Truce At Vera Cruz On Point Of Battle.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 23, 1912:
Proffer of Federal Commander Believed to Indicate Purpose to Join Diaz.
15,000 REFUGEES ON SHIPS
American Naval Commander Protects Non-Combatants — Washington Expects Decisive Battle.
    VERA CRUZ, Mexico, Oct. 22.— Following the refusal of Gen. Felix Diaz, commanding the rebel force here, to surrender the city, the Federal army, under Gen. Beltran, began to advance on Vera Cruz at noon to-day.
    Within an hour or two the Federals were only seven miles from the city, where the insurgents calmly awaited their approach.
    Gen. Diaz said that the artillery mounted by the rebels on the heights in the outskirts would fire on the loyal troops. Only if his outposts are driven back would he fight in the city.
    Promiscuous firing started, and seemed to indicate that the battle had begun. It was a false alarm, however, as Gen. Beltran sent an emissary, offering a truce until daybreak to-morrow. This is taken here to mean that Beltran will probably join the revolution.
    The troops under Gen. Diaz were sent back to their barracks, and conditions became quiet.
    Thirty sailors escaped from the fleet and joined Diaz. A few of the Federals from Gen. Beltran's outposts also came over to the Diaz cause.
    Before he began his advance Gen. Beltran sent notice to the City Council that battle was about to begin. He declined Gen. Diaz's request that he allow more time for the removal of non-combatants to the neutral zone.
    As a result, there was a general rush for all the available craft in the harbor. These now have on board more than 5,000 foreign refugees and 10,000 Mexicans.
    The United States cruiser Des Moines is lying about 500 yards from the American Consulate. The space between is neutral, and many of the refugee craft have taken up positions there.
    Only thirty-two Americans remain within the town. The foreign Consuls have gone aboard the boats. The American Consul, William W. Canada, has assumed the leadership of the situation.

Polite Demand and Refusal.
    Formal demand for the surrender of the city was brought to the rebel lines by Capt. Limon, and was couched in most polite terms, concluding with the intimation that if the rebels did not surrender duty would oblige the Federal commander to use force.
    When the loyal emissary entered the city be embraced the revolutionary cornet who met him. They had been schoolmates.
    Gen. Felix Diaz, replying to the note, thanked Gen. Beltran for the polite form of the communication, and said he was sorry the situation compelled him not to surrender and obliged him to offer a forcible defense.
    Gen. Diaz sent copies of both communications to the foreign Consuls, asking that foreigners in the city make an inventory of the effects left behind when they moved out, and promising to indemnify them in the shortest possible time for the damage that might result from the battle.
    Gen. Diaz also addressed a communication to Commander Charles F. Hughes of the Des Moines, saying that he would conduct the situation according to international law, and specifically saying:
    "It is unnecessary to disembark American marines on my account."
    The Federal commander also addressed the American Consul, saying: "I shall not attack the city before the lapse of twenty-four hours, and during that time Americans should seek safety."
    Commander Hughes conferred with Commodore Azueta, the Federal naval commander, to learn his attitude. Commodore Azueta promised not to participate nor to fire in the direction of the city, and Commander Hughes warned him that any breach of his promise would be considered a hostile act toward the United States.
    Commodore Azueta will keep the guns of his vessel trained on the Island of Ulloa, to prevent prisoners escaping from the jail.
    Wharf 4 was made a neutral zone for the shelter of foreigners, and the warehouses were placed under command of Commander Hughes. Admission to the neutral zone was obtainable only by means of a card from one of the foreign Consulates.
    The Ward Line steamer Seguranca and the German steamer Stiegewald were also placed under the orders of Commander Hughes, to take foreigners on board.
    Although a neutral zone for Mexican non-combatants has not been fixed, houses flying the Red Cross and foreign flags will be respected by the combatants, it is stated.