The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-12
A Fierce Battle Lasting Four
Hours Is Fought.
LOSSES HEAVY ON BOTH SIDES
Foreign Residents Directly in
Line of Fighting.
Shells Tear Through the Roofs
Over Their Heads.

Mexico City, Feb. 12.-Shot and
shell swept the streets of Mexico's
capital today in a terrific battle be-
tween President Madero's loyal troops
and the rebel soldiers under Felix
Diaz
For four hours continuously federal
troops shelled the positions of the re-
bells without great effect. The rebels
returned the fire much more vigor-
ously than yesterday their heavier
guns hurting Shrapnel and solid shot
into the heart of the business district.
Hundreds of men on both sides died
during the fierce battle which at the
time of the first lull early this after
noon showed no advantage for either
side.
found themselves in a desperate situa-
ton. The foreign residents and COM
merclal district lay in the direct line
or artillery fire from both the rebel
and federal positions. Many people
who had taken refuge in the more i'm
portant buildings found themselves
penned in, while heavy shells whistled
about them, tearing through walls and
roofs. The cable office was severely
damaged by shrapnel and it was fear
ed that communication with the out
side world might be temporarily cut
off.
Whirr of Machine Guns.
All surrounding streets were occu-
pied by troops. The whirr of the ma
chine guns was continuous, while in
fantry men kept ND a constant rifle
fire.
Plans for conference between the
leaders of the rebels and representa-
t1Ves OF the government were taken up
Tor discussion at the national palace,
Following a visit to Madero by the
American ambassador and the German
minister.
From the Madero point of view two
OF the most serious of the days de-
velopments were the releasing by the
rebels of several thousand criminals
from the city prison and the ARRIVAL
in the city of Alfonso Miranda, one of
Zapatista's lieutenants with a bane OF
followers who are said to have plotted
the wholesale looting of the capital.
Meanwhile the scarcity of provisions
is already causing suffering among
the poorer classes. Ordinary food is
obtainable only in small quantities
ana at prices from five to ten times
the usual rate.
The Mutual Life Insurance build
ing was set on fire by a shell from a
rebel field gun. 1t is a four story
structure on the corner of Cinco Mayo
and San Juan de Letran streets
The rebels under Felix Diaz started
to advance toward the National palace
after two hours of fighting. The rebels
seemingly are employing heavier can
non than they did yesterday They di-
ISClSQ LHelT IRE toward the NATIONAL
palace and on to the higher buildings
in the center of the business district
on many of which federal machine guns
are mounted and federal rifle men are
posted.
just Before the Battle.
When today's engagement opened
both federals and rebels occupied
practically the same lines they had at
the beginning of yesterdays fighting
Both sides strengthened their defenses
during the night which was featured
by an unsuccessful attempt by the
Madero forces to isolate the rebels
from their water supply.
A number of artesian wells in the
quarter occupied by various battalions
occupied by Diaz's troops rendered
| this ruse ineffective.
AS the loyal troops and artillery
from the surrounding country arrived
| in the capital they were rushed to the
| front and stationed on streets leading
to the actual scene of battle.
The streets of the capital had the
appearance of a great armed camp.
| Sentinels challenged passersby at ev
| cry corner. Soldiers of all branches
of the service slept on the pavements
| while large numbers of horses were
tethered in the great Alameda park.
many of the cavalry men lying down
| beside them. In many parts of the
| city the electric wires were cut by
| bullets and this resulted in long
| stretch of almost complete darkness.
| Thousands of residents took advan-
tage of this to escape from the zone
| of danger