The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-13

u SCN0Id1 LkiOu3anu from Lfl0
city prison, and the arrival IN the city
Of Alfonso Miranda, one Of Zapata's
lieutenants, with a band of followers
who are said to have plotted the whole
sale looting Of the capital.
Meanwhil7 the scarcity Of provisions
Ia already causing suffering among
the poorer classes. Ordinary food is
obtainable only in small quantities and
then at prices from TO 0 times the
usual rate.
BEGAN ADVANCE EARLY.
The rebels, under Felix Diaz, started
to advance toward the national palace
at q quarter to nine.
The rebels seemingly are employing
heavier cannon than they did yester-
day. They directed their fire toward
the national palace and to the higher
buildings in the center Of the business
districts, on many OF which federal
machine guns are mounted and federal
rif1emen posted.
The contending federal and rebel
forces occupied this morning approx
nlately the same positions as at the
beginning Of the fighting yesterday.
Felix Diaz, the rebel leader, appeared
to be prepared to offer resistance
whenever the commander Of the gov
ernment troops saw flt TO resume hos
tflities.
An effort made by the federals to
iEolate the rebels from their water
supply was ineffective because there
are a number of artesian wells in the
portion Of the city occupied by the in
surrectos.
According to reports from the rebel
lines, Felix Diaz utilized the night
hours in further fortifying the posi-
tions he had taken up and which even
yesterday had proved strong enough
to Withstand the government attack.
The federal force was strengthened
during the night by reinforcements Of
10th artillery and infantry. The new
arrivals took up positions along the
streets leading to the battle scene.
The streets of the capital during
the hours of darkness had the appear
ance Of a great armed camp. SEN
tinels challenged all passersby. Sol
dIers of all branches Of the service
slept on the pavements, while large
numbers of horses were tethered In
the Alameda park. many of the cawai-
rymen lying down beside them.
In many parts of the city the cleo
tric wires were cut by bullets and this
resulted in long stretches Of almost
complete darkness. Thousands Of res
i6ents took advantage of this to escape
from the zone Of danger. This exodus
began In the early hours of the night,
as soon as the people realized that
firing had temporarily ceased.
LAWLESS ELEMENT LooTINe.
A number Of robberies were effected
by lawless elements, which were en-
boldened by withdrawal Of police pro-
lection.
Numbers OF boys and men took great
risks in looting the ruins of houses
which had been battered by the artil-
lery.
Commerce has been utterly paralyEed
since Sunday. The fronts Of all the
stores are boarded up.
A few residents who were able to do
so Immediately after the incursion OF
Diaz into the city hurriedIy stocked
their homes with provisions at the
high prices prevailing, but the poorer
people were unable to pay and they
are suffering.
Those who usually supply the city
markets fear now to enter with such
commodities as milk and vegetables,
which are practically now unobtain
able at any price.
Groups Of women OF the lower class
early this morning followed the cav
airy, scraping up from the pavement
grain by grain the corn which the
horses spilled while feeding.
Nothing practical has yet been ac-
cc1nplished from the protests of the
oiplomatists. The government main
tains that Diaz must surrender uncon-
ditionally. AS the rebel genera. has
artillery, It Is essential 20 combat him
with similar weapons, even though
n-combatants must suffer.
A shell tore hole through the iron
shutter protecting the cable ONCE and
fell inside. This occurred at 0 o'clock.
Porter's hotel and the American
club, in both of which scores Of Amer
lean visitors and residents are gath
cred, are in the direct line Of FIRE.
Another heavy shell struck a build
ing in front of the cable Office at about
10 o'clock, ripping away corner Of
the structure.
The fire at the Mutual Life Insur-
ance building has been extinguished
but shells have severely damaged the
structure.
PRISONERS RELEASED.