The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-14
Forces of President Receive
Repulses and Are Now
on Defensive
F ANIME AND PLAGUE.
IMMINENT IN CITY
Temper of Foreign Residents
Is at White Heat on Ac-
count of Actions of
Both Sides

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 13.-Generai
Diaz gained important advantages to-
day. after another twelve hours of
artillery fighting in the heart of half
ruined city. Tonight the rebel COM
mander was advancing his batteries
toward the national palace, which he
has shelled continuously. The Madero
forces have received repulses all
along the line of fighting, and may
be on the defensive tomorrow
Hundreds were killed and wound
ed in today's storm of lead and iron.
The fighting was more sanguinary
than on Wednesday. General Huerta
again dared 81 frontal attack on the
Ciudadela, and was hurled back with
heavy losses. Federal infantrymen
were destroyed by the amazingly ac-
curate machine gun fire directed by
General Mondragon. General Diaz
Immediately followed up his advan-
tage by. planting batteries In prac-
tically all OF the strategic points that
had been occupied for three days BY
the Maderistas Tonight Diaz's red
flag is flying in the Avenida de San
Francisco. the principal approach to
the national palace. The rebels are
expected to attack the palace tomor-
row morning.
Refugees Mt American Embassy.
The activity of Henry Lane Wilson.
the American ambassador, removed
at least one thousand, including many
women and children, from the fight
ing zone. These are quartered in the
American embassy in the Colonia
Roma. a mile and a half southwest of
bfaz fortress, or in private houses
rented last night, and this morning
BY the ambassador. Most Americans
are, however, without funds on ac-
count of the closing of the banks.
There Was an unverified report to-
night that four Americans had been
killed by the explosion of shell In
the Methodist church, South. So far
as can be learned only one American
was injured. r. NJ. Meredith. man.
lager of the National Cash Register
company's agency, was seriously hurt
when shell burst in front of the
Hotel Jardin.
Famine and Plague Imminent
The temper of all the foreign resi-
dents is at white heat because of the
violation OF all the rules of civilized
warfare by both sides. 1t is said that
the British and German ministers re-
newed theoretically their protests to
Fresideaf MadsFess Il gaaFRst Federal bat
teries being posted near their con-
sulates Guards around the legations
were increased tonight because of the
presence within the city of Morendo
and his guerilias. These Zapatistas
have been rohbing and firing houses
to the westward of the Alameda. They
are apparently friendly to the Feiicis-
taS.
The city is appalled, by the immi-
hence of famine and plague. Fed
erals and rebels are seizing food sup
plies, and 1t has become almost im-
possible to buy at any price the neces-
saries of life. Bodies lay in the prin-
cipai streets where they fell two days
ago. Red and white cross ambulances
have been fired upon. There is no
possible way of eXaggerating the hor-
rors of such warfare.
Rain of Shot and Shell.
The center of the city, where tho
handsomest streets and most orna-
mental buildings are located. is be-
coming a ruin under the never lending
raEs n Sef.#hor and she'll The Natf0fIxf-
theater is badly damaged. The
cofonia station of the Mexican Ma
tionaI railway in the Paseo de Re-
forma was struck by shells and set
on fire, Shells burst today in the
American club. the hotels Iturbide
and Jardin. the German club, and
numerous other large buildings. Sew
erai of the principal streets are
choked with the debris of war, and
the center of the city is deserted save
for hungry, weary soldiers, who con-
tinue automatically TO serve the guns.
A messenger from Ambassador
Wilson arrived under a flag of truce
at the cable office this evening with
dispatches from Washington. He re-
ported that the Americans quartered
at the embassy were unframed. and
that no shells had dropped near that
building.
Madero Distrusts All.
Francisco de La Barra. the former
provisional president. is said to be 4
refugee at the British legation. Senior
de La Barra is believed tn have in
CURED the enmity of the president on
account Of the stand he took on We'd
nesday night in insisting that a com-
promise be made with General Dtax
Other prominent statesmen and Lead
ers have fallen under the SUSPICION
of the government Madern ix said
to be distrustful of everybody. NJ
his own generals even. There ~
widespread grumbiing among the fed.
eral troops. Such situation ~ hx1N
existed for the past four days c&m.M
not pSrsist much longer There iIS
constant inquiry an all Sides for new
from Washington.
Tho successes obtained by the rehex&
general today followed fighting th&x
broke out sporadicaily through tIS1
night and then ragged all day. nSS