Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-02-13
STRONG PROSPECT
OF INTERVENTION
Situation in Mexico May De-
mend Drastic Action
BLOODY WAR IN MEXICO CITY

full Enough to Guarantee Safety Of
Americans and other Foreigners
Embassies and Colonies Guarded by
Volunteer Bands.
Washington, Feb. 12,-When Presi-
dent Taft returned at late hour
from the Wickcrsham dinner, tho
news from Mexico was Of such grave
import that he summoned the secre-
tary OF state, secretary of war and
secretary of the navy to a midnight
conference.
1t was decided, in view OF the num-
Der of Americans wounded in Mexico
City and of the damage TO the cmbas.
sy property during the recent bat
ties, that two warships be ordered to
Vera Cruz, thus making four United
States fighting boats on the gulf side
OF Mexico.
President Taft issued statement
later, saying that the navy depart
ment had been instructed to place
two transports at Newport News, Va,
In commission. No further action Is
to be taken unless the situation be
comes more grave. Should this hap
pen the transports will be used to
carry troops to Mexico.
The president expresses the hope
that actual Intervention may not be-
come necessary.
Madero Forces Are Repulsed.
Mexico City, Feb. II. - President
Madero's forces were rcpuIsed with
heavy loss in attempts to capture the
Ciudadela Citadel and arsenal, in
which General Felix Diaz had fortified
himself. -Four times General Victor
iano IIeurta and General Angels, the
Madero commanders, assaulted the
Ciudadela and four times they were
driven back by the deadly fire OF the
Diaz machine guns.
Terrific Fighting Around Arsenal.
There was terrific fighting from 10
n. m until after niehtfal west and
southwest of the Alameda, the great
city park, the battle centering around
the arsenal. The American consul
ate was In the line OF artillery fire
and half a dozen shells penetrated
the walls Of the building. Shrapnel
fire slaughtered seventy Madero ru-
rales who were In position in front of
the consulate. Several Americans.
whose desire to see the fighting took
them to the housetops were injured,
The following Americans are known
to have been wounded:
DIR. r. r. McGresson, Lincoln, Neb.,
finger shot Off.
Mark Johnson. negro Madison. ILL.,.
shot in shoulder.
Lloyd Osborne, serious flesh wound
In side. Mr. Osborne Is stepson OF
Robert Louis Stevenson. the author.
Two other Americans, who were
watching the battle from the roof of
the Berry hotel, but whose names
had not been learned, were also
wounded
While neither side gained de-
cisive victory, the advantage rests
with General Diaz. who. attacked on
all sides. succeeded In holding his
position and In hurting back great
ly superior force. 1t Is impossible
at this time to give an accurate esti,
mate of the dead and wounded, but
the reports are that the federal
troops lost twice rs many as Diaz In
killed and injured One estimate has
II that $50 OF Diazs troops were killed
dero's loss was at least 200 killed and
dero's loss wasat least 800 killed and
500 injured
Good Gun Work Aids Diaz.
General Diaz owes his success to
the precision of artillery and machine
gun fire directed by General Mondra-
gon Nondragon's guns. which com.
manded the Avenida Chapultepec, the
Gale de Gen Prma, the Gale de Los
ARGOS de Belcm and other main APP
proaches to the citadel, moved down
the columns of General Uuerta and
General Angels and silenced the fed
eral cannon under Colonel Ruhio
NaNaretta. one Of the ablest artillery
men of the Mexican army, Numer-
Gus buildings to the west and south
west of the Alameda and In the vi
completely wrecked by the constant
artillery fire.
Terror Reigns In City.
The city is In an absolute state of
terror, Law and order do not exist.
At each others throRts, neither Dia9
nor Madero can adequately protect
the American or other foreign resi-
dents. The American colony was
swept by the battle and hundreds Of
lives were endangered. The Ameri
can ambassador. Henry Lane Wilson,
and the representatives Of other for
eign nations have counselled their
countrymen to keep of the streets
and have organi2ed volunteer guards
for the protection of the embassies.
The fighting was President Ma.
dero's answer to- the ultimatum that
Senior ColoGan delivered from the