The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-19
Conference OF Diplomats.

conference of the diplomatic
corps was held, ard the foreign rep
TesHHtatives were understood to be In
communication with both Madero and
Diaz. An automobile flying a white
nag carried diplomats to the national
palace, and soon afterward the mo-
sor car was driven to the arsenal.
These movements indicated that i'm
portant Developments might be ex-
pected, and the people eagerly passed
about rumors that Madero was TO re-
sign,
At f0:l5 A. M, however. the fight
ing WAS resumed with some severity.
General DIaz. who was occupying by
that time practically every STRATEGY
cal position save the national palace
Itself, had placed a battery OF field
guns IN the Avenide Insurgentes, at
IT'S Intersection with the Gale de MI
-aa ana there 4aleAEe rebel machine gun
batteries in position less than two
blocks from the palace. For the first
time since Diaz fortified himself in
the arsenal large bodies of rebels
moved freely in the center of the city,
seemingly contemptuous of the fed =
raj strength. Diaz maintained for
several hours "A heavy fire on the PAL
ace, and his artillery punished the
federal troops concentrated about the
soealo. II appeared Just before noon
that the Maderistas were on the de-
fensiye, and were merely attempting
10 check "a forward movement by the
rebels
The first news OF Importance reach-
"a the people at about noon when
the firing had again died away, This
was an announcement by the foreign
minister. Pedro LaScurain, that the
president had consented lin princi-
pie" TO the appointment of a tenn
faorary head of the government 1t
MAS given out that Madero had been
brought to realize the gravity OF his
position only after his leading gem
erals had admitted that the federal
array Was disintegrating. and that the
soldiers were beginning to ulurmur
~ the presidents obstinacy Even
General Huerta, it was rumered. had
advised Madero to resign. 1t was
known that the senate was in session
az the chamber Of deputies. and IL
Was said that the upper house was
trying 10 unite on rnan TO succeed
.-AaGern~ ~-,.. .*.s......-. ~. n..4. 4.a
f&eeseFfiens ~ EsiAx.
m the early afternoon the rumors
~ desertlons to Dla2 were confirmed
y large body Of federal troops had re-
fused 10 fight amy longer, and march
"a out Of the capital. Cheering from
she direction OF the arsenal indicated
ilsat the Feiicistas We're getting news
that pleased them.
Az nlghtfali IL was suddenly an
h@unSed from the national palace that
President Madefo. his brother, Gus
tavo. and several members OF the cab
laet. bad been arrested and lmprison-
3d. and hat General Victoriano
hlefta with the consent of General
l'ta2 had been proclaimed provisional
president. The coup de'etate caused
tremendous excitement throughout the
SSgE end tbs streets were crowded
WITH peo2ie who shouted viva Diaz,"
Visa HBerta!''
The fall Of the government was
broGght about by the success of the
81 - & prevailing u11nn- fsarlas.aI
3tperta- who had been the mainstay
~ tire government In the afternoon.
the senate IN extraordinary session
xHied 70 Dust Madero. A committee
Mas appointed To confer with General
HaerBa The committee was entirely
SUccessful The federal commander
III chief left ting deputation after CIV
HE hts promise 10 act as provisional
president, The senate at once pro
Claimed General Huerta as head of the
government.