The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-15
The United States Sends Spe-
cial Envoy to Chihuahua
To Induce the Rebel General to
Cease L0oting.
ATTACK ON TAMPICo FAILS
The ConstitutiOnalist Driven
Back by Federal Gunb0ats>
After Four Days Hard Fighting
and Heavy Losses.

AICOE + OuX U0yO A0AW
and Heavy Losses.
WASHINGTON. Dec. ia special agent
of the United States government has
been ordered in haste to chihuahua to
direct General Villa to put q stop to
the depredations which Villas forces
are committing on foreigners. notably |
wealthy Spaniards, many OF Wnom
have been driven out Of the country !
The agent Is George c. Carotners'
American vice consul at Torreon, VINO
Is now en- route to Ell Paso' wnefe ne
will arrive today.
He will leave for Chihuahua at once
by train If possible. II not by motor
car. He is personally acquainted Win
Villa and the state department hopes
that he will be able to make VIVA ceaso
his lootinr of foreign property.
Rebels Forced to Retire.
Mexico City. Dec. 15-Tne reoeis
have failed in their attack on Tampico
and have. withdrawn some o1stance
from the city.
Unofficial messages reacnlns 49,
fullv corroborate the war onice rePol.
~ The rebel defeat as a result OF
heavy and sustained bombaroment ~
two federal gunboats and 1eoeru ar n1
artillery. They do not. however oea1
ont the idea Of rout- s ,.-a.
Tn nossession of the railroad yaros
4hrourhout the battle the rebels Wnen
thew we're driven off remained SUI
acion+lv cool in the face OF the 1ullous
arc to take away with them evely
locomotive and most OK the 1oAl1'Ae
stock. varv sreat
.. .1so emphasized in these advices
which add that the buzzaros. Wn.ou
srhsh,t the Mexican coast and wnicn
FOR generations have been proIecteo
by law, foated over the oatue ne 80 =.
nnaorance of low lying black CLOUDS:
ccordine to the federal report ovv
-.heIs were killed before they couio
oct out Of range and this wou!o "ea1
nanv other hundreds wounoeo 4no
probably left behind. n,. +n.+
~ re,ief of Tampico il only tenn
norary and that before many Gays .ne
reheIs will resume the attack IN great
ar numbers, although the pahtle nas
materially cut down their supply o.
ammunition. This may oeiay ope1@
tionst for time: ,,a,.
cote that the property loss as a result
Of the fighting has been large.
admiral FletcheE's Report
xu..h,rp+on. Dec 15.-After four
a.v. of fierce fighting, the Mexican
raSera1 garrison at the seaport oA
Tampico. reinforced by the arr1vaI on
o,,nboats with troops. ammunl.lUn
and dynamite. has driven tne -
ing constitutionalists OUT Oh range -
their guns. .r..... ~,.a.
,.., off7cers from the United states
s,,rhoat Tacoma and the scout cruiser
Chester are ashore In the milltAIs
hospitals helping to care TOT more
than 200 WOUNDED. 4.,.a T.
mis- information was contained n
a,.ratches from Rear Admiral Fletcn'
er to the navy department:
pra acticallv all the foreigners were
at IN the harbor several miles IRON
the scene of the fighting, some aoo1re
the German and English snlps, Du
the greatest number on the 11.ssn;.
battleships, Rhode AsAano'
and New Jersey.
The stand At O3inaga-
Tee. 15.-Only American
Iii, snecial passes were permitted =
r-o.. into Mexico today because OF TN
cios;np In of the rebels and the pros
s..,,+ ~ an attack Of General Mercaoo'
mo federal troops garrisoneo ne.s
Whether the advance Of the rebels WI
result in an immediate battle or pro
lOnged siege 1s 1InposSAo ~
Oi;naea. in the opinion OF militar
ren ts virtually impregnable. Tn
town where the federals have bull
strong fortifications IL on top OF
,1ateau. which rises abruptly 50 rec
from surrounding ground. Inc Hve
1orrns a half circle around 1t on tn
east and north, while on the sout
rises a series of hills. all OF wnlc
NAV be commanded by artillery ioca
ted on the plateau.
There are three points from whic
an attack might be delivered. Two {
these are SO diff1cult to maneuve
cavalry across that they would be use
less as the rebels will rely mainly
cavalry for the offense. The natur'
oneninx for an attack would be alon
the river bank to the southeast.
The importance Of the ultimate r.
suit here lies in the fact that shou
the federals win they then would
in a position to attempt to recaptul
rebels win General Mercado's forct
either would have to surrender or cro
into the United States.
Regard Tampico rs Safe.
Mexico City. Dec. 1.-THE rebel 10
IN the battle between the federal trool
and the constitutionalists for the po
session of the seaport OF TampicO Is e
timated as one thousand men. accor
ing to a telegram received today at Z
ministry Of the interior from the go
ernor Of the state of Tamaulipas.
The last shot in the battle was mr.
at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning VIII
the rebels retired, according to the on
cial report given out at the war OH
today Federal cavalry then pursu
the retreating rebels for some a1stan
afterward returning to Tampico a.
r.roriiu. that the rebels had dfeperS<