AT VERA CRUZ.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 35, 1 July 1914, Page 3

AT VERA CRUZ.

MEXICAN "SMPMIW" AT WOIUC WITH Tlii-, YANivEli BLUEJACKETS.

- The war at Vera Cruz was not altogether grim-visaged. In many respects i* was jest rather than tragedy. In the midst of conllbt there was an exemplili cation of the Yankee spirit—the refusal to take even eoriousi things seriously.

It took the Americans less tlia.ii twe days to capture the port ('writes the "Chicago Tribune" special). There was no rush. rii>.ve was little confusion. Laughing, "cussing," and slang-slinging, the marines and bluejackets leisurely crept along rhe streets mulch. as do hunters after piairie chickens. They "joshed" each otlher as the Mexican bullets 'hummed about their headls. When, "snipers'' got reckless .enough to lean out into range the Yankees shouted such phrases as these: — "Watch me get that guy." "Why, the ioor simp, he thought he could poke his head out li'lie that and get away with it-." "That un tumbled like a sparrow." "Lay oil' thai side of the street—that's my side," when a companion had slkot a ram at which another sailor had been aiming. Uncle Sam's men were tickled to get wn tlie firing line and sorry when they had been relieved. the wounded smiled. The marines' seemed to suffer the most in '.he early fighting, mare of them being wo'uided than of the jackets. Passing a wounded marine who was being carried on a stretcher, I offered my consolation. He smiled cfcieerfuHy-r-■ considering the nature of his wound—and said:— "I know I got tltTee of 'cm. I can account for that many—melrbe there were more. But they got me too early and I had to lose out on the fun. God, I wish I could fitay." THE HEX BUG BIT DEEP. ' A spent ouilet had hit a sailor in the ba<rk of the neck and penetrated the skin. When the excitement quieted down Sile went to one of the R«d Cress men and said; "Hi, doe, Hiese Mexican bugs bite I something (kvve. One of them too*k a j lunch out of my neck, and it's hurtin' yet."

The doctor examined the supposed "bug bite" and told the ■ boy it wus a bullet.

"Well, if it isn't too dangerous," the latter said, "Jet it etay there. I'll take it home that way for a souvenir to show the folks."

The doctor, tcwever, insisted fllic danger was too g''ea£ and cut. the bullet out.

A sailor who was somewhat fat across the shoulders walked into the ho-pitaJ and told the surgeons he was sbet. llis shirt, red with blood, was taken off him, exposing d terrible wound four inches in diameter, tiie bullet, making

a tearing wound rather th!m a tfein one, had enterea one shoulder and passed out th; <sther. The sailor hud not turned !n.-i back to the enemy. 'Hie sniper* had iieai potting our' trooos from behind t, ihc jackets passed up the street.

After _ examining the wound the surgeon said <-hi;-.o',<irni would Jihve to be administered.

"•Nix on the chloroform,'' said the sailor. "Go to it."

.We wihhstoid the pain of the operation without Pinching, and then wanted to walk back to 1 the wharf. An explanation that Ik; nlu.-t lie on his stomach Bud he carried there in order lo prevent a fatal fcw® of blood, was necessary before he would abandon his plan. But while it_vas fun, it was terrible fun. The jaukic as \w I'ou^it, but all around Jiim \va--, the terrible reality of war. Looking tllirough my field-glasses I 9 *w a Mexican writing in agony. I. wat'died 'him .as; he rolled irt« the gutter and' then our, into the street, lie twisted and turned, not sen-

srbly. with tli.■ intention of getting out' of danger, lim •r-.VkleKsly, "uncaring--, crazed with li'.rn. Wnen we reached tliie' spot a little 'ator he was deal. .Men died in nil positions with one hand! onfetrctched as if in appeaJl, -with fists clcnHicd, wilili leg-' drawn up to their bodies, in limo heaps. 'But.'in almost all cases the dead had one baud over the fatal woundi—even when wounded in many places. NI.XI? WENT OCT AT SUNRISE.

five find Crj«: men, one of tHiwu c.irryi'ig a large J{<'d Oross- [lag, were making their way up th, street to rescue the wounded—they helped trie Mexicans as well a;-: 11ill own men. Tliey were lh-e v,a>re woiindeii. Seeing tiliis. a Wimll band of jaekie.-. ciiargcd without waiting for orders, carried the house in the faee of a heavy lire, mid inside found nine Mexicans and a murdered American wonran.

Thc Jiine -xtsm fciTulttitVcd together and marched ant to meet (:he fate they iriterited as the snn rose the following liHTnijia.

A .Mexican was sitting on a porch I discovered l im through my .field glasses soiiH- time .iftsr .he had started operations. Tie was about 30 yardls from where owr boys were firing. ' Apparently this old ".spick"- ■as the' jaekie* culled the .Mexicans—was engaged in peacefully reading a paper. From time to time' a. bullet ripped into our lines, but our men were unarbie f> looite tihe point from winch It was fired. becoming suspicious, I watched the old fe'lowon the. porch and discovered that Underneath the outstretched oilpaper he was reading he had a rille. From' time to tin:,. lie would sneak a khot at- our sailor*. Then lie would he reading the ]KXpcr again when they looked in 'his dim-lion.

Areanwhiie some of the Failors bad spotted the oldt man. and two of ovir men broke a.wav and ran around behind the house where lie, was sitting. They went up the l ack way into the garret, and to the flout window, which was open. The next shot, from under his paper was hi* last stoat.