The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-14


the previous day. That was several blocks
south of the arsenal
The rebels had wrestled from the fed
erals the police barracks south of Belem
prison. The federals today from advan-
tageous buildings swept this with machine
guns, pressing the action until everyone
of the occupants had been killed.
So little did the federals think of THIS
position as a stategic point that they did
not hold 1t.
For those killed in this action there
was more than a fair trade made. as
about 200 men of one government regi-
ment deserted to the rebel ranks.
While General Huerta had been busy
during the night, General Diaz had
worked effectively. He sent through the
government lines various small detaeh-
ments of sharpshooters and organized
at least one stand Of artillery. These de-
taehments which acted Independently,
appear to have had orders TO harrass
wherever possible and pick off the federal
gunners.
One of them fell into an engagement
with a body of rurales near HamburSo
street. The rebels had concealed them
selves on the top of residences. The eX-
change between them and the rurales was
sharp and brief without great advantage
to either side.
The scene of the operations shifted
without any great interference from the
government forces.
The battle opened with heavy firing
b. the federal artillery, Which had been
strongly reinforced in the night.
The rebels occupied the same positions
they held yesterday around the arsenal
and other public buildings withstanding
hot fire The population had either
deserted the center OF the city or re-
mained hidden IN the houses as it was
impossible To stir on the streets without
running enormous risks The federal
forces We're reinforced last night by de-
tachments of all arms of the service.
Meanwhile the rebels had fortified them
selves in their district, the center Of
which was the arsenal They had not
increased in numbers. however, and the
size Of the Diaz army Is believed to be
only a little over 500 Most of the fed
eral troops who arrived in the night were
those commanded by General Angeles,
which he had called from cuernavaca.
The total of these is said to be 100 ana
they brought with them two pieces of
heavy artillery, with much ammunition
and other stores. Lieutenant Colonel Bar
ron, who has conducted dashing cam
paigns during the revolution in Michoa-
can and Guanaiuato. arrived with small
force while Colonel Ocaranza. another
young officer with reputation for brill
liant work, came In at the head of 200
fedeIal troops from era cruz.
Women Conveyed to Safety
AS many Of the women and children
in the foreign colonies We're conveyed
away during the night to places of COM
parative safety a large number of for
cigners, yet are still penned in regions
not free fIom danger Thousands OF
Mexican families concentrated on the low
Mexican families concentrated In the low
mess buildings trusting to the series OF
floors above to protect them from the
hail of bursting shrapneR
In the American embassy dozens of
Americans were provided for Blankets
land mattresses were spread on the
floors and every chamber in the place
was utilized as a sleeping room. There
was little or no evidence of a panic.
Francisco De La Barra former provi-
s'onal President became a refugee in
the British legation Wednesday after
he approached President Madero on the
subject of compromising with the
rebels. Senior Madero refused to listen
to him.
Food Supply Short
The question of food supplies
throughout the capital was not solved.
Even the soldiery experienced the dis
comforts of short rations. The rebels
managed TO obtain seven wagons fun
of bread and two wagon loads of milk
during the night. Provisions generally
within the zone of the mutineers, how
ever, We're said to be scarce. A picture
scene during the night was made by.
fires where soldiers had raked away
garbage from buildings and burned it,.
The disposition of this rubbage is a
serious problem as it is becoming a
menace to sanitation.
Up to noon when the shells of the
contending forces had torn their way
through the heart of the city for four
III Ci
had been achieved either by the fed
erals or the rebels. 1t had been prlc-
tically an artillery duel although occa-
sionally small arm fire played vicious
part in the struggle. ~
The swift and crushing action prom
ised by the government was not real
lied; on the contrary, the fighting was
of monotonous regularity, the fed
erals slowly pounding the rebel posi-
tion and endeavoring TO silence Diaz's
guns in order that the final charge
might be made with less sacrifice of
life.
To this the rebels replied with
STEADY fire, but they were more chary
in throwing away their ammunition
land appeared TO take better aim than
ever. Most of the rebel fire was di-
rected at the federal batteries, but one
of Diaz's batteries from time to time
dropped shells over the city into the
grounds OF the national palace, ana
onto the ancient building itself the
walls of which withstood the lombard
ment we'll. At the beginning of this
firing there was a great force of fed
eral soldiery in the palace grounds.
When the showers of shells became
heavier a federal battery received or
ders to reply with vigor and under
cover of this the federal soldiers
moved westward into cover on Inde-
pendencia street. 1t was explained by
the federal commander that this move
ment was merely to place the men in
position where they would be more
easily available for what action might
occur.
Shelling of Palace
In the afternoon the rebels turned
their long range guns in the direction
of the national palace. Many of the
shells thrown in high arc clear
across the city struck the buildings, |
but did little serious damage.
The army cadets at Chapultepec who
were the first to rally to the call of
President Madero for aid, have for the
of action to Chapultepec where they act
as guard under the command of Cen |
eral Reltran, formerly principal of the |
school, and the officer who reduced |
Felix Diaz at Vera Cruz during his
first abortive revolution. Caring for
the wounded has been limited by the |
government to the White Cross So |
ciety. AS it is charged that the Red |
Cross society harbors many political |
enemies of the republic.