Diaz Has Parley On Our Warship.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 21, 1912:
Sees Capt. Hughes on the Des Moines Reaching Vera Cruz — Foreigners Relieved.
TO SEIZE ARMS ON LINER
We May Act to Stop Diaz Raiding Seguranca's Cargo — No Battle Yet — Our Recognition Sought.
    VERA CRUZ, Oct. 20.— The United States cruiser Des Moines, in command of Capt. Charles F. Hughes, steamed into port in the course of the night. An officer from the warship visited Gen. Felix Diaz this morning and arranged an interview on behalf of Capt. Hughes. Gen. Diaz then visited the Des Moines, where the American Captain and the leader of the new revolt had a long conference, the nature of which was not divulged.
    While the Diaz revolutionists hold the city and the Federals have taken up positions on the outskirts, there has been no encounter between the two opposing forces yet. The Federals occupy positions cutting off communication with the interior. The feeling of anxiety among the foreign residents has been considerably relieved by the arrival of the Des Moines, and it is considered probable that a battle, if it is fought, will take place beyond the city limits.
    The German and Russian Ministers to Mexico, who arrived here on the steamer Seguranca, left to-day for Mexico City on a special train supplied by Gen. Diaz. The German and Russian Consuls traveled with them part of the way.
    In the firing which occurred last night between the gunboats and the fort, a man operating the searchlight on a gunboat was killed.
    The Ward Line steamer Seguranca, on her arrival here yesterday, was warned by Commodore Azueta, in command of the gunboats still loyal to the Mexican Government, not to discharge its cargo. Capt. Jones of the steamship was ordered to-day by the company to unload, and declared his intention of doing so. The Seguranca has on board arms and ammunition for the Government which will be seized by Gen. Diaz if landed. Great interest centres in the attitude which Commodore Azueta will assume in connection with the discharge of the cargo, and what measures will be adopted by the Des Moines.
    Two other American warships are expected to reach here at any time. The Spanish Consul has sent out wireless messages to passing steamers to proceed here to take aboard Spanish subjects in case of a bombardment.

Another Port Siezed.
    Alvarado, a minor port about thirty miles south of Vera Cruz, was captured last night by Major Zerape, a revolutionary officer. Tuxpam, 145 miles northwest of Vera Cruz, has declared in favor of the revolution, the authorities there, together with 250 veterans and 250 armed volunteers, taking part in the movement.
    The rebel Generals Aguilar and Delallave are reported to be moving from the north to attack Gen. Beltran's rear. Beltran has 2,500 men around Vera Cruz, while the revolutionists have more than 1,500 within the city and 2,000 with Gens. Aguilar and Delellave.
    A German liner has arrived here to take off German subjects in case of bombardment.
    The soldiers of the Twenty-first battalion, garrisoning Fort Uluoa, located on an island in the local harbor, have revolted and joined the revolutionary forces of Felix Diaz.
    The gunboats Bravo and Morelos opened fire on the refugees, killing several and wounding others. The soldiers of the Fort Uluoa garrison remained inert, refusing to return the fire of their comrades. The situation at the island is especially serious, as Fort Uluoa is also used as a penitentiary.
    Until the fire opened by the Bravo and Morelos, following the desertion of the garrison at Fort Uluoa, it was difficult to understand the attitude of the gunboats in Vera Cruz harbor. Commodore Azueta, commanding the gunboats still loyal to the government, kept his guns and searchlights trained incessantly on the city, allowing no communication between the boats and shore.

Diaz Still Sanguine.
    Gen. Diaz continues to regard his chances for a successful revolutionary movement through optimistic eyes. He declared to-day that the officers and crews of the gunboats in the harbor were with him and that Commodore Azueta himself had promised to join his forces, only changing his mind in the matter at the last moment before the Diaz movement was openly launched. When asked why his shore batteries did not fire on the Federal gunboats in the harbor, Gen. Diaz replied that this would be wholly unnecessary. He felt that it would be extremely foolish to disable the boats, which he feels certain of being able to enlist in his cause shortly. He declared he daily sent the crews of the boats water, provisions and money.
    Gen. Diaz further believed that the gunboat Progreso, whose whereabouts were not publicly known, to-day shelled and took the important port of Coatzacoalcos, which was also the northern terminus of the Tehuantepec Railway. He said the local garrison was left in command of the rebel ally, Col. Guevara.
    Gen. Diaz also sought official recognition to-day for his propaganda by the United States Government. He said he had presented his cause to the authorities at Washington through the American Consul at Vera Cruz, contending that his possession of two important seaports and an army of approximately 2,000 men entitled him to proper recognition.
    When asked if he expected an engagement with the Federals, Gen. Diaz replied in the negative. Many Federal chiefs, he believed, were about to join his forces, and others were too much in sympathy with his cause to offer him battle. At least, he said, he did not expect a clash with the Federals yet.
    The commission of foreign Consuls will again confer with the Federal chiefs outside the city with a view to averting hostilities and 'safeguarding foreign interests. A local hospital corps was organized today and arrangements have been made for trains to carry non-combatants out of the city in case of a bombardment by the Federals.
    Prices of staple necessities are rapidly rising, and the City Council is taking steps to prevent possible abuses.