The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-18
IllIA IS FLAIT[N|NG
MAD[RO TO THE WALL

4
munication or because Wilson is not
able to file them promptly. It was
apparent from Wilson's graphic
phrases that Mexico City is approach
Ing chaos.
The corpses Of the unburied dead
who have fallen In the eight day bat
tie threatens the stricken city with
disease: red and white cross have
disbanded; food supplies are nearly
exhausted and troops on both sides
scantily fed, poorly equipped and,
short OF ammunition. are becoming
desperate.
In all this riot Of disorder, Of dis
ease and violence and death, reports
Indicate that the American embassy
Is the sole source of refuge for the
foreigners IN the city. Ambassador
Wilson has established a zone OF
safety. He has established his own
bank, newspaper and relief corps to
care for the sick and to enforce strict
est sanitation in the safety zone.
While high officials maintain there
had been no new developments which
might change the non-intervention at
titude, very significant orders were
being carried in effect throughout
the naval and military establishments
of the United States today. Not only
were 1000 marines in the east start
ed toward Guantanamo. but it be-
came known that orders have been
issued to the ten warships now at the
Cuban station under Rear Admiral
Badger to be fitted SO that each could
carry 200 marines in addition to their
regular complement. This action by
the department by Sunday will place
this formidable force Of marines six
days nearer Vera Cruz than they are
at present.
At Galveston, transports ordered
there will be ready in few days to
receive the army's quota, one-flfth
cavalry, one-ffth field artillery and
three-ffths infantry. An infantry and
cavalry camp Is contemplated at Gal
weston and two officers from the quar-
| termaster's department today were
ordered to view the site and plan nee
essary arrangements.
|. If the troops are drawn, the In
fantry will come from Fort Leaven-
worth, Kansas, Fort BENJAMIN Harri-
son, Indiana, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma; !;
4 the field artillery from Fort Sill and
cavalry from Forts Oglethorpe and
Mcpherson, Ga.
Major General Witherspoon, assist
! ant chief of staff, said today that.
4 while there was no danger of inter
vention 1T was the duty Of the army
to be prepared for any contingency.
4 The army staff is hard at work on
maps showing every strategic point
in the country.
Quiet at 900 a. m.
| MEXICO CITY, Feb. 1s.-(Censor-
Eed) Fighting was not resumed today
as usual. The guns on both sides OF
the battle zone were silent long after
dawn. No reason was given for the
lull although it was declared at the
national palace that no armistice was
Y in effect. It was expected that firing
would begin before the day was fai
advanced. The two armies were oc-
cupying practically the same positions
! except that the federafs who had push
ed their guns forward toward the ar
senal late yesterday, had withdrawn
them to less exposed position.
Not a gun had been fired at O'Clock
this morning. A statement at the ma
Il tional palace stated that the Madere
troops had taken the Y. NJ. C. A
building. The Madero men said they
captured 1t in yesterdays engagement
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