Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-05-20
TAMP|GO TAKEN
BY REBEL ARMY
Thousands Are Slain Before
City Is Taken.
FEDERALs FLEE ON eUNB0ATs
Desperate Battle Is Carried to Heart
Of the Town-3'etator's Army
Makes Final Stand In
Central Plaza.

Vera Cruz, Mex. May 15.-Rebel
captured Tampico Wednesday follow
ing a general assault by rebel infantr!
under the command OF Gems. Pabl'
Gonzalez and Luis Caballeros. Tit
soldiers we're subjected to a heavy ar
tiIlery FIRE. The constitutionalists
with 1000 men. are entering the cit!
as the federals abandon it.
For FIVE days the fighting has beel
most severe and many have beef
killed and wounded on both sides.
Casualties are believed to be al
great as during the fighting which oc
Cured previous to the defeat OF thu
federaIs by General villa at Torreon
who reported his losses at 1900 AMI
those of General Velasco, federal com
mander, at about three thousand.
General Gonzales and General Cabal
Iero have announced there viii be NJ
looting by constitudonallst soldiers
Looters. according to the orders. vii
be shot 10 death.
The fighting In the forenoon wai
the heaviest that has occurred during
tbs battle At the rebels advanced to
ward the center OF the city the fed
erals re.reated. fighting every step OIL
the way. The sound of rife FIRE a,
terrific and was punctuated at fire.
queDt intervals by the roar of cannon
from both rebel and federal positions
the force under command OF General
Zaragosa numbered about Ave thou
sand men,
The final attack was begun by the
constitutionallsts at Eve o'clock in the
morning. The constitutionalists used
only one big siege gun, but the federal
defense was weakened by lack OF am
munitlon and the rebels rushed and
herd some OF the federal trenches As
the final attack proceeded 1t became
evident that the federal defense was
becoming weaker Lack OF ammupi
tion was the main cause. General Ear
agosa had stoutly defended the city
against the constitutionalists for four
months. but wheu Gonzales steadily
pressed the assault the federals aban,
doned hope OF holding the city. At
D. m. the outbreak OF heavy rife fire
from the Plaza, In the heart OF the
port. announced the entrance of the
rebel troops. At intervals the boom OF
big guns broke upon the rattle OF the
rife FIRE.
Under cover ct the fire from the
gunboats Zaragosa and Bravo the fed
erai troops embarked on trains for
San Luis Potosi II is believed the
troops win try to reach Pachuca on
the way to Mexico City.
Afterward the Zaragosa. the Brave
and the gunboat Vera Cruz steamed
down the Panuco river and theiI
chiefs asked Rear Admiral Mayo, com
mander OF the American warships in
the harbor, II they would be allowed to
put 10 sea. Admiral Mayo replied that
they would be kept under close obser
walton. Soon the Mexican gunboatE
crossed the Panuco river bar and an
chored near the American warships.
Washington. May 15.---Evacuation Of
Tampico by the Mexican federal gar
rison began in the afternoon, accord
ing to a relayed wireless dispatch Il
the navy department from Rear Ad
miral Mayo. who reported the casual
ties on beth sides had been yer,
heavy.
That the rebels encountered desper
ate resistance In their final attack oil
Tampico and that they were compelle,
TO carry their fight TO the heart OF tn,
town was indicated by Admiral Mayo
report. He telegraphed that at on
o'clock. when II was reported that tn
rebels had occupied Tampico, Their
sas heavy rife firing in the plaza an,
that big gun firing continued
The fall of Tampico was n develop
saent for which the officials OF tn
Washington administration had beel
hoping II will relieve the danger @
destruction OF the oil wells and perml
the owners and employees of the o.
companies to return to their proper
ties
General CarTanza. chief OF the cor
stitutlonalists. has assured the Unite
States that he will take steps to fu
nish protection to Americans and othe
foreigners In Tampico and the Panuc
oil districts.
Washington. May 15.-First form,
steps In the program of mediation
the Mexican problem were taken her
Justice Lamar ana Frederic W. Lei
mann. together with their secretar,
II. Percival Dodge, who viii repr
sent the United States. paid their r
spects to the three South America
mediators.
II was a call OF courtesy. but pave