The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-02-15
HAIL OF SHOT
REPLY TO
ULTIMATUM
Diaz Refuses Call
to Surrender.
SIXTH DAY OF BATTLE
Artillery Duel Continues in Mex.
leo City While Citizens
Pray for Peace.
sixth DAY OF BATTLE


day of fighting in the streets of the
Mexican capital brought no diminution
In the fireceness of the battle No ap.
preciable gain has been made by eth.
er side.
The hundreds of thousands of ter.
for tricken noncombatants have
grown Indifferent as to VINO wins, but
all uttered a prayer that one side OF
the other might bring to a termina.
tion the terrible artillery duel which
has wrecked the city and caused so
much misery and loss of life.
Grim determination was expressed
by both sides. An ultimatum from
Madero to the rebels was greeted with
a hail of sh lis and Diaz later assert
ed in a communication to United
States Ambassador Wilson that he
was in control OF the city.
Expert observers declared that Diaz
had the advantage OF position in some
respects, but that the federal com
mander had an immense superiority in
numbers and could count on practical
ly unlimited ammunition and supplies.
Diaz also is we'll provided with am.
munition.
More Federals Expected.
President Madero has received more
reinforcements. Further bodies of
troops are expected. General Blan.
quet was officially reported to have
asked permission from the depart.
ment of war to leave a colonel in com
mand of his force at Toluca and come
to the capital with portion OF his
men.
General Rivera is on the way from
the state of Oaxaca with 800 federal
soldiers.
The loyal troops were posted during
the night at points considered OF
strategic Importance and General
Huerta declared that the efforts to
rush the rebel lines would be forth
coming before nightfall.
The rebels opened the battle at
5:45 a. m, when they started firing
in the direction of the federal concen-
tration points. 1t had been expected
that the federals would attack first.
Bullets Ultimatum Reply.
President Madero sent another ulti-
matum to Felix Diaz demanding his
surrender and the reply came in the
shape of number OF solid shot from
the insurgents biggest guns.
The first shot from the rebel lines
quickly was followed by a series OF
others in rapid succession. Then the
machine guns and rifles began their
whir and patter, the fire being con-
centrated where government troops
were gathering. The federal guns did
not delay in making vigorous reply.
BY o'clock the firing had become
a steady roar. All around the arsenal
the flash of field guns and the quick
firers was incessant. Federal officers
declared their men were preparing to
make an advance.
A constant stream of refugees, most
OF them Mexican citizens, was OBJ
served carrying bundles and scurrying
toward the suburbs from the denscly
populated district between the arsenal
and the national palace.
Special Prayers for Peace.
In many of the churches special
prayers were said by the clergy for
the restoration of peace to the capital.
Thousands of refugees knelt In the
old edifices and joined in the prayers,
at the same time trusting not a little
to the heavy walls for protection
against flying projectiles.
Diaz made preparations to contest
every inch of the advance OF the gov
ernment troops, as he indicated he
would do In his reply to the presi-
dents ultimatum. He told the gov
ernment that his followers preferred
to die at their posts rather than sur.
render. They would not ask clemency.
Soon after o'clock convent five
blocks beyong the national palace was
wrecked by a shell from rebel gun
and number of inmates were killed.
Many shrapnel shells from the rebel
artillery fell around the cable ONCE,
the American club and other butldings