The Washington times., 1913-02-12
FLAMES THREATEN
CITY As REBELS
RENEW FIGHTING
Shells Set Fire to Big Buildings,
Threatening Heart Of the
Town. =,
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when the consulate was shattered by
Mexican shells.
The Mutual Life Insurance building,
which is blazing from shell fire from a
rebel field gun is a f0ur-story. concrete
structure situated at the corner Of Gin
CO Mayo and San Juan de Letran
streets
The revolutionists under Diaz are U.s.
ing heavier cannon than yesterday and
directing their fire toward the National
palace and the taller buildings In the
business section, on which many Of the
federal machine guns are mounted and
sharpshooters posted.
Details Of the escape of Consul Gen.
eral Arnold Shanklin yesterday disclose
that the American representative and
his staff had to break down two doors
leading into an adjoining building to
win the comparative safety Of an un-
exposed side street.
Battle Was Expected.
After a sleepless night, filled with ap-
prehension Of further cannonadins, the
city at dawn was expecting another
fierce encounter between the Maderisss
and the DIaz forces. which may settle
the revolution summarily.
During the night the federals brought
up considerable additional artillery.
Heavier guns were placed behind barri-
cades and entertainments in the streets
and trained on the citadel. while ad-
ditional machine guns were stationed
where they could play on the strong
hold of the rebels.
While this was going on Diaz was
not idle. The entertainments of the
rebels were pushed considerably In the
direction of the national palace. and
Diaz. too. brought into position ad-
ditional artillery.
Estimates of the dead in yesterdays s
fighting varied from 200 to 1000. Ameri-
cans thought the larger estimate none
too high. The brunt of the casualties
was borne ythe federals. The rebels
lost few men. Diaz being authority for
the statement that only twenty OF his
men were killed.
The wounded Americans were said
not to be fatally injured, and all Aneri-
cans who desired 1t were given shelter
in the embassy. .-.t .- ~"
Has 1000 Men. q.
Madero was in possession of the Ma
tional Palace, and declared that he had
1900 men. Federal outposts camped for
the night on their arms in the streets
near the palace. for distance Of sey-
eral blocks. - 7.
General Diaz occupied the plaza and
two huge buildings IN the western part
OF the city known as the citadel, and
also had men in possession of the
Young Mems Christian Association.
Diaz said he had plenty of men and moro
authority for the statement that the
rebels numbered only loo.
There was a report that Madero had
cut on the water supply OF the citadel,
but Diaz denied this. and said that, any
way he could get plenty Of water be-
Conditions In the city today were
chaotic. Some dead still lay in the
streets and the wounded were housed
in many private residences, where the
Red Cross attended to them as well as
their equipment would permit.
. Debris and shattered building material
Uttered all the streets within The zone
of FIRE, and cornices and chimneys OF
many buildings were shot away. =.
Food was at premium, and II was
said that the city faced famine. There
was no milk and bread to be had. and
Hotel fare was meager, and many pri-
vate houses were feeding utter
strangers.
Lines Restored.
The telegraph lines to Vera Cruz,
which were cut yesterday, were re-
stored today. but the authorities re-
fused to accept commercial messages.
1t Was rumored, but not verified. that
railroad lines into Mexico City were be-
ing torn up in places.
Diaz. the night before the battle,
emptied the houses around the citadel,
and made an attempt to clear the
streets, but. so far as known, Madero
did nothing Of the sort and gave no
kind Of warning to citizens
The only warning Of any kind given
to non-comb mbatants came from Ambassa-
dor Wilaon. and his advice went largely
unheeded. Americans and other for
eign residents. apparently not realizing
that II was real war and not opera
bouffe. insisted on crowding house tops
and windows to get a look at the pro-
ceedings. Several of them carried away
bullets in their bodies as souvenirs.
Lloyd Osborne. an American writer.
was shot in the hip while watching the
ighting from the top Of building. DIR.
r. H. McCresson, Of Lincoln. Neb..