The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-21
CRUISER REACHES VERA CRUZ ID AID AMERICANS THERE Diaz Confers With Com mander of the Des
 MOines
MORE DESERTIONS
 TO DIAZ BANNER
United States Government, While Realizing Gravity of Situation, Will Not Interfere-Por-
 firi0 Diaz Involved

Vera Cruz, October 2O.--The United ! States cruiser Des Moines. in com mand of Capt. Charles F. Hughes. steamed into port during the night. An officer from the warship visited Gen. Felix Diaz this morning and ar | ranged an interview on behalf of Cap- tain Hughes. General Diaz then visited
 the Des Moines where the American captain and the leader of the new re- volt had long conference. the nature Of which has not been dlvulged. While the Diaz revolutionists hold the city and the federals have taken l uI positions on the outskirts, there has been no coming together of the
 two opposing forces as yet. The feel- , ing of anxiety among foreign residents has been considerably relieved by the arrival of the Des Moines and 1t ss considered probable that battle, If it Is fought, will take place beyond the city limits
 The German and Russian ministers to Mexico who arrived here on the
 steamer Segueranca left today for Mex | leo City on a special train supplied 1 by General Diaz. The German and Rus 1 sian consuls travelled with them part
 of the way. In the firing last night be- tween the gunboats and uluoa fort
 a man operating the searchlight on a | gunboat was killed.
 Disregard Warning The Ward line steamer Segueranca
 on her arrival here yesterday was warned by Commodore Azueta in com nand of the gunboats still loyal to | the Mexican government not to dis
 charge it's cargo. Today Captain Jones of the steamship was ordered by the company to unload and declares his intention Of doing so. The Segueranca has on board arms and ammunition Tor the government which will be seized by General Diaz If landed.
 Great interest centers in the atti- tude which Commodore Azueta will as- sume in connection with the discharge of the cargo and what measures will lie adobted by the Des Moines. Two other American warships arc
 expected to reach here at any time Tue Spanish consul has sent out wireless messages to passing steamers to pro- coed here 10 take aboard spanish sup- fects in case of a bombardment. Alvarado, minor port about 90 miles south of Vera Cruz, was captured last night by Major Zerape, a revolutions ary officer Tuxpam, i45 miles north
 west of Vera Cruz, has declared in
 favor of the revolution, the author it!es there. together with 250 veterans and l5O armed volunteers, taking part
 in the movement. The rebel generals,
 Aguilar and Delallave, are reported 10
 he moving from the north to attack
 C.. neral Beltran's rear. Beltran mas z9Vo
 men around Vera Cruz while the reVo- lutionists have more than l50O within
 he city and 200O with Generals Ag- ,nIar and Delallave. A German liner
 has arrived here to take off German subjects In case of bombardment
 More Desertions to Diaz
 The soldiers of the Twenty first bat- talion. garrsonng Fort Gluoa, located on an island in the local harbor, have re- voIted and joined the revolutionary forces of Felix Daz
 The punboats Bravo and Morelos opened
 fire on the refugees. killing several and
 wounding others
 The soldiers of the garrison remained in the fort, refusing to return the nre
 of their comrades The situation at ths island Is especially serious. as Fort tihoa is also used as a penitentiary. I-ntl the fire was opened by the Bravo and Morelos upon the desertion of tho garrison at Fort Uluoa, 1t was difficult to understand the attitude of the gum boats Commodore Azueta, commanding the warships stll loyal to the govern ment. kept his guns and searchlights i trained on the city. allowing no communi-
 cation between the boats and shore.
 Diaz Optimistic
 | Felix Diaz continues to regard hls
 chances for a successful revolutionary movement through optimistic eyes. Hs | today declared that the officers and crews of the gunboats here are With 1 him. and that Commodore Azueta nim- 1 self had promised to join his forces, oniy | changing his mind at the last moment
 before the Diaz movement was openly l launched
 l When asked why his shore batteries did not fire on the federal warships, General Diaz replied that this would be wholly unnecessary. He felt that 1t would be extremely foolish to disable the boats. which he feels certain will enlist in his cause shortly.
 He declared he daily sent the crews water. provisions and money.
 Today General Diaz sought official re. ognition for his propaganda by the tnited States government. He said he has rep- resented his cause to the authorities at Washington through the American consul at Vera cruz claiming that his possess sion of two important ports and an army of approximately 2o10 men entities
 him to proper recognition.
 Does Not Expect Engagement When asked If he expected an engage
 ment with the federals Diaz replied in the negative. Many federal chiefs, lo believes are about to join his forces. and others are too much in sympathy with his cause 10 offer him battle. At least. IS | said he doesn't expect clash with the l federals today or tomorrow.
 l The French, Portuguese. Spanish. Itai- l ian and British consuls. realizing the gravity of the situation, have sent urgent cables to their respective governments | to send protecting gunboats
 After q conference with the federal commanders outside the city Generals l Beltran and Valdez. during which tha | extremely perilous situation of foreigners | in Vera Cruz was discussed. the consuls | returned to the city. General Valdez l informed the consuls that he would notify 1 them tomorrow whether conditions war
 ranted nasty departure of all foreigners | from Vera Cruz.
 | The consuls will again confer with the | federal chiefs outside the city wall with | a view to preventing hostilities and safe ! guarding foreign interests A local -.os- | ptal corps was organized today and ar- '
 tContinued on Page seven)