The Chanute times., 1913-02-21
BATTLE IN CITY OF MEXICO
Streets of Capital Swept by Hail of Bullets and She'll
From Artillery

quarters that his losses have been
negligible are received with some
doubts.
About 10 o'clock at night there was
sharp action for few minutes by
federal battery against the rebel po-
sition, but at II o'clock the city was
tranquil, with all the street lights out.
Diaz Stands His Ground.
The City of Mexico.-Mexico's cap
ital was torn asunder again by shot
and shell. %
Gen. Felix Diaz, in command of the
rebel forces, fortified and entrenched
in and around the arsenal, had held
his ground against the federals. He
had done more than this. He had
subjected the city to more terrible
bombardment than that Of the day
before. He had. enlarged his zone OF
action, and had sent forces against
the national palace.
Over at the arsenal, General Diaz
calmly directed the operations. He
characterized them as solely defen-
sive He, too, was optimistic.
The number of dead and wounded
cannot even be estimated, but it is
large. For two hours during the
morning the rebel gunners rained shot
and shell at the loft structures of the
city, from the roofs of which federal
sharpshooters and machine gunmen
had attempted to rake the insurgents
in the trenches and behind the barri-
cades of the arsenal.
The shells from the heavy guns
were timed, the explosions throwing
thousands of bullets into the roofs, ef-
fectually clearing for time at least
these buildings of the picked men
from the federal troops.
An American Woman Killed.
One American woman was killed
and another fatally wounded by ex-
ploding shells.
Some of the rebels shells and not
few rifle bullets reached the national
palace, but none did much damage.
1t is not believed that Diaz seriously
contemplates at the present time an
attack on Madero's headquarters. how
ever
Madero has promised to make
combined assault on the rebel posi-
tions, but the operations indicate that
Diaz has much in reserve. On the
first day of the battle it was the gov
ernment forces which burned their
powder. Then it was the rebels turn
to be aggressive. Diaz brought forth
heavier guns than he had used before
Rebels Mere Aggressive.
The City of MeXico.-The fifth day
of fighting in the capital ended at
nightfall Firing was continued un.il
after sundown.
President Madero himself had stated
two hours earlier that General Huerta.
assuming new tactics, would renew
his efforts for the suhjugation Of
Diaz.
1t was authoritatively stated that
the government forces were planning
to take the rebel positions by assault
between and 7 o'clock in the even
ing, but the days operations came
TO an end with the federals only
feebly on the aggressive.
Another Day of Terror
1t was another day of terror for
thousands of noncombatants. These
included large numbers of foreigners,
who could find in no part of the city
a spot free from danger.
Shells raked the principal streets
of the capital and tore their way into
private homes and business buildings,
as we'll as through the public struc-
lures for which they were intended.
Bullets from machine guns and
rifles penetrated all corners, finding
lodgment in buildings even in the re-
mote sections, unofficially, but tacit'
ly designated as the neutral zone.
Foreign Legations Damaged.
The Cuban and Belgian legations
were made untenable, the occupants
seeking refuge elsewhere.
Th French consulate suffered
fate similar to that of the American
consulate several days ago, the con-
sui transferring his office to his coun-
try legation.
Both government and rebels insist
-. L. Al C--I.. n. i,