Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-02-20

were resumed with renewed fierce
ness in the Mexican capital after a
truce which last only few hours.
The armistice, signed by represeu-
tatives of both sides, agreeing to sus-
pend operations for "a hours, was
broken in nine hours.
Soon the sound of heavy cannonad-
ing and the whir of machine guns an
nounced the return of the federal
troops TO their posts in front of the
arsenal.
Battle to Finish is On.
1t appeared as if the words of Ma
dero and Diaz might prove prophetic,
and that this time the battle would be
to finish.
President Madero reiterated his re-
fusal to comply with the suggestions
of the senators that he resin. lie de-
clared that he was still able 20 dom
mate and that, If given time, would
crush the rebel forces.
AS a sanitary measure and to pre-
vent possibility of a plague the dead,
numbering hundreds, in many streets
around the citadel, were burned, the
In one instance two bodies were
burned by being placed over a leaking
gas main and the gas lighted for a
funeral pyre.
Gen. Diaz had not shown himself to
be greatly in favor of the armistice,
but consented to it out of respect for
the efforts of the American ambassa-
dor and the ministers of the powers to
bring about a cessation of hostiiities
until foreigners and noncombatants
still within the zone of the fighting
could be removed to a position OF COM
parative safety.
Daz Regards Truce as Delay.
DiaZ regarded the truce as merely
delay in the accomplishment of his
fixed purpose to drive Madero out of
the presidency.
The fighting Saturday had undoubt-
eddy gone in favor of the rebels, who
had resisted all assaults against them,
had received into their ranks several
hundred federal deserters and had
obliged the federal commanders to ad-
nit that for the present, at least, the
rebel position was impregnable.
Gen. Huerta, the command of the
government troops, hard fighter, who
has been through many campaigns,
also was opposed to the armistice and
chafed under the terms which it i'm
osed upon him. Nor did he willingly
agree to the sending of a large body
of his forces back to the federal base
near the national capital.
President Madero's attitude was one
of evaporation, but, as he had re-
| quested the American government to
withhold intervention, he could do no
less than consent to an armistice when
the question was submitted directly
to him. But he let it be known, with
out equivocation, that he was deter
mined to retain the presidency.
Safety Zone Is Urged.
The American ambassador and the
German minister called on the presi-
| dent and on Gen. Huerta and asked
that the military dispositions of the
! government forces should be so ar
ranged as to render unnecessary the
| firing over the residential quarter;
that a free zone be fixed and that the
government unite with the American
| committee in the establishment of cen
ters for the distribution of food to the
poor, this having already been agreed
to by Gen. Diaz Professionally.
During the armistice the embassy
was the scene OF intense activity. A
dozen automobiles moved swiftly to
/ and fro carrying refugees, provisions
and messages. The work entailed no.
cessitated the hiring of corps of ex.
ira clerks and stenographers.
The embassy building was besieged
by hundreds, not all of them Ameri-
cans, who asked for advice or assist
ance. There is little actual suffering
from lack of food or shelter within
the city, but there is a vast amount
of discomfort and great danger TO
those who remain.
In direct contrast TO the day week
before, with it's canonading, cavalry
charges and bloodshed, the day was
calm and peaceful.
Not shot was fired before noon and
both sides apparently We're content to
rest on their achievements of the
week.
Tradesmen Reap Harvest.
The stiffness was broken only by
the pur of the motors of the Red and
White Cross ambulances hurrying on
their missions of charity and by the
rattle of delivery wagons which were
kept on the streets all day supplying
the demands OF the residents, who
ventured forth for the first time in a
week TO shop and purchase the neces
saries of life.
Tradesmen reaped a harvest as 9