Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-02-14

Special Oy united Press WIRE.
Mexico City, Feb. 14.-After ar
hour of intermittant fighting the real
battle of today began at $50 O'Clock
this morning. The rattle of small
arms, the frequent booming OF heavy
guns and the noise of bursting shells
indicated that both sides were pre-
pared for a decisive engagement.
The two armies ceased firing short
ly after dark yesterday having kept
up a continual cannonading for near
~ twelve hours. There was no act
ual fighting during the night. The
casualties in yesterdays fighting
were roughly estimated by the Red
Cross authorities at 1000 killed and
1900 wounded. These figures we're
believed to be conservative.
One of the first shells fred by the
rebels entered the chapel of a con
vent nea the palace and exploded in
the midst Of a group of nuns and a
group Of women and children pray
ing. Seven nuns and five others were
killed. The natives are flocking to
the churches in great Lumbers seek
ing the protection of the thick walls.
Thousands OF women and children
from a continuous procession from
the center OF the city to the suburbs.
At 8 O'Clock the battle ceased SO that
the combatants might eat breakfast.
Indications are that the battle will
last all night with neither side gain
Ing any material advantage but with
the loss Of many lives. Before
breakfast many dead had fallen in
the streets, nearl half of them being
non-combatants who refused to heed
the warning to keep away from the
neighborhood of the fighting zone.
During the hour of quiet a mes
sage was sent to the arsenal inform
ing Diaz that since he replied to the
other messages, offering to show
him every consideration If he sur
rendered, by firing upon the national
palace, no quarter would be shown
him and his followers unless he stop
ped firing in such a way as not to
endanger noncombatants. At the time
the message was delivered Madero's
men were pulling their cannon into
position along side the british laga-
ton where theyreturn fire of the reb-
els would certainly damage property
anu CtlddhSCA v VI AOh-tOli pot-
ants. Madero's guns we're also FIR
ing from roofs of buildings and when
rebel gunners responded shells fell
into territory far outside the fghting
zone.
confusion today when a report gain
ed circulation that the federals were
planning to blow up the city's block
IL " ~ n,A-pc o~~ n~o&1x,
buildings In order to gain q more
direct position to direct the fire OF
their heavy guns against the arsenal
which is sheltering Dia1.
General Diaz today sen a message
to Ambassador Wilson asking him to
recognize the revolutionists as in
control Of the government and the
city. Ambassador Wilson replied
thai while he was not a military ex-
pert nothing in the present situation
appeared to him to warrant the claim
of the rebels to have control of the
city and therefore he would have to
refuse the request.
General Dfaz extended his lines some
what and advanced his guns so fhat ne
could batter the National palace. the
stronghold of the Mader0 forces. buI
he could not force u surrender.
The fire Of his gunners was remark
able for its accuracy. Shells Were
dropped around the federal guns I'D ter
rifyina and destructive fashion.
In the interior Of the palace the gov
eminent Losses are said to have been
large. 1t was reported that the dead
numbers fifty and that many more had
been wounded.
This s1ueriority Of thH rebel artillery