The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-18
MEXICAN REBELS
MAY BE STARVED
into SUBMISSION
General Huerta Suggests Tx
Plan of Procedure TO
Madero
PLOT TO SUPPLY
DIAZ DETECTED
Many Prominent Citizens Ara
Arrested---May Dynamite
MISUNDERSTANDING
Is Continued


was severe lighting between tho
Felicistas and the Maderistas today.
General Huerta attempted to bring
heavy guns within direct range of the
arsenal, but the federal arttllerymen
were not able to make progress
of the arsenal.
The situation of non-combatanta
and of foreign residents was much
improved. The area of the fighting
was restricted today to the center
of the city, and the Americans in
refuge at their embassy were not en-
dangered by the artillery fire.
The government detected a plot
among many prominent Mexicans to
supply Diaz with food and money.
The conspiracy was discovered acct
dentaiIy. and many arrests of profIii-
nent citizens followed.
May Dynamite Buildings.
The government is contemplating
the destruction of several blocks of
buildings that prevent a direct fire
from heavy guns upon the arsenal.
General Rubio Navarette, the federal
artillery commander. informed Gen
eral Huerta that 1t would be impos-
sible to drive Diaz from the citadel
unless certain blocks were RACED.
General Huerta hesitated, not wish
ing to wreck one of the finest parts
afternoon. however. that the federafs
had attempted to mine several blocks.
and had been driven back by Diaz'S
machine guns.
!; General Diaz continued to shell the
national palace from his positions at
the arsenal and the Y. NJ. C. A. build
ing The federal batteries located in
the Plaza de San Juan fired steadily
at the arsenal, but were unable to do
much damage. There was house-tn-
house fighting in the early afternoon
when Diaz's troops made a sortie and
tried to drive the federal machine
gunners and sharpsheoters from the
roofs
Nfadero Still Determined.
There was no change whatever as
regards the presidents attitude. Ma
dero Is determined, his officers say.
to continue in office or lose his life In
the civil war. He has been informed
by General Huerta that Diaz can be
starved out of the arsenal. The fed
eral officers say that Diazs soldiers
are subsisting ON horse flesh.
There was a conference or sena-
tors this afternoon, but no action OF
Importance was taken.
Ninth Day of Fighting.
The ninth days fighting between
the federals and the rebels began
at 6 o'clock this morning. General
.Raahio., ,Nayaretfas commanding Ina.
federal artillery, opened fire on the
arsenal from batteries planted In the
Gale San Juan de Letran. which runs
north and south five blocks east of
the Diaz stronghold. The positions Of
the eombatants was about the same
as when the firing ceased last night
The center of the city is now prac-
ticaliy clear OF foreigners, and citi-,
gems The American residents mad
taken advantage of Sundays truce TO
retire TO the Colonia Roma, or two
! small towns near the capital, or TO en-
train for Vera Cruz. Early this morn
ing before the bugles sounded from
1 the federal lines, two hundred Amer,
leans, including many women ana
children, boarded q train Tor vera
Cruz. The railway communications
/ between the capital and Vera CRUZ
have not been interrupted
Fighting Area Limited.
Although todays fighting was as
severe as on any day since the revolt
began there was less alarm among the
citizens because sthe diplomatic corps
: had been stsla TO get 'tsie consent al
both Madero and DlaZ 10 limit the
area of fighting. The artillery and ma
chine gun fire this morning was con-
fined to the district between the Ala
media and the Ciudadela and TO few
streets to the eastward OF that dis
itrict No shells dropped anywhere
near the American embassy,
/ AT daylight federal batteries ana
sharp shooters occupied the Gale San
/ Juan de Letran. the Plaza de SAN
Juan, and several narrow streets IN
that quarter. General Nayarette had
placed machine guns on the roof 81
1.-The general postotice near the Ma
Itional theater, and on tall buildings
l commanding streets hitherto used by
1.-THE Felicistas in their sorties.
u Eederals Shell Arsenal.
H The federals opened the fighting by
a vigorous Smelling OF the arsenal from
the batteries in the Gale San Juan de
lLetran. Heavy field guns directed y
hot fire against the arsenal. General
lDiaz and General Mondragon resumed
with their heavy guns at long range
attack on the national palace. and
used half a dozen field pieces that
were mounted on the roof of the arr
senai in an attempt to silence the fed
Eeral batteries In the Gale San Juan
de I.etran. simultaneously the rebels
Operated numerous maxims against
Maderistas in the Plaza de San Juan
Toward the middle OF the morning the
firing was very heavy.
+ General Huerta, the federal COM
mander in chief. ordered his ofilcere
I to seize positions closer to the arsenal
/ than they had occupied on previous
days. General Nayarette, the artillery
expert, replied by asking permiSsi0ta
Ito dynamite blocks Of buildings that
wers in the way of direct cannons1
aiding. General Navarette, after =
1 conference with his stair, informed
4 General Huerta that IL was impna41*S
bic for him to use his heavy gums ef@
/ fectively against the arsenal WithOHE
destroying many buildings with dynss
Continued On Second PAsss