The Topeka state journal., 1913-03-17
Rebels Retreat Under Hot Fire
From FederalS.
GUNS ARE NOW SILENCED
Mexican Government Reported
to Be Bankrupt.
Representatives of France Ar
ranging Big Loan.

of Nueyo Laredo. the Mexican town
opposite this city, were the scene OF
battle this afternoon in Whlch twenty
Carranzistas and fifteen federals were
IliIIed Nearly fifty soldiers Were
wounded. The Carranzistas retreateo
to the hills south of NueVo Lareoo,
where they appeared to be preparing
for fresh assault
The street battle continued AoT dh
hour and a half.
An Associated Press correspondent
walking through the battlefield, saw
bodies of dead rebels with eyes APP
Darentlv kicked out Several had
been shot through the head after De-
ing otherwise wounded.
The rebels this afternoon held a
position near the city and were con-
tinuing preparations to renew the
fight
Laredo. Tex. March IA battle
unexpectedly began in Neuvo Laredo,
daybreak. Carranzistas. reported to
number 200, during the night had
forced their way into the city and oc-
cupied a large factory. AT dawn a
salvo of rifle firing aroused Americans
in Laredo.
The first sight that greeted them
was a rush of refugees across the
bridge to the American side.
About 8 O'Clock the rebels fell back
from a lard factory. in which they
eral rife fire and retreated slowly.
pushed hard by government troops.
Men and women carrying their chill
dren jammed bridge, needless of hur-
ried wagon traffic. number of Off
cialS of Neuvo Laredo were among the
refugees. The officers carried books of
records by the armful.
The Carranzistas at 3 o'clock this
morning arrived within four miles of
Neuvo Laredo and opened a light rifle
fire The distance was too great, how
ever. for this preliminary firing to
arouse the sleeping American town or
to disturb Neuvo Laredo seriously The
Carranzistas under cover of darkness
advanced cautiously until they were
within the city limits. They rushed
into the lard factory, barricaded win
dows, then constructed effective look
ing entrenchments for skirnnish lines
with the aid of outlying fences and
sheds.
At $50 their rifles awoke the t n
cities with a sudden fusillade. This
was followed by an hours silence. Then
the firing was renewed for a few min
utes. only to be succeeded by another
silence.
Colonel Brewer, commanding officer
of the Fourteenth United States cav
airy, on patrol duty here, sent word
early in the day that there must be no
firing in a direction which would en-
danger border points.
1t was reported many persons had
been wounded in the fighting in Nuevo
Laredo.
Mexican Government Bankrupt.
ST. Louis, March 1.-THE Mexican
government is bankrupt and all the
purported wealth of Madero has van
ished, according to official information
Count Raoul de Boigne of Versailles,
France, says he has received. Count
de Boigne, Who departed last night for
t,a h v
to the Mexican capital to confer with
Provisional President Huerta and Gen.
Felix Diaz in regard to 0O,OOO,O 900
loan the Mexican government has been
negotiating with France. He said as a
representative of France he expected to
supply Mexico with machine guns, can
non, rifles and ammunition. The count
declared the Mexican government
would be given the money, guns and
ammunition as soon as security which
it had offered is proved to be all right.
General Carter Protests.
Washington, March 17.-Major Cen
eral Williar H. Carter, commanding
the central division on the Mexican
border, has strongly represented to the
war department the numerous efforts
alleged to be made to secure a rA-
moval of the troops of the Second brig
ade from Texas City, Tex. In an Of
ficial report General Carter assumes
that port, which he considers health
full spot, and intimates that statements
to the contrary are from sources COM
mercially interested in the transfer of
the troops to Galveston.
Reports at Variance.
Mexico City, March 17.-There is
wide variance between official and un-
official reports of the magnitude of
Mexico's latest revolution. Information
from sources heretofore reliable makes
it appear that CarranZaS revolt is far
more formidable than government re-
ports indicate.
According to the government, the
rebel governor holds no towns, COM
mands not more than 400 men and is
chiefly occupied in running away
from the government troops
Private advices say he holds Lam
pazoS and Bustamente, in the state
of Nuevo Leon, and Ciudad Porfirio
Diaz. in the state of Coahuila and
that he has at least 1000 men. 1t is
reported that Carranza practically is
in control of the Mexican Internation-
al railroad and is operating portions
of it and has so damaged the National
railroad between Monterey and Laredo
that to repair it will require a consid-
cradle time, even when the manage
ment is given an opportunity.
The oil and water tanks and stations
have been destroyed. In addition to
destroying the bridges, miles of tracks
using a crane and a locomotive.
Huerta Makes Statement.
President Huerta, in an interview
with correspondent said:
Il take great pleasure in stating to
you, so that you may convey it to your
numerous readers, that my personal
opinion regarding President Woodrow