The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-17
ARMISTICE BROKEN.
Fighting Resumed in City of Mexico
News Censored.

| News Censored.
! Laredo. Tex, Feb. 1.-THE truce ar
ranged between the government and
| rebel forces at Mexico City was broken
according to the telegraph operator at
| Mexico City who was in communica-
| ton with Laredo at noon. A desperat tie
| battle was in progress at that hour. he
| said. The wire failed before further
| details could be given. Attempts to
| re-estab lish con1munica ton with the
capital this afternoon were unsuccess-
| full.
| FL Paso, Tex. Feb 17-For a few
minutes there was communication with
| Mexico City by way of the National
| Railways wire below Juarez. Only
4 news that "a hours armistice was in
effect was received before they were
| cut again by rebels.
| On a train arriving here early today
over the Mexican Central lines came
a few American refugees from Chihua-
| hua City. They reported all quiet at
| the state capital and that the truce
| between rebels and federals had been
unbroken. Hundreds of Americans
| from the Casas Grandes district. thew
reported. were attempting to reach the
| border, fearing anti-American upris-
| ings- The train came in without
wires" No trains will be sent south
but the foreigners are expecting to
move north as far as possible even
though the wires are not operating.
All remains quiet along the border
and at Juarezsae. Salazar's rebels yes
terday reported as moving north have
not been sighted. The federal garrison
at Juarez is awaiting the turn of events
and efforts of rebel agents here to get
an expression from the federal COM
manders regarding their attitude to-
wards the Diaz revolt so far have
failed.
The telegraph companies, are refus-
ing all messages to Mexico City
Mexico City, Feb. 17-Hostilities
were resumed with renewed fjerceness
in the Mexican capital today after a
truce which lasted only a few hours
The armistice, signed at O'Clock
Sunday morning by representa- tives of
both sides, agreeing to suspend opera
tions for "a hours, was broken before
noon. Soon the sound of heavy can
nonading and the whir of machine guns
troops to their posts in front of the
arsenal
1t appeared as if the words of Ma
dero and Diaz might prove prophetic
and that this time the battle would be
to finish.
President Madero this morning reit-
Grated his refusal to comply with the
suggestions of the senators that he re-
sign. He declared that he was stin
able to dominate and that, if given
time, would crush the rebel forces.
General Diaz had not shown himself
to be greatly in favor of the armistice
but consented to it out of respect for
the efforts of the American ambassa-
dor and the ministers of the powers
to bring about a cessation of hostilities
until foreigners and non-combatants
still within the zone of the fighting,
he n a H.
parative safety.
Diaz regarded the truce as merely a
delay in the accomplishment of his
fixed purpose to drive Madero out of
the presidency The fighting Saturday
had undoubtedly gone in favor of the
rebels who had resisted all assaults
against them had received into their
ranks several hundred federal deserters
and had obliged the federal command
ers to admit that, for the present, at
least, the rebel position was lmpreg-
nable.
Strict Censorship.
The strictest censorship on all dis
patches has been established at Mex
leo City Government officials took
charge of the cable office shortly after
5 O'Clock Saturday evening and ruth
lesslv discarded messages of cores
pondents to their papers.
Code MESA ges and all kilograms con-
tanning any expressions whatever that
might be construed into suggestion
of the important happenings in the
capital were promptly confiscated.
Nevertheless, several dispatches of a
somewhat detached nature escaped the
vigilance of the censorship and an
early bulletin was flashed through that
the armistice signed at 2 O'Clock Sun
day morning had been broken and that
both sides were fighting savagely.
The Mexican government was unable,
however, to shutoff the official dis
patches of the diplomatic representa-
tives, but as these are sent in cipher,
considerable delay is being experienced
because of the time occupied in trans
Iation and the fear is expressed that
many things may occur in the Next
can capital detrimental to the foreign
residents before the exact situation is
learned by the home governments.
Brief dispatches giving a. general idea
of the situation prior to the fresh out
break of hostilities were allowed to
pass along, but the government appar-
emily is determined that not word
of the fighting which mas torn the city
asunder for eight days shall be COM
municated to the outside world. if that
can be prevented. The government has
not only shut the world off from Mex
leo City but so far as the public is
concerned. has shut Mexico.
concerned, has shut Mexico.
Preparations Made for Flight.
Washington, Feb. 17.-Preparations
the fight of American women and
children from the stricken city to
safety within the borders of the United
States.
As soon as the armistice had been
declared, the American embassy staff