The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-12-14
Federal Commander at Tam
picO Reports Rout Of
Attacking Army.
AGlILAR JOINS THE REBELS
Fletcher Removes All Refugees
in Neutral Zone to l.. s.
Battleships.
spec.di Co6ie Desp1frh 10 vHE ST.


MEXICO CITY, Dec. 13.-Presidcnt
Huerta is enraged at the action of Rear
Admiral Fletcher. commanding the
American warships at Tampico, in pre-
venting the Federal gunboats from
firing on the city in their attempt to aid
the Federals repel the rebels attack
1t is said ON excellent authority to-
day that Foreign Minister Mohcno has
been instructed to draw up a strong
protest to the Government at Washing
ton. in which the position will be taken
that Mexico regards the United States
as having begun Intervention.
In case prompt satisfaction is not
! forthcoming from the United States
Government the commanders Of the
Federal gunboats at Tampico will be
ordered to maintain the sovereignty OF
Mexico and to ignore all orders from
Rear Admiral Fletcher even though by
doing so they court virtual suicide.
Interference Alleged.
In the official reports received here
from the Federal commander at Tam
Dlb IL Is dlItCtu lEdt .ttillTdl
directly int, rfered with the operations
. of the Mexican gunboats. impeding their
effort tn assist in the defence Of the
Gulf port.
II is charged that not only did ths
American commander prevent the gun
boats from shellng the rebel position
but he impeded for several hours the
landing Of troops and munitions of wal
from the gunboat Vera cruz
The Federal commander asserts that
the searChlights Of the American war-
ships We're turned on the Federal forces
disclosing the position of the defendin,
forces To the rebels.
While there was no attack in full
force on TampiCo during the day, az
Cording to dispatches received here,
there was some skirnshiny by the
rebels. They dynamited the drawbridec
over the Tamesi River. breaking the
railway line to San Luis Potosi and cut
ting off the last approach to Tampioo
10y rail.
Federal Victory Reported.
The Federal Government announced
tonight, however. a big victory for the
iiuertu forces. 1t was declared that
Gen. Rabago had just sent dispatches
reporting that the Federal cavalry had
driven the rebels fifteen miles from
Tampco.
Darkness prevents me pursuing III.
rebels any further" Gen. Rabago is said
To have telegraphed.
He added that the Red Cross nurses
of the Federals were collecting the
wounded in the darkness, while the
townspoople wildly celebrated the tenn
porary relief
The rebels retrcatcd under a vcrlabl.
tornado of bullets and four inch shells
, according to Gen. RabaSos dispatches
tn the War Office.
Fully 1000 men were lost 10y the
rebels. he said. 100 or more falling IN
. the darkness in addition to the 9Oo who
fell in desperate attack at sundowu.
The rout of the rebels was attended
, by the most dramatic events. az Gen.
kumSO tOiu III" STORY. ! ne 1OllStltu-
tionalist leaders secretly planned to take
. Tampico just before nishtfall. assum-
ing that the Federal defenders, having
got safely through the day, would by
that time be lulled into temporary
security.
, Courier brings News Of Attack.
e Late in the afternoon word was
I drought in by IL "brcathless' courier
g that the rebels were crossing the small
stream three miles to the east of the
town. the drawbridge Of which had been
:, blown up.
Gen. Rabago Immediately gave orders
i for the gunboat Bravo. which had been
in the river throughout the rebel siege
o and the guubOat Iaragosa. which had
# arrived to-day from Tuxpan with rcen.
y forcements. to drop downstream AM
" omen fire on the rebels.
v Gen. Rabaeo says the foreigners or
the frelghter Logician and the steam
" shin Kronprinzessin Cecilie cheered the
Mexican gunboats an they started OF
!. their mission, and half All hour latcl
t.I- .~,oa of tovri6~ Arin~ vunn hoo ~