Pro ection From the Big Guns of the Fleet-Three Thousand Marines Now March the Streets of Vera Cruz-Regular Federal Troops Are Reported Twenty Miles -Inland Firing Commenced Promptly- at Daybreak and Lasted Hours. Landing parties from the vessels of the American fleet under Rear Ad miral Badger were greeted with quite general firing from snipers when the boats approached the Mexican shore at half past four o'clock Wednesday morning. Mexican sharpshooters occupied the roofs of houses in the central part of the city and were able to fire down upon the American marines and blue jackets as they neared the land from the vessels lying off shore. Marines Landed. It was at a conference on the Ar-. kansas that Rear Admirals Badger - and Fletcher bad decided to comple the investment of Vera Cruz. Rer Admiral. Badger organized a landing force of 2,700 marines and -blue Jackets and before day broke these had all been sent ashore. Rear Admiral Fletcher reported tat armed citizens kept up a scatter ed fire from behind their shelters on ousetops. The regular.federal troops forming the garrison of Vera Cruz re said to have withdrawn 15 or 20 miles instand. Five Battleships Arrive. Rear Admiral Badger's five battle ships, the Arkansas, Vermont, New' ersey, New Hampshire and South Carolina, are now outside the break water. They increased their speed to 17 knots for the last eight hours bf their trip on .the receipt of a report from Rear Admiral Fletcher as to conditions at Vera Cruz. In the final dash to Vera Cruz the :ollier Orion and four tugs accom panying the fleet were outstripped, but arrived Wednesday. All the American war vessels are. held In readiness to start for Tampico at an iour's notice. The number of foreign refugees on board the Esperanza was Increased Wednesday when several pople, most ly Americans, took advantage of the ull in the firing to go on board. The captain of the German steamer Ypir anga, which brought arms and am munition for Huerta Wednesday, re ported to Rear Admiral Fletcher his willingness to take on board refugees. Consul Sends News. A dispatch from Washington says forces from Rear Admiral 'Badger's leet were landed to help in the gen eral movement against Vera Cruz, according to official advices to the navy department. Consul Canada's dispatch, filed at Vera Cruz early Wednesday, stated: Firing commenced at daybreak. Ships now shelling southern part of city. Large force landed from Admiral Badger's fleet before daylight. Copies of proclamation issued by Rear Ad miral Fletcher requesting at once the co-operation of the mayor and munic ipal authorities In restoring order have been distributed but have. been unable as yet to get In communication with these officials. 150 Mexicans Killed. "Major Butler's force of marines from Tampico are now ashore. Ex pect the city will be quiet later in the morning. Estimates of Mexicans kill ed and wounded up to late Tuesday night approximately 159. Battleships here: Florida, Utah, Arkansas, Ver mont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, transport Pairie and collier Orion. Transport Hancock with marines reported due. Ameri can forces advance 8 a. m. under guns of war vessels to take city." .3,000 Soldiers Ashore. A dispatch from the consul at nine o'clock Wednesday said that he ex peeted fighting to cease within an hour. American forces ashore num, her 3,000. They were well into the city and had the situation In hand. Consul Canada said: "Have sent messengers to all hotel keepers to re open their establishments, which will be given full protection. Customs house and warehouse on fire, but now extinguished. Now Informed that American troops have been ordered to advance to take possession of the city. Informed also that first two sections of the train from Mexico City arrived at Vera Cruz before the fighting commenced Tuesday morn ing. Third section on Its way, but not beard from. Major Catlin, who with a force of 300 marines just land ed to assist Captain Neville, says to tal number of forces landed 3,000. Our forces now well in center of city. I now believe fightling will be stopped within less than an hour." would not be unexpected, and the sailing of the army transports from Galvston is designed to help the marines and bluejackets should they advance twenty-seven miles from the city to obtain possession of a val uable railroad bridge, which would e important in a campaign on Mex