OCR Text |
Show VERA CRUZ IS UNDERC0NTROL Vera Cruz, April 22. Vera Cruz, aftor a day and a night of resistance to tho American forces, gradually ceased its opposition today. Urged by Rear Admiral Fletcher, the city began returning to Its normal civil government under Its own local officials. offi-cials. The gradual cessation of hostilities was brought about through notes sent by Consul William W. Canada to the mayor, the jefc politico, or chief federal fed-eral civilian official, thc chief of police, po-lice, and the other officials, calling on them for their co-operation. The chief point from which the Mexicans fired was In the central part of tho city. House top - firing -which had been more or less continuous since the operations op-erations began, became more active this morning when -it became light enough to aim Captain William Rush, commander of the battleship Florida, had received orders not to affect any advance, bui to hold the positions, he' had taken yesterday. Captain "Rush-hailtnder his'-orderfc" ashore nearly ?.000. while off shore there were awaiting his call up lo 9000 men. Rear Admiral Fletcher was determined deter-mined not to lose more men than was absolutely necessary and for this reason In all probability did not utilize util-ize thc forces under his command ashore In charges or to advance on the positions held by the snipers. Thc Mexican sharpshooters appeared appear-ed not to have diminished in numbers num-bers today and with daylight their bullets appeared to take a change of direction. The Mexican troops belonging to tho regular establishment had practically practic-ally all left the city and the firing was carried out by armed citizens and straggling soldiers and policemen. |