The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-02-19
ATTACK THE REBELS.
BATTLE RACES In STREETS OF
MEXICO CITY.
DETAILS OF TIE fight

President Madero Orders Loyal
Troops to Attack the Rebels, WHO
Intrenched In the Arsenal. and
Thousand Soldiers Are Killed and
Many Are Seriously Wounded
A dispatch from Mexico City says
the Federals and rebels fought a sew
en-hour drawn battle in the heart Of
that city Tuesday. When darkness
put an end to the fighting neither
side appeared to have gained any
marked advantage. Estimates Of
the casualties run as high as 1000,
although accurate information can
not be obtained at this time. The
dead certainly will be counted by the
hundreds. Artillery played the chief
part In the days fighting, but rifle
Are was kept up continuously, though
more or less inefficient.
Gen. Felix D;az, In his arsenal
stronghold. appeared as defiant as
any time since he vas released from
prison by the mutnous soldiers, and
promises repetition OF the terrific
oombardnent, the ferceness of which
is attested by the many partially de-
stroyed structures within radius OF
half q mile. The greatest loss OF
life resulted IN a charge of rurales
who, with daring amounting to
'oolhardiness, moved against rebel
battery which moved down men and
horses.
The firing grew much lighter as
the afternoon wore along, but the
artillery action always was the DOM
mating feature. For the most part
the artillery fire on both sides was
kept reasonably low, but not .nfre-
ouently shells streamed across the
cts a:d shrapnel fell in I.sf,icts
far from the zone Of fighting. The
Government troops advanced from
four directions, Cen. Angeles from
the west; General Cauz from the
north; General Mas from the south,
and General Delgade from the east.
Toward the end CT the battle they
were crowded close together and
from his position in San Diego street,
General Cauz sent hundreds Of solid
shot against the arsenal, one corner
of which was destroyed.
Early in the afternoon Gen. Diaz
saw to 1t that his men held the fire.
The quantity of ammunition used BY
the Federals was far greater than by
the rebels. Apparently the less fre-
quent fire from the rebel positions
was more effective and calculations
are that the rebel loss In killed and
wounded was considerably smaller
than that OF the Government forces.
The cannon of the Federals eventual
ly were silenced by the rebels, but
the,extent Of the damage to the rebel
artillery Is not known outside their
own lines. The streets In which the
fighting occurred present dilapidat-
ed appearance. One Of the buildings
which suffered most Is that IN which
the American consulate general was
located and from which the consul
and his staff were forced to dec.
The Federal assault on the rebels,
fortified in and around the arsenal,
began at 1918 o'clock in the morn
ing and late in the afternoon, no
material advantage had been gained
by either side. 1t appeared, aow-
ever, that the rebels, who were hold
ing slightly improved positions, were
conserving their are. Many assaults
against them had been repulSed., The
rost serious loss sustained among
the Federals was the death of Col.
Castillo, an efficient officer, who vas
shot near the Y. n. C. A. building
while leading q reconnoitering party.
IT Is said that 800 men have desert
ed the Diaz standard within tvea-
ty. four hours, going over to the Fed'
erals.
All through the night the Federal
commanders were placing their men
in position. Twenty cannon, some
of heavy calibre, had been brought
In from the outlying district. Ru-
rales were engaged in transporting
ammunition. From above the arsen-
al, Gen. Felix Diaz 1oated his red
nag Of defiance. The rebels appear
ed no less ready for battle than the
Federals. Orders were issued to the
detachments guarding all approaches
to the arsenal to retire on tho ap-
pearance of any armed force But
Diaz did not rely entirely oa his
forces IN the arsenal district He
dispatched a few hundred men with
artillery to a point in the northwest
OF the city. These guns dominated
Chapultepec, but they we're held IN
readiness to strike the Federals In
the flank or rear.
The Government was most opdm1s-
tic regarding the close Of the battle.
Ernesto Madero said the showing
made and the temper Of the Federats
we're entirely satisfactory. I'VE
hardly expected to dislodge Dtaz to-
day." he said. "Since his position ls
we'll fortified, but We have sufficient
forces and elements Of war to sue
ceed and cannot fall to do 80. Gen.
Aurellano Is not here and is not
coming, probably because he is need
ed to control the Zapatista forces
who might otherwise improve the op-
portunity to enter the city. We now
have four thousand men and more
available II necessary, with plenty OF
artillery"
To the OFFER Of Senior De La Barra
to mediate, II he considered that
course advisable, tho President re-
plied that he had no desire to deal