BATTLE OF MEXICO CITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 272, 9 April 1913, Page 6

BATTLE OF MEXICO CITY.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN' SHOT. TOWN ALMOST IN 11UINS. Mexico is once again in the throes of revolution, and tlie central part of the capital has been wrecked by artillery lire, isno casualties being reported as the result of two days' sanguinary fighting in and about the city. Women and children wen; among the victims, being trapped between two fires. ° Since the deposition of the dictator, Porliiro Diaz, the country has known no peace. Eighteen months ago his son, General ]<elix Diaz, was deposed from the presidency by General Madero, who installed himself in office. Diaz was sentenced to death, I>ut was reprieved, and remained a prisoner. Recently, however, ]ie was liberated, together with Genera! Benwdo lfeyes. bv an army of mutinous troops. ' Fierce fighting took place between the rebels and the Federal Maderists, and Diaz siezed the arsenal. From here he sent a message to President Madero demanding his resignation or surrender. Senor Madero declined to accede to th" demand. General Diaz proclaimed himself President of Mexico and denounced President Madero as an enemy of th republic. Skirmishing took place on that day, but on the following day a desperate seven hours' battle took place in and around the city, artillery coming into use oil both sides. On the previous night the American and German Ministers, in the interests of the large noncombatant and cosmopolitan population, tried to arrange a settlement, but in vain. The American Ambassador issued a warning to Americans to keep out of the danger zone, and hundreds of buildings floated flags of foreign nations. There had previously been street-fight-ing in Mexico, but a battle in which heavy artillery was employed at a range frequently of less than half a mile in a densely-populated city was a new and startling spectacle.

ARTILLERY FIRE IN STREETS. As the I)fittle proceeded, shells intended for tlie enemy four blocks away found lodgement in houses one or two miles distant, and no one in the open was safe from errant bullets. The heaviest line of fire was along Boldera Street, the cannon of the opposing forces shooting point-blank across only four blocks. The extremities of this duelling ground were defended bv detachments of infantry with machine guns, whose rain of bullets swept the intervening space with death to any exposed creatures. This engagement resulted in damage to the American Consulate-General, the bursting rebel shells rendering the place untenable, and the Consul-General and staff took refuge at the Embassy. The assault against the rebel positions in the Avenue Juarez was finally abandoned. What undoubtedly contributed greatly to the ability of the rebels was their strong position in the Young Men's Christian Association Building, a sevenstorey structure, two blocks from the arsenal. From the windows spurted out a continual stream of shot from rifles, machine guns, and pistols, As a counter move the Federals placed men with rifles and macliine guns on the roofs of the adjoining liftv buildings, and although the rebels were not dislodged from the Young Men's Christian Association building.thc steel concrete structure was perforated with shrapnel bullets and solid shot. General Diaz further fortified his positions by entrenching the streets, and, notwithstanding shrapnel, his losses were comparatively slight. When darknee ended the combat, neither side seemed to have gained any marked advantage. The dead could be counted by hundreds. The foreign residents mostly kept under cover. Three Americans are known to have been injured by stray bullets, among them Mr. Lloyd Osbourne, son-in-law of and collaborator with Robert Louis Stevenson, who was shot in the thigh. The greatest number of fatalities resulted from a charge of Rurales (Maderists), against the rebel battery, which mowed down men and horses almost to extinction. The artillery fire on both sides was kept reasonably low. but not infrequently shells screamed across the city, and shrapnel fell in districts distant from the zone of fighting. Part of the time the British Legation was under fire from the rebel position. A battery of Federal artillery was placed close by as a protection. Belem Gaol, the famous old city prison, was thrown open by the rebels, and from 3000 to 5000 desperate Prisoners of war released to add to the < liaos. Alfonso Mirando, one of the '/••"itista leaders, entered the capital with Soft followers to support Diaz.

AMERTCAX WOMEN* VICTIMS. T!te battle was resumed the next "uniing, the bomlnnlment becoming heavier than ever. The Feredal shells

• '-nil' -lit ti vn-- 1 ii'-nuni; of damage in the l'.'i-i'Mess districts of the oity. One Ainpriciui woman was killed, and both !'. »s of another were shot off while she iv'x preparing dinner in lier house,

—'lich in the line of fire of the Federal troops. When firing ceased in all quarters at 0 p.m., Diaz is said to have more than held his own. Anticipating an early resumption of hostilities, COO Americans and foreigners fled the previous evening from their homes to temporary abodes on the outskirts of the city. Hundreds af people took refuge in the American Embassy. The casualties during the two days' fighting are estimated at no less than 300 ln ad and 1000 wounded. Latest advices Mexico city state that many buildu the heart of the city are in ruins,

of the finest edifices having been wrecked by the artillery fire. It is reported that the National Railroad Colonia Station, in the centre of the town, was destroyed by fire. The loss represents fSO,OOO. The city is now threatened with famine. The revolt is spreading to other parts of the country, and Chihuahua State is rallying to Diaz. The American Government have ordered four Dreadnoughts and two big cruisers to proceed at f'ill speed to Mexieo, and with a view to protecting foreigners in the capital, have ordered 2500 American marines from Ouantanamo to Vera Cruz. The first brigade of the first division of the U.S. army. 3000 strong has beer, ordered to prepare for expeditionary si vice.