Norwich bulletin., 1913-02-15

Washington, Feb. 14.-News from Mexico City that Pedro Lascurain, the Mexican foreign minister, had twice today requested United States Am baSSador Wilson to move the American embassy to another location caused the state departm ent considerable concern, and efforts to obtain official conhrma- tion of this information were begun at once.
 The unofficial report that the federal authorities had made such a request as a result of a military plan to draw the rebel fire in the path of the em- bassy was calculated to raise a grave issue, and the further report that de- spite Ambassador Wilson's refusal to accede to the request the federals had begun to place cannon in position to endanger the embassy aroused unusual activity in the department.
 Messages were sent to Ambassador Wilson for report on this develop 1nent as soon as possible, and officials of the department remained on duty tonight to communicate to Secretary Knox all information obtainable. It was thought probable, if the fierce ar tillery firing continues. that the am bassador might be forced to yield to this demand of the military situation, and this necessarily would involve ad- ditionaI hardships upon American ref ugees who would have to be removed hastily to other quarters
 Ambassador Wilson's declination early in the day to yield to General Diaz's request for recognition as belligerent met with the full approval of the state department It was point ed out however, that should General Diazss forces obtain complete DC tses- sion of the city through decisive defeat of the federals, the ambassador would be authorized to transact business with him as a de facto official, although that would not constitute a political recog- hilton of the insurgent cause
 An American Wounded Yesterday.
 The ambassador in graphic reports to the department today emphasized the terrors of the situation in Mexico City. The number of dead and wounded he reported as enormous Shots have again been striking near the embassy, and one American named Brandenburg was wounded today. Late in the day the Belgian and Cuban min isters were driven from their resi- dences by the fierce artillery fire, and the French and German legations were frequently struck by bursting shells and bullets
 The American embassy he describes as overcrowded with refugees In ad- dition, food supplies are running very low, and it is necessary for the am bassador's servants to make salltes through the lines of fire into the sub urbs of the city to gather up food for the hungry. It is understood that similar conditions prevail in the other
  have been obliged to find new homes
 Many Americans, the ambassador reports, are displaying great courage and a spirit of self sacrifice, but the panic is still great, and an enormous amount of property, including several large American apartment houses, whose inmates were rescued with great difficulty have been destroyed
 Gathering Up the Americans.
 The American embassy constantly is rushing automobiles through the firing lines, almost between salvos, to pick LID such Americans as remain in the l danger zone. The effort to remove owing to the range of fire and the limited localities of refuge.
 Train service between Mexico City i and the remainder of the country is reported practically cut off. with the exception of the line to Vera Cruz, so isolated from the consulates. Mean | while, fresh revolutionary disturbances | are reported in Tamaulipas and other | states.
 The situation in the Mexican capital l is regarded in military circles here as i experts are astounded at the ammunf- 1 ton sources of the contending forces. 1 One army officer declared today that | the United States army could not fight | six days, as the combatants in Mexico l have done, with all of the ammunition | now on hand Although theoretically l equipped with 100000 rounds of ann l rnunitfon for the tnree-inch field guns, 1 there are less than 150,066 rounds in | United States arsenals, while of the l 60, 006 rounds supposed to be available 1 for the siege guns. only 2.500 are in per day represent the entire maximum nrodtIat of United States arsenals