The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-14
MADERO IS
READY To- FLEE
Has Special Train Rsady to
Quit Mexico MJ.
REBELS ADVANCE LINES
VANCE LINES

Diaz Continued to Shell the National
PaIace-seizes Amerieans' Houses
For Sharpshooters.
Mexico City, Feb. 14.-M result
of renewed fighting, during which the
rebel force, under General Felix Diaz.
advanced their artillery several blocks
nearer the federal lines, Iamors ara
current that President Madero is pre-
pairing for fight.
A special train is being <4ade up in
the Mexican Central station, and 1t Is
barely possible that this Is Intended
to carry the president and his family
if flight is contemplated.
At two o'clock the rehei advance
began and the guns were run into
Independencia street, which is some
distance from their formef position
They Immediately began s5eliing the
federal batteries posted in the vicinity
of the San Diego church and the Mexi
can Herald building. Shoftly after.
ward the rebels were repotted in pos
session of the San Lazare railroad
station.
For short time the firing by both
sides was heavy. then became light,
but later the cannonade was resumed
with renewed vigor.
The first sharp engagement occur
red when a party OF federal infantry
moved into range of the rebel sharp
shooters. The battle was very brief.
as both sides placed theff chief reli
ance on steady battery FIRE
The infantry fighting lasted only a
few minutes and was succeeded by a
more intense canncnade from the
rebels at the arsenal The federal bat
terry stationed in front OF the British,
legation replied and drew much vi
the rebel fire.
A number of shells directed toward
the national palace were fred. appaI
emily from the rifle and artillery range
in the vicinity of the barracks south
east of the city, showing that force
of rebels was posted there also.
R. M. Meredith, the REPRESENTA- i've
in Mexico City OF an American manu-
featuring company, was h.t by a splin-
ter of shell. He suffered scalp
wound, but his injury is not likely to
prove fatal.
Two non-combatants wee killed in
front of the American clup by burst
ing shells.
Several shells piercek tks library OF
the American club. Noboay was In
jured, The building was a with
bullets.
A little later during small arms
action some bullets fell within the en-
bassy grounds in the heart OF the dis
trict tacitly agreed on as the neutral
zone.
Shrapnel rained on the walls and
shutters of the cable Office. but the
clerks and operators remain at} their
stations A short time al ward q
Jardin hotel.
Struggling federals who arrived at
the American embassy declared that
detachment of government troops was
shot to pieces on the western edge of
the city. This indicates that Diaz has
a mobile force outside his lines in the
central district.
Diaz succeeded in hiding sharp
shooters on houses in the so-called
American colony many blocks beyond
his lines. This was revealed by
sharp attack on a detachment of fed
erals advancing from Chapultepec.
The swift and crushing action prom.
icod hv tho oovorpmorf woc not roa1
lied. On the contrary, the fighting
was of a monotonous regularity, the
federal troops slowly pounding the
rebel position and endeavorlng to ST.
lence Diaz's guns in order that the
final charge might be made with less
sacrifice of life. To this the rebels re-
piled with steady fire, but they were
more chary in throwing away their
ammunition and appeared to take bet
ter aim than ever
From time to time shells were drop.
ped into the grounds of the national
palace and onto that ancient building
itself.
The government forces had the ad.
vantage in numbers, their army to-
tdhAS 'oOV h0A' oSoi1oe ShO oooO iC'o-
lutionists under Diaz. The federal
forces were reinforced by the arrival
of detachments of all arms of the SER
vice.
Meanwhile the rebels had fortified
themselves in the district, the center
of which is the arsenal
The total of federal troops who ar.
rived is said to be 1900, and they
brought with them two pieces OF
heavy artillery, with much ammuni.
ton and stores. Two hundred federals
also came from Vera Cruz.