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Show nUERTA'S SOLDIERS ATTACK VERA CRUZ Bl Five Hundred Federals Make 8udden Assault and Attempt To Capture Reservoir In Order To Shut Off Water Supply of the City Vera Cruz, Mexico, May 2. Reports Re-ports were received here this afternoon after-noon that the Mexican federal soldiers sol-diers had attacked the American outposts out-posts and that fighting was continuing continu-ing intermittently. Reinforcements wero rushed to the front both from the fleet and the land forces. Five hundred Mexicans, cavalry and Infantry, commanded by a lieutenant, sent a messenger to the American out posts under a flag of truce at 9 o'clock this morning and demanded tho surrender sur-render of Major Russel and his force of Third regiment marines. The absurd ab-surd demand waB of course rejected. A call for hid was sent by wireless to Admiral Badger, who replied: Reinforcements sent immediately from the fleet. Also land forces. , Captain Mustln from the battleship Mississippi flew to, tho front In a curtlss biplane. The domand for the surrender was made by two Mexican cavalrymen who gave Major Russell ten minutes in which to yield. Russell's reply was: Get out. Don't waste any ten minutes. The Mexican force appeared to be about 500 strong, three fourths of a milo away. Before American reinforcements rein-forcements arrived the Mexicans fired tour shots and Russell fired a single rifle shot In exchange. Tho machine guns were not used. The Mexicans retreated before Rus-sell's Rus-sell's supports name up. ' Would Cut Off, Supply I The attack) at the front was made while another detachment of the Mexicans Mex-icans started for the Tejar waterworks water-works which gives this city its supply. sup-ply. The reservoir and pumping station sta-tion is ten miles south of this city and five miles Inland. The Mexicans Mex-icans expected to either destroy the pipes or make the water unfit for use as part of their plan to establish a food blockade from the Interior. This Is being dono In tho hope of starving out tho Americans. Three companies of marines under Major Butler are intrenched at the waterworks. A special train was sent from here with orders to pick up 800 soldiers and marines to reinforce rein-force the men at tho sourco of the water supply. The march of the Mexicans toward 'tho reservoir was reported h,ero by army scouts oarly today. They, said ' V I the Mexicans 'detachment consisted I of 500 men. I Aviators Balllnger and Lamont hae I started In nreoplanes for tho scene. A Steam launches from the battleships CT-Arkansas CT-Arkansas are running along ule jf coast to protect the aviators from sharpshooters. The aviators were or-dered or-dered to hug the coastline until they were directly opposite the waterworks |
