Semi-weekly herald., 1913-02-27
COMPLETE STORY OF
FIGHT IN MEXICO CITY

Following is the first complete de-
scriptive story of the ten-day battle
in the City of Mexico. 1t was writ
ten by staff correspondent of the
United Press who witnessed the fight
from start to finish.)
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 24.-So swift
has been the current of startling
events since the conclusion on Tues
day of the terrific ten days conflict
iE the heart of this city that it was
not until today that the half-crazed
populace found time to draw deep
breath and look around on the havoc
created by the bombardment.
1t is indeed a panorama of death
and destruction and the spectacle is
an infinitely sad one. Hundreds OF
beautiful homes, with gaping holes
in their walls, totter on their founda-
tions in all parts of the city. Scores
of splendid public and business struc-
lures exposed their marred and bat
tered walls.
But it is in the district where the
poorer classes lived that the element
of tragedy is most terribly manifest
ed. Hundreds of houses were literal
IL reduced to ruins while upon the
doors of thousands of SCARED anG
crumbling dwellings hang bands OF
crepe, commemorating the deaths oi
fully two thousand noncombstants
killed during the long horror. The
city that Porfiio Diaz tried to make
the most beautiful in America stands
today a shattered wreck. The de-
struction could hardly have been more
complete had the capital been riven
and twisted in the grip Of a mighty
earthquake.
| was a witness of the opening OF
the fearful war drama in the 20
calo, the great plaza before the na =
tional palace. On the morning of
Sunday, Feb. 8, the news flashed
through the city that new revolu-
tion had begun with the liberation
from prison of Felix Diaz and General
Bernardo Reyes. | was in time to
see both of these leaders escorted
to the palace through crowd of
cheering, wildly excited people, that
filled the huge plaza and overflowed
for blocks into the surrounding
streets.
Long lines of infantry stood with
backs to the palace wall, a scattered
line of skirmishers lying on their
bellies a few PAGES in front of them.
Facing these ranks of infantry and
moi more than 100 feet distanct, the
First cavalry regiment stood ranged
in a long single line, troopers knee
to knee, their officers drawn up before
them. / noted many machine guns on
the palace roof but did not imagine
those were to be brought into real
warfare quickly.
/ was slowly crossing the plaza to
90 to the cable office when the lines
of soldiers ! had so casually inspected
opened fire with scattering volleys.
The machine guns instantly took part,
sweeping the crowded Zocalo and
sending a storm of bullets into the
unsuspecting throngs of women, chill
dren and men.
With the first volley, the terror
stricken crowds scattered. the women
shrieking or falling fainting upon the
streets to be trampled upon by the
IL. he
rest, making for Sanfrancisco street.
As ran, | saw men and women fall
on every side from the bullets Of the
federal machine guns which flew high
and wide in every direction except
into the ranks of the rebels.
Reaching Sanfrancisco street, ] saw
an open doorway and darted in, fol-
lowed by seven men, all wounded.
From this point Of vantage / watched
the flight of thousands down San
francisco street. Into the horde of
refugees swept riderless cavalry
horses, their hoofs beating down men
and women and trampling those al
ready fallen. could see dozens of
the refugees fall from the bullets OF
the machine guns which the soldiers
on the roof of the palace trained di-
rectly upon the crowds and kept them
so trained until the streets had been
swept clear of all save the dead and
wounded.
Two hundred and eighty bodies were
removed from the streets around the
Zocalo ~ the result of that first mas