The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-15
FIERCE BATTLE IN MEXICO.
REBELS AND MADERISTs FIGHT
IN STREETS OF CITY.
Heavy Artillery, Machine Guns and
Rifles Used In au-day Battle--NIany
Killed and Great Damage go Prop
crty-Peslt,ent Madero Asserts
That He Will Suppress the Rebel
lion.

battle In the heart OF the city today.
When darkness put an end to the
lighting neither side appeared to have
gained any marked advantage.
Estimates OF the casualties run as
high as 1000. although accurate in
formation can not be obtained at this
time. The dead certainly would be
counted by the hundreds.
Foreign residents for the most part
kept Under cover but three Americans
are known to have suffered injuries
from stray bullets. They are Lloyd
Osborne. an author. who was shot IN
the thigh; Dr. r. III. McCr Jsson of
Lincoln, Neb.. and Mark Johnson,
a negro, OF Madison, In.
Artillery played the chief part in
the days fighting but rifle fire was
Kept up continuously though more
or less ineffectively. President Ma
dero and his ministers expressed
satisfaction tonight with the days
~>1k and ventured the opinion that
tomorrow would see the overpowering
OF the enemy.
Gen. D,az, I'm his arsenal strong
hold. appeared as defiant as at any
time since he was released from
prison by the mutinous soldiers and
! promises a repetition tomorrow of
the terrific bombardment. the fierce
ness OF which is attested by the many
partially destroyed structures within
radius OF half a mile.
The greatest loss OF life resulted in
a charge OF rurales who. with a dar-
ing amounting to foolhardiness, NOV
ed against rebel battery which
moved down men and horses.
The execution done In the pro-
longed engagement was sufficient in
: the belief Of senior de In Barra ard
the diplomatic re presentatives to war
rant an attempt to prevent another
battle within the city. Senior de la
Barra sent a message to President
Madero saying: "In the name Of hu-
manity and as a Mexican who is free
OF all political and revolutionary par
ties. L wish TO offer' my services in
any possible way to effect peace with
out further bioodshed."
Madero replied. thanking him but
declaring that no terms other than
an unconditional surrender could be
made with Diaz
That the president is determined TO
make this n finish fight is evident,
though no more so than Diaz. who
realizes that thero will be no clemency
In case OF surrender.
Almost within n stones throw OF
each other these two lighting forces.
each armed with more than 20 can
non. apparently expect to continue the
struggle regardless OF the loss of life.
The airing grew much lighter as
the afternoon wore along but the ar
tillery action always was the domi-
mating feature. For the most part
the artillery fire on both sides was
kept reasonably low, but not infre-
qucntly shells streamed across the city
and shrapnel fell in districts far from
the zone OF fghting.
The government troops advanced
from four directions. Gen. Angeles
from the west. Gen. Cauze from the
.,..-.h. Gen. Mas from the south and
Gen. Delgado from the east. Toward
the end OF the battle. they were
crowded close together and from his
position on San Diefo street. Gen.
Cauze sent hundreds OF solid shots
against the arsenal. one corner OF
which was destroyed.
Early in the action Gen. Diaz saw
to II that his men held their fire. The
quantity OF ammunition used by the
federals was far greater than by the
rebels. Apparently the less frequent
fire from the rebels positions was
moro effective. and calculations to-
night are that the rebels loss I'm killed
and wounded was considerably small
er than that OF the government forces.
The cannon OF the federal eventual
~ were silenced by the rebels. but
the extent Of the damage 10 the rebel
artillery Is not known outside their
own lines.
The streets In which the nghtirg
occurred present a dilapidatcd ap-
pearance. One Of the buildings which
suffered most Is that I'm which the
Gated and from which the consul and
his stafr were forced 20 ncc.
Marriage License Record.