New-York tribune., 1912-02-19
FREE PRESS FOR MEXICO
Congress Committee Rejects Ma
jero'S Censorship Plan.
VASQUEZ GOMEZ MANIFESTO
Refugee in San Antonio, Tex,
Accepts Provisional Presi-
dency" of Republic.

/ Mexico City Feb. is.--President Madero
| has accepted the resignation of Abraham
| Gonzalez as Minister OF the Interior. Con-
! zaleZ has reassumed the governorship of
| the State of Chihuahua, where he went in
! the belief that he could restore peace.
! Believing that all the instructions
| against the government are largely re-
suit Of the publication Of sensational news.
! President Madero and his Cabinet appealed
/ to the permanent committee in Congrss
| to suspend that article Of the constitution
providing for free press. The committee.
however returned negative reply to the
| Presidents demand.
The committee was asked also 10 au.
thorize the extension OF the zone in which
the suspension of personal guarantees is
operative. This, too. was refused.
! The censorship at Cuernavaca was re-
moved last night, but the news emanating
from that point to-day showed little change
I'm the situation.
Emilio Nasquez Gomez's frank public
declaration that he will accept the pro-
visional Presidency in case the rebels sue
ceed in forcing Francisco !. Madero from
the national palace has gone far toward
convincing unofficial residents OF the capi-
tsl that general rebellion is in progress.
Mexican officials. however. continue TO
characterize as local disorders every in
surrection in the country.
Although rebels now are operating in
eighteen states, the Department OF the In
terror continues TO give out news denying
| trouble in 4 great part of these.
Last night there was a fight at San
Pedro some thirty miles from Torreon, in
which twenty-seven men were killed, the
ma iority said TO have been rebels. com
mandcd by Jose Argumedo Such informa-
tion as is obtainable from Torreon indi-
| Gates that for a considerable distance to
the east and as far south and west as Du-
range, the capital of the state of the same
name. the region is being raided almost at
will by rebels. The government has de-
MED officially that Guerrero. in chihuahua.
has fallen into the hands of rebels.
With the exception of the six Southern
states where Emiiano Zapata and Jesus
II. Salgado are making some headway In
resisting the army now waEing a war of
determination, the region most seriously
lmenaced consists OF the states OF Coahuila
and Durango. Other states I'm which rebels
are operating are Chihuahua, Sinaloa.
Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi. Jalisco and
Mchoacan.
Far south in Tahasco and in the State Of
Vera cruz there are bands which appear
10 be not closely connected with the Ia
patist movement.
At present there appears TO lie no one
who is directing the various bands or
rebels. but from almost all quarters Of the
tr.hn he k.1a I1tr. cd
Vasquez Gomez has been proclaimed as
their chief, even Iapata having announced
that ne will cease only when the fugitive
ex-Cabinet Minister is placed in the Presi-
dency.
Among the leaders in tho field about Tor
| reon is Manuel CARA Aldapo, proclaimed
for the Vice Presidency. How many rebels
| there are I'm arms no one knows, but the
news OF the last week indicates that the
| insurgents force Is increasing rapidly.
The government has placed an order IN
Germany for 10000 rifles and hig order
| in Belgium for cartridges.
General Rohes. commander Of tho forces
| ~ the south. and his officers hav" mad'
! plans for a renewal Of tho campaign this
week Rebels can yet he encountered
within A few miles of Cuernavaca, anj
| both rebels and fcderals are wlCing pit'
/ less warfare IN Morelos Few prisoners
are bcirg taken. and The government
troops last week began the destruction oi
| villages and the herding OF women and
children into camps in tho towns. 10 pre-
vent them from aiding the men in th'
| field.
| Yesterday, in the State of OaXaca. ac'
! pfTI al
| troops killed thirteen In a fight with fifty
rebels The assurance IS given that thes'
men were the same who tore M the track
| of the Mexican Southern Railway In OaN.
aca a few davs ago.