The chronicle=news., 1913-02-13

The first small arm engagement of
the day occurred at half past ten
when n party OF rcdcrais moved into
the range o! rebel sharpshootcrs.
The battle was very brief. as both
sldcs placed their chief reliance on
Ia steady battery fire.
The infantry fighting lasted only
10 few minutes and WAS succeeded by
n more intense cannonadc from the
rebels at the arsenal. The federal
battery stationed In front OF tn"
British legation replied and drew
much OF the rebel fire.
Tho cannonadc soon lost come Of
Its viciousncss and II seemed that the
rebels were conserving their firs, al
though they continued 10 throw
shells toward the palace. One fed
cral battery kept steadily In action
at the Colonia station on the Paso
Re- UIorma and another on san Juan
Dc l.etran street.
No serious attempts had been made
Till noon to rush the fortlfioations Of
the rebels. Al that hour General
Hucrtu dispatched from the palac. u
considerable force OF federal cavalry.
DIal succeeded during the night in
the socaiicd American colony, mnny
blocks beyond his lines. This WAS
revealed by "A sharp attack on u de-
ta,hmcnt OF fcdcrals advancing from
Chapalt.p.c.
Rebel shnrpshoot-rs on the roofs
Of buildings on llamburgo street at
tempted to pick off the ar,illcrSmcn
manning the ten federal guns loca,
ed near III. British legation. The
, rebels were subsequently driven
, from their position on the roofs.
The army cables ut Chapuiiepcc.
who were the first to rally TO the call
OF President Madcro for aid. have FOR
the mos, part been Withdrawn from
The line OF action to Chapultepcc
where they act as guard under
command uf General Bcltrain. for
mcr principa OF the school and the
general who reduced Felix Diny a,
Vera Cruz during his first aborti,c
revolution.
The work ni caring for The. wound.
I'd has been limited by the govern.
mcnt to the White Cross society. o. Il
is charged that the Red Cross society
harbors many political enemies of
the government.
!
contcnling forces had torn their
way through the heart OF tho city for
four hours. nothing like n decisive re-
suit had been achieved cithe rby the
fcdcrals or the rebels. II had been
practically an artillery duel although
occasional small arm fire played n
vicious part in the battle.
| The swift and crushing action
promised by tho government was not
revealed. on the contrary tho fight
Ing was OF mOnotonOus regularity.
the federal troops slowly pounding
the rebel position and endcavorins
to silence Diaz's guns in order that
the final charge might be made with,
LEGS sacrifice OF life. To this The
rebels replied with u steady fire. but
they were more chary in throwing
away their ammunition and appeared
to take better aim then ever
Nose of the rebel fire was direct
ed at the federal batterics., but one
of Diaz' batteries from time to tlA,c
dropped shells over the city into the
grounds of the nationa palace aud
onto that ancient building itself. the
walls OF which withsto6d the BON
bardment we'll
At the beginning OF this fire there
was great force Of federal soldiers
in the palace grounds. When the
shower OF shells became heavier, a
federal battery received orders to re.
ply with vigor and under cover o!
this the federal soldiers moved west.
ward into cover on Indcpendecia
street. 1t was expected by the fed
eral commander that this move was
merely to Elacc his men in position
where they wouLl be more easily
available for action ut the front
| During the afternoon number
OF shells directed to the palace were
fired apparently from the rifle and
artillery range In the vicinity OF the
barracks southeast OF tho city, show.
ing that Il force OF rebels was posted
there also.
| Many women and childwn in the
foreign colonies were conveyed dur
ling the night In automobiles flying
white flags TO places of comparative
safety. but large number of for.
egners still were penned up today in
jregions not free from danger.
! Thousands OF Mexican families
concentrated Oh the lower floors and
in the Easements OF business build
ings. trusting to the thickness OF
floors above to protect.
In the American embassy dozens
of American citizens were provided
for. Blankets and mattresses were
spread on the floors and every cham
Der In the place was utilized rs u
= sleeping apartment.
However. there was little or no
evidence Of panic or undue excite
ment.
Aat one O'Clock tho rebels ap.
peared to have advanced their posi-
tions Slightly. The heavy gins from
the arsenal whicti>iis In thcik posses
sion, continued sbcliing the cente
OF the City and the nat ionsl palace.
! Fruitcisco Dc LA Bafra, fornie
provisional president. became a refu
lgee in the British legation yesterda,