The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-16


sued by President Taft several months
ago. Under that proclamation the Pres
ident forbade, by authority of Congress.
the expectation of munitions OF war to the
| Mexican republic. 1t has been the policy
OF the President, however to enforce the
expectation but except expectations des-
tined for the federal army or private in
terests provided he was assured they
would not fall into the hands of rebels.
Owing to the terrific battle i'm Mexico
City and the strong position of the rebels.
no such assurances can be extended, and
consequently the neutrality bun Is being
enforced against the whole state Of Mex
leo, which includes the federal district and
the capital city
Federal batteries established near the
British legation at Mexico City have been
removed. Ambassador Wilson reports
that in all parts of Mexico the govern-
ment troops are said to be breaking up
into small squads He says it is not
known whether this means the collapse
of the federal army or some change III
policy, which is not clear.
Looting and Bloodshed
Looting and bloodshed have sent terror
| into the Chinese section of the city, where
several Chinese are reported TO have been
killed. Lawlessness increases and loot
ing is Widespread.
| The loyalty Of large numbers of federal
troops continues to be questioned, and
! General Banquet and his command are
suspected of leaning toward Diaz A
| large force of rurales, fresh from Oaxaca.
| have not declared whether they are for
the federal or for the rebel cause.
| President Madero appealed today by
| telegram to President Taft, asking him
/ to withhold Intervention by the United
| States pending the attempt to put down
the Diaz revolt Secretary Knox has been
/ Instructed to draft this governments re-
/ ply, which will point out the necessity
for protection to Americans and Other
| foreigners in Mexico il interference is tc
/ be prevented
British, German and Spanish ministers
and the French charge to confer Will
j him at the American embassy on the sit
uation raised by President Madero's re-
| fusal to resign. These diplomats are II
accord with Mr. Wilson, but consultation
has been difficult because of danger from
the combatants' bullets.
Hope for Resignation
President Taft and Secretary Knox a
an early conference today were hopeful
that President Madero would resign. Con
fidential advices were. said TO show |
strong sentiment throughout Mexico 70
peace. Administration officials here hav
great confidence in the ability of De La
Barra, former ambassador to the Unite'
States and provisional president after tn
fall of Porfrio Diaz, and who has beel
suggested for that office If Madero step
down.
1t was said that President Taft an
Mr. Knox talked over the mediation
L proposition advanced by Director JON
Barrett of the Pan-American union, an
which brought protests from the Ameri
can colony in Mexico City, and the stat
depar tment. Neither the President no
Mr.. Knox, it was said today, knew o
Mr.. Barretts proposal until they saw
IN the newspapers Officials feel tina
such a sweeping proposal should haN
been submitted to the secretary of stat
before being made public. The depart
ment is understood TO sbe not opposed Z
some form of arbitration of the difficui
ties in Mexico. but is not willing to g
into the subject unless Mexico hersel
should make a request.
The most significant feature of Ambas
sador Wilson'S reports today is the init
nation that Madero is running short o
ammunition.
1 BY Mr.. Wilson's figures the total casu
alties list yesterday was six killed am
rs wounded. TIE rebels gained 500 desert
ers from the sfederal side.
The president of the local Red Cros
was killed by bullets from some un
known source while att work in the plaza
and both that organization and the Whit
Cross have been obliged to dishand be
cause of the failure of the government
To respect the white flag and its seizures
of their automobiles as ammunition car
+. riers.
! The ambassadors account of the Mad
ero governments efforts to cause hi
| abandonment Of the American embassy
| Is dismissed in a statement that yester
day the Mexican minister for foreign af
| Iairs invited him, in the presidents name
/, 10 remove ,his residence to the suburb
of Tacubayo. out of the line OF fire. The
ambassador thanked the president, bu
declined the offer.
Other Uprisings Reported
| From outside the capital come report'
of the rebel uprising. AT Ozumba, Mira
flores. La Compania. Chalco. Tlalhuan
and San Rafael. the federal troops have
reyolted. killed their officers and declared
+, for Diaz.
The clash between Director John Bar
rett of the Pam American union and
the state department over the proposal
of Barrett for a mediation commission Is
-.