The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-19
BATTLE TO DEATH.
MADERO AND DIAZ RESUME
FIGHTING AFTER BRIEF
TRUCE.
Agrcemnt Was Signed for Twenty
four Hours Armistice But Battle
Was Renewed After Only Few
Hours Peace.

between the Mexican rebels and fed
erals were resumed today with re-
newed fierceness in the Mexican cap
ital after a truce which lasted only
a few hours.
The armistice, singed at o'clock
Sunday morning by the representa-
tives of both sides agreeing to suspend
operations for "a hours, was broken
before noon Soon the sound of
heavy cannonading and the whir Of
machine guns announced the return
of the federal troops to their posts in
front Of the arsenal
1t appeared as if the words of Pres
ident Madero and Gen. Diaz might
prove prophetic and that this time
the battle would be to a finish.
President Madero this morning reit-
Grated his refusal to comply with the
suggestion OF the senators that he
resign. He declared that he was still
able to dominate and that if given
time he would crush the rebel forces.
Gen. Diaz had not shown himself to
be greatly in favor of the armistice,
but consented to it out of respect for
the efforts of the American ambas-
sador and the ministers of the DOW
ers to bring about a cessation Of hos
tilities until foreigners and other nom
combatants, still within the zone Of the
fighting, could be removed to a posi-
ton of comparative safety.
Diaz regarded the truce as merely
a delay in the accomplishment Of his
fixed purpose to drive Madero out OF
the presidency. The fight Saturday
had undoubtedly gone in favor Of the
rebels, who had resisted all assaults
against them; had received into their
ranks several federal deserters and
had obliged the federal commanders
to admit that for the present at least
the rebel position was impregnable.
Gen. Huerta, the commander Of the
government troops, hard fighter who
has been through campaigns, also
was opposed to the armistice and
chaced under the terms which it
imposed upon him. Nor did he will
ingly agree TO the sending of a large
bocy of his forces back to the fed
eral base near the National palace
last night.
President Madero's attitude was one
of evaporation but as he had re-
quested the American government to
withhold Intervention he could do no
less than consent to an armistice when
the question was submitted directly
to him, but he let If be known with
out equivocation that he was determ-
ired to retain the presidency.
The American ambassador and the
German ambassador called on the
president and Gen. Huerta and asked
that the military dispositions of the
government forces should be so ar
ranged as to render unnecessary the
filing over the residential quarter;
that free zone be fixed and that the
government unite with the American
committee in the establishment Of CEN
tres for the distribution Of food 20
the poor, this having already been
agreed to by Gen. niaz Professionally.
Early this morning the embassy
WIS the scene of intense activity. A
closed automobile moved swiftly to
and fro carrying refugees provisions
and messages. The work entailed
necessitated hiring of a corps of extra
clerks and stenographers. The en-
bassy building was besieged by hun
dreds, all Of them Americans who
asked for advice or assistance. There
Is little actual suffering from lack
Of food or shelter within the city but
there is vast amount Of discomfort
and great danger to those who re-
main.