The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-02-12
Street
BATTLE
REOPENED
Federal Troops Opened Fire in
Mexico City
American Consul General and
Staff Made Escape
U. ). Army and Naval FOrceS
Dispatched to Vera Cruz

Mexico City. Feb. 12.-The national
capital is the storm center of the en-
| gagement between rebels and federals
The artillery is playing a prominent
part in the warfare, the long range
cannon making no place in the city
safe. Alfonso Miranda, one of the "a
patlsta leaders, entered the capital
WIN oOO followers and is harassing the
lederaI troops at various points.
The British legation is under fire
from the rebel position and the battery
OF the FEDERAL artillery has been placed
close by as. a protection.
The cable office, the Porter hotel and
the American club, in the last two Of
winch scores of American visitors and
residents are gathered, are in direct
ilne OF the fre. Many shells are strik-
ing the cable office.
Belom JAIL the famous old prison.
has been thrown open by the rebels
and from 800 to 500 desperate pris-
oners have been let loose. A number
or robbertes have been committed by
the lawless element emboldened by the
withdrawal of the police protection
Boys and men took great risks looting
the ruins OF houses battered by the ar
tillery.
Commerce has been utterly paralyz-
ed since Sunday. The fronts of stores
are boarded up. The high prices pre-
vailing makes it impossible. for the
poorer class to supply it's needs. ...
Mexico City, Feb. 12.--The federal
troops reopened the battle in the
streets here early today with a light
artillery fire. The action soon became
general and artillery from both sides
was brought into place. Cannon fire
was augmented by sweeping salvos
from the machine guns, while the in
fantry came into action with volleys
OF individual fire. The Mutual Life In
surance building was set fire by a shell
from a rebel field gun. 1t is four
story structure. ... ..g-.
The effort made by the federals to
isolate the rebels from their water sup
ply was made ineffective because of
the number of artesian wells in the
portions of the city occupied by the
rebels. The federals We're strengthen
ed during the night by reinforcements
of both artillery and infantry. Thou
sands of citizens have left the city.
American Consul Escaped.
The escape of Consul General
Shanklin and his staff from the Amer
lean consulate building during the sew
en- hour battle between the federals
and rebels in the streets here was SEN
sational. Shanklin broke down two
DOORS, passing into ands sthrougI4a an ad-
joining building and upon to a side
street. temporarily free of the fighting.
The rebels under Diaz are advanc-
ing toward the national palace, using
heavier cannon than yesterday They
directed fire upon the palace and 9TH
er buildings in the center of the busi-
ness district, on many of which federal
machine guns are mounted and federal
riflemen are posted. 1' 10
United States Preparing.
Washington, Feb. 12.-The first bri-
gade of the first division of army,
about 5000 men, has been prepared for
"eXpeditionary service and prepara-
tions are being made to move approx
imately $500 marines from the ships
of the Atlantic fleet and the Guantan-
amo naval station to Vera Cruz, to be
held in readiness for landing, in case
1t is necessary to relieve the foreign
legations in Mexico City.
Rear Admiral Badger in command
of the Atlantic fleet at Guantanamo,
will select two additional battleships
to hurry to Vera Cruz. The ships are
expected to leave today. The big army
transports at Newport News will be
ready to sail tomorrow.
He would take some regular troops
from Fort Monroe, Baltimore and Fort
leo would demand the dispatch of a
military force to enforce the naval con-
tngent. The sending of ships and the
preparing of troops is only precaution-
ary says the government The only
thing the warships will do will be to
protect the foreigners. The officials
see no cause for Intervention.
United States Ambassador Henry
Wilson and the German minister went
to Madero to demand the battle to
cease Immediately. Madero discussed
conference but 1t did not materialize.
Diaz turned the guns in the direction
of the British legation replying to the
fire of the federal battery stationed
there. The rebels strengthened their
Position by placing more men and
field guns on the building. No esti-
mate of the casualties of either side
is made but probably losses are heavy.
Neither side has gained any percept-
able advantage.
1t is reported Geneveve De La o
Zapatista, the leader, has entered the
city and to join Diaz.
World Dynamite Train.
El Paso, Tex, Feb. 12-Rioting
broke out last night in chihuahua
City, the rioters shouted "vivias" for
the Feliz Diaz revolution, say passeu-
gers on the train arriving here from
the state capital The train brought
200 American refugees. A report near
Moctezuma says an attempt was made
by the rebels to dynamite the train.
THREATEN WILSON