New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-20
Mexico's President, Unwilling
to Stay Citizens, Delays AS
sauIt on Forces of Dlaz.
COULD RIDDLE THE CITY
Federals Think Rebel Leader
Will Flee Before Lives and
Property Are Destroyed
u. S. Charge Protests.
Csoecjai to The Tribune)

Mexico City, oct ~ iva hdieu0''
aeIuctance of President Madero TO SUD-
,oot Tho citizens Of Vera Cruz to death
&c Tod 70 delay in issuing orders for
o., assault upon the forces OF Genera
Felix Diaz. who holds the city. Madero
olso is anxious to avoid any steps IN
vorving complications with other gov
,rrmonts, which might arise from in
iurv 10 foreigners, especially Ameri-
cans, in the city during fighting be-
tween fcderals and rebels.
All the information of the govern
u.ent shows that aside from traitorous
soldiery and the rabble, the citizens Of
Vera Cruz favor the Madero regime.
Approaching their loyal attitude, Ma
dero is willing to go to extremes 70
prevent the killing of -combatants
and the destruction of their property.
Government Is Perplexed.
It is hard for the government to de-
eide what TO do unless ii considers the
interests of the people of Vera Cruz
subordinate TO the welfare Of the whole
country and orders a general assault
on the city by the FIVE thousand fed
erals who now are resting on their
arms on the outskirts.
There is no question but that with
the forces at their command and with
the artillery, which forms a sirdle
about the city, the federals, once the
order was given, could with little risk
10 themselves virtually capture Vera
Cruz with no fighting at close quar-
tiers. They would speedily riddle the
city with shot and she'll and render the
rebels position untenable. This would
mean vast destruction of property.
The belief here is that unless more
popular response from the army and
the people is speedily evoked by Diaz to
his manifesto. the publication Of which
in various sections seems to have fallen
Fat. the rebel leader must flee from
Vera Cruz to a refuge in the noun
tains of Oaxaca, his native state.
General Beltran, commander Of all
the federal forces before Vera Cruz,
notified the Minister Of War to-day
that preparations were complete for
an attack, and that he only awaited
orders. There is no substantiation Of
reports that all the war vessels but
one have gone over to Diaz or that
Diaz himself Is a prisoner on a Mexi-
can cruiser. Diaz has seized the cable
which gives him control Of all news
dispatches out of the rebel camp.
Madero Will Not Resign.
When asked to-day if he contem-
plated resigning or making Cabinet
changes President Madero replied en-
phatically in the negative. He said the
Diaz revolt would not have the least
effect upon political conditions, and
that under no circumstances would he
resign the trust committed to him by
the people, even if Diaz or any other
rebel should be at the gates OF the
capital
Montgomery Schuyler, the American
charge. has protested TO the rebel
authorities at Vera Cruz against the
censorship OF delay in transmission OF
official messages. The protest so far
has been ineffective The cruiser
cleveland was expected TO arrive at
Salina Cruz. on the Pacific side OF the
Isthmus Of Tehuantepec, tonight or to-
morrow. The visit Of the cruiser was
planned weeks ago. Salina Cruz Is
three hundred miles from Vera Cruz.
Vera Cruz Mexico oct l9.-The rebel
forces I'm possession Of this city have
made every preparation for an attack by
federal troops. and this is expected 90
occur at any moment. Two columns Of
Iederals arrived late yesterday within
fifteen miles Of the city boundary.
vs.. w. Canada, the United States Con-
sui here, accompanied by a committee
composed OF members OF the consular
corps. went out several miles TO confer
with the federal commander, but returned
10 the city without meeting the govern
meut troops.
Perfect order prevails in the city. but
there IS great excitement owing TO the
fear of federal attack.