The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07

Nern Cruz, Mex, February 6--Rebcls
tncl< on Tari,pico, according TO wire
less dispatch received here today from
Clarence A. Miller. United states con-
sui at Tampico.
Consul Miller, who has exceptionally
good sources of information, said the
rebels after they had been repulsed In
a small fight near Laguna De La Puerta.
February 4, retreated to Los Esteros with
triflng loss. That night several train
loads of relnforcements arrived from Vic
toria and the following day the rebels
made a rapid advance movement toward
Altamira and Tampico. driving in the
federal advance guard and openly express
ing their intention to take Tampico by
storm the night of February g or G.
Apparently. however the consuls re-
port said, the attack was deferred to
await the arrival of reinforcements from
the south. These are expected TO arrive
by the night of February and force
a passage across the Panuco river and
assault the undefended south side of
the city
Destroy Water Tank
The rebels Yesterday destroyed the wa
ter tank service for miles up the river
from Tampioo, leaving only three days
supply OF water In the city reservoir
They have planned also to fire the oil
tanks of the five foreign oil companies
and turn the blazing streams into the
river TO destroy or compel the immediate
retreat down stream of any Mexican gun
boats guarding the east and west ap-
proaches to the city. The Vera Cruz is
the only gunhoat now at Tampico, but
others are expected
The federal garrison at Tamplco has
been depleted by the dispatch of troops
to assist in the defense of san Luis Po-
tosi. and the attempt to reopen the rail.
road from San Luis Potosi to Tampico
to which much additional damage re-
Gently has been done by rebel raiders
Tampico is entirely isolated except
through wireless on the warships
Later movements of the rebels indicate
radical change I'm the plan adopted
after their repulse in the first attack
on Tampico In December. 1t then was
decided to concentrate all their efforts
to reducing Monterey before resuming the
attack.
The federal gunboat Zaragoza sailed to-
day for New Orleans. carrying Ignacio
Melgarejo a well known civil engineer.
who is understood to have commission
to purchase arms for the federal gov
ernment
Ell Paso, Tex. February e.-Fearful
that General Villa will carry out his
threat to deal summarily with Span
iards should they be captured in the
attack on Torreon, agents of Spain to-
day telegraphed to the Spanish min
lister at Washington recommending
that their countrymen be urged to
leave Torreon before the battle begins.
Spanish refugees, driven out of Chi
huahua after much of their property
had been confiscated by Villa, were
anxious that Spaniards in Torreon
leave there for Monterey or the United
States
General Villas assertion that he
would execute paniards who. he saws
have taken up arms to support the
federals, was accepted as warning
for them to leave the country while
they had chance.
Under an order from Washington re-
leasing munitions of war seized before
the lifting of the embargo, rebel lead
ers asked that 100000 rounds of am
munition and one field gun held at E,l
Faso, be turned over to them.
Ammunition Orders
orders, including one for LOO 600
rounds of seven milimeter ammuni-
~~~-~-~-~~~~-~~~-~~>>~