New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-23
FORCES
ENTER VERA CRUZ
Diaz's Rebels Take Refuge in
Barracks, While Attacking
Army Spreads Over
the City.
REFUGEES ON WARSHIPS
Five Thousand Foreigners and
10, 900 Mexicans Are Shell
tered on Vessels-The Des
Moines Watches Amer
lean interests.

Moines Watches Amer
lean interests.
! Especial 10 The Tribune)
Mexico City, Mexico, oct. 90 (via
Laredo).-The federal attack on Vera
| Cruz was made to-day. with the result,
according to information received by
the government at 6 o'clock tonight,
that the rebels were forced TO barri-
cade themselves In their barracks
leaving the federals in possession of
the public buildings and of the greater
| part Of the city.
| From unofficial sources It was
| learned that General Diaz, the rebel
| leader, and General Beltran, the fed
eral commander, had signed an armis-
| tice until o'clock tomorrow morning.
The fighting to-day was SAID to have
been accompanied by little loss on
either side. The federal forces largely
outnumbered the rebels. who did not
attempt a stubborn resistance.
other reports say it is the expecta-
tion that Diaz will abandon the city
before tomorrow and try to escape by
boat or by slipping through the Gordon
Of federals about the city.
General Banquet reached the capital
from the north tonight with 1900
troops. The five trains were trans
ferred TO the Mexican Railway and
proceeded Immediately for Vera Cruz.
Vera Cruz. Mexico, oct. 22.-The fed
eral forces began their advance on
Vera Cruz at noon to-day. The rebels
under General Felix Diaz, who occupy
the city, calmly awaited their APP
proach.
General Beltran, commander Of the
federals, had previously informed the
City Council that the battle was about
to begin. He declined 10 allow more
time for the removal Of noE-combat-
ants to the neutral zone.
Thirty sailors escaped from the feet
and joined Diaz. A few Of the federals
from General Beltran's Outposts also
came over TO the rebels.
The boats in the harbor have on
board more than five thousand foreign
refugees and ten thousand Mexicans
The United States cruiser Des Moines
is lying about five hundred yards from
the American Consulate. The space
between is neutral, and many of the
refugee craft have taken up positions
there
Only thirty-two Americans remain
within the town. The foreign consuls
have gone aboard the boats. The
American Consul, William w. Canada,
has assumed the leadership OF the situ-
alton. Rain threatens to drench both
refugees and fighters.
Within an hour or two after the ad-
vance the federals were only seven
miles from the city. General Diaz said
that the artillery on the heights In the
outskirts would fire on the loyal troops.
Only II his outposts are driven back
will he fight In the city.
Demand for Surrender Made.
A demand for the surrender of tho
city was sent by General Beltran
Yesterday. The letter was brought TO
the rebel lines by Captain Limon, and
was couched in most polite terms, con-
Guiding with the intimation that II the
rebels did not surrender duty would
oblige the federal commander to use
force. When the loyal emissary
entered the city he embraced the revo-
lutionary cornet who met him. They
had been schoolmates.
General Felix DiaE, replying, thanked
General Beltran for the polite form or
the communication and said he was
sorry the situation obliged him to offer
forcible defence. At the same time
he asked General Beltran to fix the
longest possible time for the evaoua-
ton Of the city by the non-combatants.
General Diaz then sent copies Of both
communications to the foreign consuls.
asking that foreigners in the city make
an inventory Of the effects left behind
when they moved out and promising
TO indemnify them in the shortest pos
s,ble time for the damage that might
be entailed by battle.
General Diaz also addressed a COM
munication to Captain Charles f.
Hughes. commander OF the Des Moines,
saving that he would conduct the sltu-
alton according to international Jaw,
and adding: 1T Is unnecessary TO dis
embark American marines on my ac-
count"
The federal commander addressed
the American Consul, saying: II skall
not attack the city before the iapse
Of twenty-four hours, and during that
time Americans should seek safety"
General Dlaz has since asked General
Beltran to name the time end place
at which n-combatants could pass
both lines. Captain Hughes conferred
with Commodore Azueta, the federal
naval commander, as to what would be
his attitude during the lighting. Com
modore Azueta promised not TO par
ticipate nor TO fire In the direction Of
the city Captain Hughes then warned
Tho commodore that any breach of his