The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-15
MaderO Declares He Has Not
Resigned and Will Not.
Last Nights Announcement
Founded on MisinfOrmatiOn.
GENERAL DIAz REMAINS FIRM
Probability of Intervention
Urged on the President
As an Inducement to Procure
His AbdicatiOn.

Mexico City. Feb. 15.-The city
hopes for peace, based on the British
legation midnight announcement of
the resignation of President Madero,
fell flat today.
Madero declared he had not re-
signed and had no present intention of
taking any such action, although he
was willing to make any personal sac
rifice which he was convinced was for
the good of the country. The British
legations announcement appears to
have been founded on misinforms ton
as to the results of the peace effort OF
Francisco de La Barra and other
prominent men.
Am ba ssador Henry Lane Wilson and
Pedro Lascurian. the Mexican foreign
minister were in conference for sew
eral hours during the night. Their ef-
forts to arrange an armiStice were
vain, however. Diaz, the rebel leader,
refused absolutely to hear of peace un-
til President Madero and his cabinet
had resigned. Diaz's firmness in this
respect was indicated by the activity
of his gunners, who continued the
bombardment at intervals during the
night and after dawn increased their
fire until it was more violent than at
any previous stage of the seven days
fighting.
Most of those in Mexico City who
know President Madero's constancy of
purpose and stoubbornnesS were pes
simistic regarding his resigning. 9th
ers, however believed he would yield
to the persistent demand made by men
high in public life. Francisco de La
Barra, the former provisional pres
ident, played the part of peacemaker
and promises to become as notable in
this crisis as he was in the adjustment
of the difficulties of the Madero revo-
luton which terminated in the over
throw of DiaZ.
Intervention Is Feared.
The presence of war vessels of three
foreign. nations at the Port of Vera
Cruz and the developments of the last
six days appear to have convinced even
the Mexican cabinet ministers that it
would be a mark of great forbear-
ance should foreign Intervention be de-
layed much longer. This has been
bluntly urged on President Madero as
a motive for his resignation.
The aggressives of the rebels durine
the night brought about another scene
of panic among the people thousands
of whom filled the streets during every
lull in the fighting and fastened away
from the danger zone. Before mid
night Diaz, taking advantage of the
unlighted streets, etended his lines for
several blocks and shortly afterward
engaged the federal troops from his
new position in the socalled 'Juarez
colony which is thickly populated with
foreigners.
Groups of rebel soldiers deployed
along Versailles street and from the
roofs of buildings on Turin street and
Barcelona street. For a time they
maintained an almost incessant rifle
and machine gun fire at the federal
outposts stationed far out in what had
been called the neutral zone.
Artillery Duel.
Fro mtime to time rebel cannon
threw projectileS in all directions try
ing to draw the federal fire. They
succeeded in awakening two federal
batteries into brisk action, and a sharp
artillery duel lasting half an hour gave
the city its first experience of night
bonn bardment. From 4 o'clock until
dawn there was practical silence
throughout the city. At daybreak the
rebel cannon got a renewed reply
from the government lines and the
battle was again in full swing.
The announcement of the resigna-
tion of President Madero was made on
the authority of the British legation
at a late hour last night founded on
the fact that de La BarraS visit TO
President Madero had ben followed
by an immediate cessation of firing by
both sides. The legation officials took
this as an indication that de La Barra
had succeeded in prevailing on the
president to resign and announced it
as fact.
General Huerta and other federal
dero that the government forces
would win. This is thought to have
been the cause of the presidents re-
fusing to resign.
Incidents of the Day.
Mexico City, Feb. 15.-The rebel
guns in the arsenal have been in
spasmodic action during the greater
part of the night. occasionally devel- |
oping a very CALLING fire, which pro-
voked vigorous reply from the fed
eraI battery.
national palace and the fierce reply |
of the federals were construed as in
dicating that President Madero has
not decided to resign. 1t was de- ,
clared in some quarters today the re-
port of his retirement was only a |
strategic move on the part of the
government.
For the first time since the remark |
able battle began. there was a heavy
sustained firing lasting half an hour
in the total darkness shortly after
o'clock this morning.
The hostile forces at daybreak
faced each other in virtually the
same positions they have held all
through the week.
The offices of the Impartial were
Communicated by the federal troops
today for use in their operations.
Exodus of PopuIace.
The exodus of the populace from
the districts under fire was even great
a constant procession of people hurry
ing through the streets to the suburbs
long before dawn and this lasted until
after daylight.
The flashes from the opposing cannon
and the reverberating reports of the