The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-04
q Shall Die at Post
If it is Necessary"

The offers which good citizens have
made to take up arms are numberless. |
but In order that their services may
be really useful and that all those who
do take up arms may at any time be
a guarantee of order, 1t Is necessary
for them to subject themselves to mil
itary discipline, and to swell the ranks
in the federal army.
II would consider 1t cowardly and
reasonable to the people who have
placed their confidence in me to throw
aside the legal vestments and to give
supreme power to him who asks for 1t
on no other grounds than those OF
personal ambition and under pretext
Of an anarchistic movement. There
fore. l will defend loyalty the flag.
and adhere to the law which the Mex
lean people has contided In me, and
II necessary shall know how to die
at my post fulfilling my duty
Four hundred Americans left Mex
leo City last night and 23O plan to
leave tonight The federal garrison
here numbers but 1000 men and would
be unable to handle the situation
should rioting break out. Appeals have
been posted asking that foreigners
join with volunteer citizens In prepar-
ing to defend the city.
Owing to the exodus of Americans,
the Daily Mexican, an English paper,
suspended publication today. The
Mexican Herald, the only other Eng
lisn paper, is likely to follow suit.
Bandit In Control.
Ell PASO, Texas. March 4.-The
city of Chihuahua is today virtually in
the control of Pancho Villa, former
bandit and now leader Of the federal
forces in Chihuahua. Fighting is still
In progress there. according to re-
ports, but with the Villa forces rapidly
driving Orozco's troops out. No furth-
Ter details have been received and it
is impossible to estimate the casual
ties. The dispatches say Villas force
of 800 men succeeded in getting into
the city and occupying strong posi-
tions. After a fierce battle, last
night, the advices say Orozco's
troops which have defended the city
/ for twenty-four hours were driven out
OF several strongholds, but they have
not yet been entirely dislodged.
Twelve hundred vasquistas, with
/ two rapid firing guns and two skilled
| American gunners, are at Sauz this
morning awaiting the arrival of Gen.
1 Inez Salazar from Juarez, The Vas
j quistas are commanded by General
| Emilio P. Campa They left Juarez
last night on three special trains and
will proceed to chihuahua today to
wrest the city from Villa. With this
force. General Castillo, with 400 reb-
els, is rushing to Chihuahua from vii
! la Ahumadi and General Hernandez,
with $50 Vasquistas. is hurrying to
4 Orozco's aid.
Despite the ferocity of yesterday g
battle at Chihuahua, Vasquistas at
4 Juarez say 1t was mistake. They
a assert that Salazar was assured by
4 Villa that he was against Madero, or
dered Villa to attack the city, in the
belief that Orozco had left. They an
! swered that Orozco fought back. be
\ lieving that Villa was fighting fol
Madero. The Vasquistas now believe
that Villa, flushed by his victory, will
J claim the city for Madero and forget
his assurances to Salazar
Americans In Chihuahua consist en-
J tirely of men, the women and children
!. having been sent out already. Fifteer
hundred vasquistas remain in Juare'
! to defend the city.
/ Six vasquista soldiers, heavily arm
I ed, who attempted to cross to thu
: American side early today were stop
! ped by the American patrol and two
| of them arrested after hand to hand
, fight with the American soldiers Th'
: other Mexicans fled.
/ The Vasuuista commander protest
!. ed against holding the two, but the,
/ are still held