The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-02-14
When Given an Ultimatum
by President Madero
To-day
BATTLE RENEWED
WITH GREAT VIGOR
Many Refugees Are Stream
ing Out of Mexico
City


this morning sent another ultimatum to
Diaz, demanding surrender, and the re-
ply came in the shape of cannon balls
from the insurgents biggest guns. The
battle opened at o'clock. The first
salvo of the rebels was followed by the
whirr and patter of bullets from the
machine guns and rifles, directed at all
points where it was thought the gov
ernment troops were gathering. The led :
eral guns replied vigorously and at
O'Clock the firing settled into a steady
fusiade around the rebel headquarters
at the arsenal and the flash of guns was
insistent.
The federal officers are said to be pre-
pairing to move on the rebel lines and a
constant stream of refugees is hurry
ing out of the city. Many churches held
special services to-day to pray for peace.
Diaz has made preparations to contest
every inch of the advance of the govern
ment troops. and it is said his follow
ers would rather die than surrender. The
convent near the national palace was
wrecked by rebel shell and several We're
killed.
The rebel shells fell around the cable
0llltts tUt hIltIIChH tIuu anu OtDtl
ings Some hit the palace. Two fed
eral batteries stationed near the British
legation poured a stream of shells upon
the rebels in the arsenal.
AT noon no appreciable gain had been
made by either side, and both expressed
their determination to hold their posi-
tions to death. Expert observers de-
clared that Daz had the advantageous
position in some respects. The federals
had the advantage of numbers and prac
ticaly unlimited supply of ammunition.
More reinforcements for the federals ar
rived during the night.
Diaz Seeks Recognition.
Diaz this morning asked recognition
from the United States as a belligerent, |
stating he was in complete control OF |
city. Ambassador Wilson replied, saying /
that the statement possibly was true
but he was unable to see it. Besides, |
he had been dssured by adherents of
President Madero that the government /
remained in control.
A third woman was killed during the
fighting of yesterday. All through the !.
day the rebel batteries of heavy guns
were throwing fierce fire OF shrapnel
around the palace.
During the heavy shellng of the pal
ace Diaz apparently moved some of his
forces to the southeast of the city, and
shortly after IL o'clock the palace was
made the target of both shells and rifle
fire from that district. Coincdentally,
the rebels succeeded in extending their
zone of activity in other directions
The rebel fire towards the palace was
not only to bring about its
surrender but had for its purpose also
the clearing Of the intervening high build
ings of machine guns and rifiemen and
Of silencing the federal battery operat-
ing in San Juan Letran street, at
point midway between the arsenal and
he palace.
American Club Shot Up I
This shelling wrought havoc among the t
in that section of the city. The c
American club was riddled The interior |
)f this building on the second and third {
floors was completely wrecked. OF forty {
Americans within it at the time, several
rad almost miraculous escapes from
Ieath.
In all, seven shells tore through the \
walls. The first two crashed through
he reading room, across the greater
ength of the front ON the second story.
rhe others entered above the second q
tory on the sides, which are not pro. G
ected by buildings. t.
In addition to the she'll fire the in =
erior as well as the exterior of the 0
american club was perforated in scores
f places by bullets from rifles and ma I
hine guns. !
The shells which entered the reading q
Dom tore their way through the stone
findow castings, demolished heavy d
Gather chair and exploded with terrific
orce Shrapnel was hurled in all di- e
eetions, cutting furniture to ribbons ~ =,
ipping the floors and walls, and pune y !.
uring in a score of places the portraits .
'hieh hung about the room. The por- =
rait most seriously damaged was that
President Madero. y
President Mckinley's face is now set !, .
! a circle of holes, while the portrait u
{ President Taft, hanging next es- =
lped with a single mark
President-elect Wilson's features were "a
ddled. while at the other end of the %
ne of portraits, balls found lodgment in =
lenty in the picture of another Demo u'
at, jefferson. IN IN
To the rear OF this room Is large :
ne used for billiards and pool, There, OF
ANY Americans were gathered. as the 80
anager had forbidden the members to
ssemble in the front room. when a sec hS
nd series crashed through the wall
hese tore a way through the story VI
bove. nc
Some of these shells entered almost no
a line with the floor. From the FIRE ca
hich followed the greatest damage re-
Ilted. All but one shell exploded. This an
mains buried in the third wall which q
encountered. Is
Portions Of shrapnel shell were hurled !
rough the floor above the billiard rooms 20
nong a group Of Americans there. -Four
eeping rooms on the fourth floor were
recked. From one the entire wall was ~.
Tn away. "a
The wrecking Of this building Is typi-
} Of the damage done many others in