The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-13

WASHINGTON. Feb. i2.--Another
day of deep anxiety to government
officials has come to a close without
bringing the earnestly hoped for re-
lief in the Mexican situation ---
Dispatches to the state department
from Mexico City show that another
period of hard fighting has passed
without decisive victory for either
side in the bloody contest for the
control Of the government and CAPT
tai of Mexico. Each hour that this
state of affairs continues brings nearer
10 the president and his advisers the
necessity of making a decision as TO
whether the United States shall take
up arms IN Mexico or not.
Continuation of the lighting OF yes
terday ard today can have but one
result, Washington believed tonight
and that Is the complete demoraliza-
ton of hotn sides, and the utter lack
of any dominant force to which this
government can look as the RESPONSE
Bile authority in Mexico s.s.-,as .g.s
Food Scarce i'm Capital.
Dispatches from Mexico City late
today were interpreted as fore
shadowing even worse things for the
morrow. Since Sunday the Mexican
capital has been cut off from its food
supplies. The poorer classes of the
fects of the scarcity of food. and a
few hours more of present conditions
threaten to bring them to despera-
ton.
~ One of the most alarming develop
ments as viewed by United States Of
ficiais was the releasing today by the
Diax soldiers OF $500 to 5000 des-
perate persons from the city prison.
The unloosing OF the forces of the
fr.xr -1aS is <nn Will
precipitate clash between the
foreigners and the natives with con-
sequences of the most disastrous sort.
The American quarter was guarded
today by American citizens, yoIun-
teers. who are heavily armed.
The appearance. of u mob bent Gu
footing In that part OF the. Sity Is FEE
garded by the administration as lust
the kind of occurrence which might
easily prove to be the spark TO start
general anti-foreign coniia grafton.
further complication to the situa-
ton is furnished by the double OBJ
legations imposed upon the United
States government. The Washington
administration must protect not9only
American citizens, but other foreign
ers as well.
Calls at State Department..
This evening il was acknowledged
. tIfdt more imam one representative vi
"a foreign government had called at
tthe state department and expressed
deep interest in the progress of events
in Mexico City.
Tonight President Taft and most of
his cabinet were in Philadelphia, but
The president was being hourly in
formed of the latest official informa- :
ton from Mexico City. Secretary of
State Knox and Secretary of War
Stimson remained in the city, for the
purpose of keeping closely in touch
with whatever the night might bring
forth. The officials of the department
of state remained at their offices walt
! ing anxiously for dispatches from
Ambassador Wilson. while officers OF
the army and navy were ready for
another midnight summons to their
desks.
| Ii was made clear tonight that the
administration feels II has done all II
\ can do In the present stage of the
Mexican situation in sending warships
to Mexican ports. The ships being
sent to Mexican waters are primarii,
| for the purpose of affordtng merely
I a place of refuge for American and
other foreigners who may feel thai
fight is the only safe course for them
to pursue The naval commander
may go one step further, however. and
land forces at Vera Cruz and Tampice
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Il fCort;pned an Sacoud RnrAA