The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-31
n.sadere Will Inaugurate a Vigorous Campaign
 Against Rebels
TO PERMIT SHIPMENT
 OF ARMS TO FEDERALS
If Madero's Plans Carry Orozco May Find Himself in a Serious Situation-Ignorant of
 Rebel Victories

 cisco Madero of Mexico has decided upon a vigorous campaign against the rebels and the American government has con- scented to permit the shipment from the United States of arms and ammunition for his soldiers. These important develop ments in the complicated Mexican situ- ation were learned here today.
 It is the intention of President Madero to replenish his diminished army with fresh recruits, throwing them around the strongholds of the rebels. The serious problem of arming them has been simpli- fled by a decision of the United States authorizing. by special permission in each case, the Mexican government to purchase munitions of war here and ship them across the border. Under this policy three consignments of arms and ammunition already have gone into Mexico.
 Action Explained
 The joint resolution of Congress under which President Taft's recent proclama- tion forbidding the exportation of muni- tions of war was issued authorized the President to make exceptions in his dis erection. The attitude of President Taft. as explained by officials here, has beer to permit the Mexican government to buy whatever it pleases in this country This Is no violation of neutrality, it Is added, as the belligerency of the revolutionists has not been recognized. Extreme pre- cautions will be taken to prevent war supplies consigned to the Mexican gov ernment from falling into the hands Of the rebels, who are denied the privilege of receiving such materials under the Presidents proclamation
 Endorsements contemplated by President Madero must be composed of raw recruits, but 1t Is declared by Mex ican officials that the heeersonnel would be very effective fromsa anilitary point of view as tho army will be composed Of ruraIes already usec to some sort of discipline. They are bold and ex- perienoed riders and fighters. used to run ning down brigands in their noun tau fastnesses and capable of living amid hardships.
 Claims Victory
 If the Madero plans carry the rebel force now operating .n Chihuahua might soon find itself on the defensive. being taken in the rear by northern army and attacked In front by the con siderable regular army force now at Torreon, composed of parts of the three columns originally dispatched under as many generals to attack OroZcos forces in the neighborhood of Chihua- hua. As the federals claim the rebels have almost exhausted their ammuni- ton while they themselves have plenty, Madero himself through his private sec retary is claiming in advance de- cisive victory for his soldiers.
 Much ignorance exists in official cir cles as to what has actually happened in the state of Chihuanua during the past eventful week. It Is true there have been reports of sweeping rebel victories but most of these have come from partisan sources.
 It was pointed out at the Mexican em- bassy today that after each battle-at Torreon, Escalon, Corralitos and Jimi- nez-when the rebels were said to have been victorious, the government forces were found in a more advanced position than before the battle.
 American Army Idle
 Meanwhile the American army remains idle so far as Mexico is concerned; the navy pursues the peaceful routine of still further pulverizing the remnant of the wreck of the old battleship San Marcos and there Is no visible sign of any change of mind on the part of the administration in its policy of absolute non-intervention.
 Attorney General Wickersham, interpret ing the Presidents proclamation, has de- cided that dynamite, other explosives and machinery for making arms and ammu- milton must be regarded as munitions of war and cannot be exported to Mexico except by special executive permission The President today authorized two ship ments of dynamite into the Mexican state of Sonora to be used by smelting com panies.