The Washington herald., 1913-02-16
bullets CRASH
into EMBASSY
con.inued from First rage.


refuge from the barbarous practices Of
either Of the combatants.
The Senate and the Chamber OF Depu-
ties have been In special session to-day,
and as a result both houses decided to
intervene toword the Immediate cessation
Of hostilities.
The Senate sent a delegation to inter-
view Medero. but the President refused
to see them. They then saw Diaz. who
the immediate resignation Of Madero.
Deputies Reiterate Demands.
The deputies en- masse then proceeded
to the national palace and, standing in
the square before II. reiterated their de-
mands for an immediate audience with
Madero. The President again refused
to hear them, and they continued their
mass meeting In the streets, haranguing
the populace TO the effect that American
intervention is inevitable unless Madero
resigns. Immense crowds gathered and
were addressed in this wise by Senators.
Deputies and even by Minister Lascurain.
former Mexican Ambassador to WASH
ington and now Secretary Of Foreign AZ.
fairs in the Madero cobinet
As the Mexican constitution obliges the
President to hear and act on the recon-
mendations OF the United Houses of Con-
gress, Maderos refusal to listen is con-
strued a definite abandonment of his
policy Of adherence to legal processes
and an adoption of a dictatorship which
he will attempt to maintain against the
will Of the people. Mexican jurists claim
that this departure from constitutional
procedure invalidates Madero's right to
the presidency and authorizes Congress
to impeach him on the definite charge of
abuse Of authority and unconstitutional
behavior.
Ambassador Wilson. accompanied by
other members of the diplomatic corps,
called on Diaz late to-day. II Is thought
that they intend to deliver an ultimatum,
although the precise nature of their
business has been kept a secret.
No Promise of Resienation.
De la Barra. who was reported yes
terday to have secured a promise OF
resignation from Madero, to-day stated
that Madero had merely promised to con-
slider the matter. The President per-
nitted his second in command, Gen.
Felipe Angeles. to join with de la Barra
for the purpose OF treating with Gen.
Enrique Mondragon, who Is Diaz's artil-
lery chief and adviser
Nothing is expected to come OF this. az
Angeles and Mondragon are bitter per-
sonal enemies.
De Barra Is now confining his ener-
Sies toward persuading the Senate, OF
which he Is n member, to take decisive
action toward forcing Madero to resign.
The Senate has published and circu.
lated a manifesto showing that the au-
tonomy of Mexico in this crisis depends
on the resignation of a President who
has SO plainly shown his incapacity for
restoring peace and properly protecting
foreigners and Mexicans.
Ambassador Wilson. who is indefatis-
able in his efforts to ameliorate the stu
alton. is attempting to arrange with the
warning factions that all firing should
cease at certain hours in order that nom
combatants may move to places Of
safety and countrymen may bring pro-
visions In from the surrounding farms.
Neither side seems to be willing to do
this. as each fears that the other may
take advantage of such truces to move
forces and batteries to more advan-
tageous positions.
Each side claims that the other has
repeatedly made fraudulent and traitor
Gus use of white and Red Cross flags.
and threatens to cease respecting these
embems.
Buildings All Damaged.
The rebel guns spasmodically divert the
attention OF the fighting at the west and
turn to a much battered national palace
whose 4S-year-old walls OF solid ma
sonry. ten feet thick. still bravely stand,
but whose facade ornamentation has to-
tally disappeared.
The foliage in the Alameda. which was
formerly MeXico's boast and pride has
been totally ruined by the flying shells,
and there is hardly a church tower or
building of more than four stories that
does not show the effects of the cannon
aiding.
More than 1.0o0 Americans were moved
to-day from the places where the danger
was greatest to the immediate vicinity
Of the American Embassy. In one room
Of the embassy a banking house has
been opened by d. A. de Lima. president
Of the local Bank Of Commerce and In
dustry. The impromtu bank was or
ganized for the assistance of Americans
who have been unable to secure money.
owing TO the closing of all city banks.
Ten automobiles. over which float
American flags. as we'll as the white EN-
blem OF peace. have been busy In the
transportation of Americans from the
danger zone. Numerous Mexican fam
lilies Of the better class who live in the
American colony have asked for and
been granted the same privileges as en-
Joyed by foreigners who are under the
protection of the American nag.
Americans In Fear.
Intense expectancy and uncertainty
reigns among the Americans here as to
the attitude which will be adopted by
the commanders OF the warships on their
arrival at Vera Cruz.
President Taft's statement that he will
not land troops unless Americans are
deliberately murdered. offers little con-
ISOLATION. Intervention. II 1t comes after
the American colony here has been
wiped out. will do little good. On the
other hard, the inactive presence Of the
warships on the coast will do more harm
than good. as 1t will infuriate the Mex
leans without protecting those Americans
who are beyond the reach Of their guns.
Every ONE here wants an immediate
advance of several thousand American
troops to Mexico City, or else total alb
on the part of the United States,
as the natives are only egged on by the
succession OF bluffs which have ema-
mated from the Washington State De-
partment in the last few years.
Here they think that there Is nothing
behind the Monroe doctrine, which has
only been put into practical use against
Nicaragua, Santo Dominyo, and other