Brown County (IN) Democrat, May 14, p. 1914, p. 4. BROWN COUNTY BOY ON DUTY-VERA CRUZ-MEXICANS A FUNNY BUNCH Walter Calvin of Nashville has received an interesting letter from James Fritch, a Brown County boy of the medical corps on the United States Ship Patuxent at Vera Cruz, Mexico. Jim is a native of Jackson Township and attended the Nashville High School two terms, five and six years ago, after which he joined the army. He was later married at Porto Rico to a young lady of Washington, D. C. In his letter to Mr. Calvin he tells of incidents connected with the taking of Vera Cruz by the U. S. Marines. The letter follows. U. S. S. Patuxent Vera Cruz, Mexico April 27 Dear Friend: Just a few lines to let you know that I have left the U. S. We were one of the first boats to start for this place. I suppose you get the papers and know that we are engaging in warfare with Mexico. On the 22nd of this month we captured the city of Vera Cruz-this is the forts and public buildings, railway station and docks, but most of the city is infested with sharpshooters, "snipers," so a gorilla warfare is carried on in the streets. About eight thousand of our men are entrenched outside of the city holding it against the Mexican army. I have not had a chance to take part in any of the hard fighting as our boat is engaged in moving refugees from the shore to the big tiners (difficult to read). One night while going from the ship to the dock to receive some mail, a shot was fired at me by a sniper, but the bullet hit far away from the boat. The same night we brought the ship up to the dock and about thirty of them fired in our direction but were easily driven off by the patrol on the dock. Their bullets threw up pieces of concrete from the dock, but no one was hit. So many Mexicans have been killed that they are covered with oil and burned. We have not been fighting the Mexican army but some thousands of convicts who were liberated upon the approach of Americans. They were told to kill every American they saw. These Mexicans are a funny bunch, usually cowardly, but while drunk one of them will attack a company of us. A humorous incident occurred the other night. One lone Mexican attacked the Cruiser San Francisco while she was tied up to the dock. The Mexican fired three shots at the ship and when the cruiser's search light was turned on him, he threw down his rifle and ran. These skulkers are shown little mercy by the sailors when caught. They are lined up and shot. This is a beautiful and picturesque old town dating from the latter days of Cortez, and it would be a shame to be obliged to shell it. There are old churches and monasteries that are rare from an architectural standpoint. The town has no modern defense, but there is an old castle that was at one time very strong. They put up a fight but the five-inch guns soon compelled a surrender. A bunch of young Mexican Naval cadets put up a splendid fight when the sailors captured the academy; most of them died fighting. I hope this little war does not last long for I don't like the idea of losing out on my vacation. Of course, it will be three or four months at least before we get the greasers straightened out so they know not to get too bluffy with Uncle Sam. Well, Bill, write me and tell me all the news. The mails are very uncertain here now. Tell all the bunch hello for me. Yours ever, J. E. Fritch