The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-05-11
JUAREZ IN FLAMES
Rebels Force Their Way
to Center of City.
FINISH FIGHT IS NOW ON
Madero's Insurrectos Drive Federal
Forces Back in Fierce Street
Battles and Hundreds
Are Slain.

III Paso. Tex, May 10.-Juarez Is IN
flames, set by rebel torch, and under
cover of smoke and darkness the nam
insurrecto army, commanded by Gen
eral Madero. is engaged In desperate
street battle with General Nayarro's
federal garrison.
Supported by superior artillery, the
loyal troops held the rebels in check
most OF the day. but the latter. pour
ing into the city from the foothills
and from every direction and advanc-
ing by rushes. occupying houses IN
their advance. finally gained the cen
ter OF the city.
Many Americans enrolled In the
rebel ranks were killed and a number
we're shot in FL Paso. despite efforts
OF the United States troops TO Keep
the crowds OF spectators back from
the banks of the Rio Grande, the nat
ural international border
Throughout the day the fighting dii
not cease for minute. Thousands oil
cartridges were expended, hundreds
OF shrapne shells were exploded be
tween the Mexican brothers in an en-
deavor each to exterminate the other.
Back and forth they fought, first the
insurrectos gaining and carrying
trench. then falling back under me
heavy fire OF the rallyng federals. The
insurrectos fought their way into the
heart Of the town, captured the bnll
ring and Cowboy park Then they al
vanced slowly against the main strong
hold Of the federals in the old church,
the postonice. the jail and the munich
pal buildings. all grouped around the
Hidalgo plaza.
Every inch Of the route was con
tested. and It was a slow. steady fight
Darling from behind one adobe wall
to the other. the insurrectos advanced.
Falling back from one roof to another
the federals retreated into the big
buildings that gave them safety.
Rebels Fire Buildings.
The lnsurrectos used their two
homemade cannon with splendid ei-
feet. except that they had black pow
der and their smoke easily drew the
fire OF the federals The insurrectos
were able 10 silence the federal big
guns in most instances after they got
into the city, and for time the fed
erals had nothing more than their
rifles and hand grenades for the de
Tense Of the town In the middle Of the
afternoon the federaIs got a field gun
onto the roof OF the old church and
drove the insurrectos back from the
old plaza to the trenches near the
river. firing shrapnel at them as they
led Two OF the shrapnel shells Tell
into FL Paso. one In the yard Of the
FL Paso laundry and one into the
Santa Re stock yards The bursting
shrapnel scattered the insurrectos
and killed and wounded many Of them
As the insurrectos fell back they be-
gan TO set fire to the buildings about
the plaza. The torch was applied 10
the postofice. The fire spread rapidly
and soon started in another part OF
the city.
Throughout the fighting the casual
ties were heavy on both sides, and the
wounded and dying were left In the
hot sun. without food. water or medl-
cal attention. There were two doctors
with either command, and as the fight
Ing was at close quarters the wound
ed fell thick
On an arrangement between Colonel
Steever. of the United States army
commanding the border guard. and
Senior Torres. Mexican consul in El
Paso. many of the wounded, who had
managed to reach the international
bridges and had been held back by
the United States troops, were allowed
to come to FL Paso hospitals. These
included several Americans.
The contending forces in Juarez
have no hospital organization or medi'
cal corps, so that the wounded are Tor
the most part left without any more
attention than can be had from their
unskilled comrades.
Dead and Wounded Lie In Streets.
Living in the streets, under the
broiling sun, begging for water. gap
ing wounds draining their life blood
and staining the ground crimson
scores Of fighting men Of both armies
give tragic evidence OF devotion to a
cause and loyalty to a purpose-the
last and highest devotion OF which hui
man kind Is capable.
Death has already claimed several
hundred. II is declared Literally shot
to pieces. brains scattered. organs
blown out. the dead lie where they
have fgallen.
So fierce is the fighting that neither
side will permit moments truce for
a hospital corps under a white flag to
remove the wounded and dead bodies
from the zone of fire.
The city of Juarez Is practically de-
serted except for the federals and the
rebels. The American patrol on the
FL Paso side Of the river permits wo-
men and children to come across al
any time in any numbers seeking
safety.
The Juarez sausage factory, a new
industry, was burned. as was big
building east Of Juarez. These were
followed by the burning Of the post
office and other buildings.
Bullets have been falling In FL Paso