Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-19
MONDAYS FIGHTING.
Continued from Page one.)

Diaz was said to be planning as a
last resort to use dynamite bombs to
clear way for his troops onto the
National Palace. In the arsenal there
were huge stores of these bombs and
mortars from which they could be
fired, The mortars possessed range
of over 1000 yards, and those know
ing the plan of Diaz anticipated an
enormous destruction Of property and
loss of life should he begin their use.
A protest was lodged by Ambassa-
dor Henry Lane Wilson with Presi-
dent Madero, today. (Monday), against
the alleged act of the Chief Executive
in telegraphing broadcast throughout
the republic allegations that Amcri-
can marines were marching on Mexico
City. Convinced that intervention was
a certainty, hundreds of American cit
liens fled from the capital, most of
them to Vera Cruz to seek the pro-
lection of the United States battle
ships there or to secure passage on
outgoing steamers.
The trains over the Mexican Rail .
road were crowded to excess.
The fact that Emilio Vasquez Co
meg has again become a big figure
by virtue of his crossing the line ant
proclaiming himself Provisional Presi
dent is something known to perhaps
not more than | per cent. of the
public, since the censorship on in
coming news is no less rigid than tina
on outgoing dispatches.
The censorship is absolute and moth.
ing referring to the operations is al
lowed to pass unless cleverly disguis-
ed or frankly adulatory of the gov
eminent and misrepresenting the
facts.
The sentiment of the people in the
capital is strongly in favor of Fell.
Diaz, and it Is we'll known that the
government has found difficulty in in
ducing several hundreds of the feder
al soldiers to go to the firing line ant
fight for President Madero.
How many have been killed OF
wounded is a question none can an
swer with any exactitude. 1t is doubt
full whether even the government rec
ords will ever reveal the correct mum
Der.
From a source usually considered care
full and conservative it has been state
that the number of dead is not less thar
1000, while the total of the wounde
amounts to from 5000 to 10000 The grea
majority of these are not soldiers, pu
men, women and children unable to es
cape the lines of fire. 1t is well-know
fact that detachments of 500 and 100 mel
have been slaughtered here and there
various times when caught in the narroy
streets and moved down by machin
guns. Carts piled high with corpses hay
been seen TO be driven past certai
point to a spot in the outskirts of tn
city where the bodies have been burned
1t is impossible to tell how many bodie
of dead and wounded lie in houses int
which nobody has penetrated since tn
beginning of the bombardment. Her
and there unpleasant odors reveal tn
presence of unremoved bodies
Efforts have been made to care for a
the wounded and to remove the deaf
but this has in many cases been difficu.i
A practical, though gruesome methot
has been utilized in one place. The gas
escaping from a broken main, has beei
lighted and in that steady flame has bee
improvsed a, crematory. In the basemen
of an apartment house few blocks fron
the arsenal is the grave of Mrs. e. "
Holms. one of the two American womel
killed, early in the fighting by the ei
trance into her home of shell. For thre
days, her husband stayed alone with tn
corpse, unable to remove and unwillin
to leave it perhaps to suffer further mu
tilation. Soldiers entered the apartment
where he kept watch and before his eye
robbed the place. He managed to fint
boards and carpenters tools and nails il
the building and himself constructed
coffin into which he laid the body of hi
wife. He carried it to the basement ant
there dug and filed her grave.
The absolute cessation of all industrial
and business activity is fast reducing
enormous number of non-eombatants t,
a state bordering on starvation. The more
fortunate are in many cases able to TAX
| care of themselves. but the closing of tn
banks has made precarious even the con
dition of some of these.
| Provisional banking institutions estab
| lished for American residents, who fine
themselves in difficulties has been meet.
ing their demands with currency Asid
from the question of money, however, the
situation has been rendered more diff.
cult by the failure of vegetables and 9th
er farm produce to reach the city fol
some days. During the night, quantities
enter but not nearly enough to supply
the demand and meat is something witt
which thousands have had no acquaint
ance for days.