Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1913-02-20
MEXICO CITY At WAR
TRUCE BETWEEN DlAZ AND MA
DERo FORCES LASTED BUT
FEW HOURS SUNDAY.
He Asks Our Government to Keep
Hands Off, Which We Will Gladly
Do-Many Americans Leaving
Little Suffering As Yet.

Mexico City.-Hostilities were re-
sumed Sunday with renewed fierce
ness after a truce which lasted only a
few hours.
The armistice signed at 2 o'clock
Sunday morning by the representa-
tives of both sides agreeing to suspend
operations for "a hours was broken
before noon. Soon sounds Of heavy
c%annonading and the whir of machine
eral troops to their posts in front OF
the arsenal. 1t appeared as if the
words of Madero and Diaz might prove
prophetic n that this time the bat
tie would be to a finish.
President Madero now reiterates his
refusal to comply with the suggestion
OF the senators that he resign. He de-
clared that he still was able to domin-
ate the situation and that if given time
he would crush the rebel forces.
Diaz Consents to Truce.
General Diaz has not shown himself
to be greatly in favor of the armistice,
but consented to it out of respect for
the efforts of the American ambassa-
dor n the ministers of the powers to
bring about a cessation of hostilities
until foreigners and other noncombat-
ants within the zone of the fighting
could be removed to a position of COM
parative safety.
Diaz regarded the truce merely as a
delay in the accomplishment of his
fixed purpose to drive Madero out of
the presidency. The fighting Saturday
undoubtedly had gone in favor OF the
rebels, who had resisted all assaults,
had received into their ranks several
hundred federal deserters, and had
obliged the federal commanders to ad-
NIT for the present at least the rebel
position was impregnable.
General Huerta, the commander Of
the government troops, a hard fighter,
who has been through many cam
paigns, also was opposed to the ar
mistice, and chafed under the terms
which it imposed upon him.
Madero Is Determined.
President Madero's attitude was one
of evaporation, but as he had request
ed the American government to with
hold intervention he could do no less
than consent to an armistice, when the
question was submitted directly to
him. But he let it be konwn, without
eq~uivocation, that he was determined
to retain the presidency.
The American ambassador and the
German minister called on the presi-
dent and on General Huerta and asked
that the military dispositions of the
government forces should be so ar
ranged as to make unnecessary firing
over the residential quarter; that a
free one be fixed and that the govern
ment unite with the American commit
tees establishment of centers for the
distribution of food to the poor, this
having already been agreed to provi-
sionally by General Diaz.
There is little actual suffering from
lack of food or shelter within the city,
but there is a vast amount of discOm-
fort and gerat danger to those who re-
main.
Observation-Disclosures preparations
were made late Sunday in Mexico City
for the flight Of American women and
children to the United States.
AS soon as the armistice had been
declared the American embassy staff
and the committee appointed by Am
bassador Wilson began assembling the
women and children at the embassy.
Many who hitherto had paid no heed
to the warning Of the ambassador to
leave the city now were eager to en-
brace any measures which meant their
%deliverance from the panic which has
followed in the wage of a weeks dis
orders.
The easiest way to safety Is via
Vera Cruz, only a short distance by
rail.
Secretary Knox would state that the
attitude of this government would re-
main just as it had been for the last