The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-16

was more violent than at any pre-
vious stage of the seven days fighting.
Most Of those in Mexico City who
knew President Madero's constancy Of
purpose and stubbornness were pes
simistic today regarding his resfgna-
ton. Others, however. believed he
would yield to persistent demands
made by men high in public life.
Francisco de la Barra, former pro-
visional president, played the part of
peacemaker today and promised to be-
come as notable In this crisis as he
was in the adjustment Of the difficult
ties of the aIadero revolution, which
terminated in the overthrow Of Porhrio
Diaz.
The presence OF war vessels Of three
foreign nations at Vera Cruz and de-
velopments Of the past six days appear
to have convinced even the Mexican
ca binet ministers that It would be a
| mark Of forbearance should foreign in
PREVENTION be delayed much longer.
This has been bluntly urged on Presi
dent Madero as a motive for his resig-
nation.
The rebels aggressiveness during
the night struck more panic among the
people, thousands of whom filed the
streets during every lull in the lighting
and fastened away from the danger
zone
Before midnight Diaz. taking advan-
tage Of the unlighted streets, extended
his lines for several blocks, then en-
gagged the federal troops from his new
positions in the So called I'Juarez COL
o1y," which Is thickly populated with
| foreigners.
Groups of federal soldiers depIoyed
along Versailles street and from the
roofs of buildings on Turin street and
Barcelona street. For q. time they
maintained an almost incessant rife
and machine gun fire at the federal
outposts far out in what had been
called the neutral zone"
From time to time rebel cannon
threw projectiles in all directions, try
ing to draw the federal fire. They
succeeded between 3 and 4 o'clock in
awakening two federal batteries into
| brisk action. A sharp artillery duel
! lasting half an hour gave the city its
| first experience Of a night lombard
ment. From O'Clock until dawn there
was practical silence throughout the
! city. At daybreak the rebels cannon
| got a renewed reply from the govern
ment lines and the battle was again
! in full swing.
5RITlSHERS STARTED STORY.
Announcement of the resignation 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 Barra's visit to Presi-
| den Madero had been 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 presi-
| dent to resign and announced IL as q
fact.
Cen. Huerta and other federal COM
/ r1anders assured President Madero to-
! day the government forces would win.
This was. thought to have been the
cause Of the president refusing to re-
! sign.
FIRING IN DARKNESS.
For the first time since the remark
/ able battle began there was a heavy
sustained connonade 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 po-
| sitions they have held all through the
week,
The exodus of the populace from
| the districts under fire was even
! greater than that Of yesterday. There
/ was a constant procession Of people
| hurrying through the streets to the
suburbs long before dawn and this
continued until after daylight.
The flashes from the opposing can
non and the reverberatfng reports OF
the exploding shrapnel shells revived
the anxieties of residents and It was
thought at one period that the govern
| ment forces were not to storm the fed
! eral positions.
DE LA BARRA IGNORANT.
Francisco de Ia BaTTa, former pro-
visional president, professed ignorance
this morning as to President Madero's
resignation had been submitted to the
| president and that the matter at pres
| ent had gone no further.
A few minutes later de Ia Barra,
| accompanied by Gen. Felipe Angeles,
a federal commander, went to the pal
| ace for a conference with Madero.
| After the conference de Ia Barra an
nounced that Madero had authorized
him and Gen. Angeles to confer with
Gen. Felix DiaZ and Gen. Manuel Mon