The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-10
WILL DIE FIGHTING SAYS GEN. NAVARRO
Reports to Government that
 Juarez Is Safe
PEACE PACT IS MADE
Claimed Rebels in Southern Part of Mexico Have Agreed to Stop Fighting-Mexico City Is
 Still Bewildered

Mexico City May s.-"I will die before
 I will surrender So long as I have sol- diers to defend my positions in Juarez,
 will not deliver the city to the rebels .
 With these words General Navarro to- day closed his report to the department of war on the battle at Juarez. He de- i clared this to be the message returned to Madero in reply to his demand for the surrender of the city. Placing all confi- denee in the aged warrior, the govern meut officials were yet confident this aft ernoon that he would succeed in holding the city until the arrival of the columns of Rabago from Terrazas and Gordillo Escudero from Mulato. Should he fsll to withstand the attack, however, the government considers that the taking of the place will be but minor incident after all. They believe that the advanc- ing achievements will be before the lit tie border town long before the rebels are in condition to fight again and that the place will then be retaken.
 While residents of the capital continue to betray the keenest interest in develop ments at Juarez, their attention this aft ernoon was divided by the announcement that tentative peace pact had been entered into by the government and the rebels in the state of Guerrero. Prof. Francisco Figueroa, a brother to Am- brosio Figueroa, the ranking rebel leader in the south, who captured 1guala last week( today left the capital to notify him of his success in negotiating terms. Professor Figueroa Is confident that his brother and his followers will accept them.
 The rebels are to retain control of the 4arx- 1F n5 rQ that they shall have a full share of the con- duct of local affairs in their state, includ- ing the selection of a new governor. On their part the rebels promise to dishand and return to their homes. They also agree that they will use all efforts to sup press brigandage.'
 Do Not Forsake Madero
 The rebels do not consent to forsake the Madero movement however, and re- serve the right to fight in his name should he march southward and demand their services.
 While this agreement appears not to count for much, in as much as the rebels do not promise to eliminate themselves entirely from the revolutionary move ment, 1t is regarded as highly important in this part of the republic.
 With the exception of a brief report Stll bA NdNdTIp lo lile liillllSlleI LII wal : Mexican officials are yet dependent on the press dispatches for news of the Juarez battle. Today the same air of as- tonishment pervaded government officers and silence greeted all questions made at the presidents office for information. | Minister de la Barra was without news but continued to express a hope that
 peace would yet be established.
 In the streets of the city men divided
 their time between their business. the buy
 ing and reading of extras and converse
 tions regarding the latest developments
 On all sides the situation was discussed
 as freely as If a political campaign 1T
 the United States. Partisans of the gov
 ernment frankly argued on street corn
 CTS with friends of the revolution and
 none appeared to think of interference by the police, not even when men loudly pro- claimed their belief in the justice of l Madero's claims.
 Rebel Activity Increasing With the exception of those in the dis triet south of the capital there appears 10 be increased activity by the rebel forces in all parts of the country. Meagre re- ports reaching the capital today from the states of Durango, Coahuila and Vera Cruz tell of fighting in the capital of the first state; in Torreon, Coahuila and in Tuxpan, small port north of Vera Curz.
 Officials at the department of war admit that attacks have been made, but de- clare they have received few details They are optimistic concerning the out come.
 The attack on Durango was begun yes terday but on account of the cutting of telegraph and telephone wires it has been impossible to learn the outcome The rebels. who are said to outnumber the fed erals two to one. are under the command of Luis Moya, The garrison is composed of portion of the Eleventh cavalry It is known that the firing continued almost all day yesterday and that the federals responded spiritedly, but it is feared here that the town may have been taken today. A brief message from Torreon states that the garrison unGer General Loiogo is holding its own and 1t is not believed here that it succumbed to the assault
 The rebels waging the attack upon Tuxpan number far more than the fed eral garrison and it will occasion no sur prise should the report of the capture of the little town be received