Artillery Batters Buildings.

New York Times 100 years ago today, February 12, 1913:
ARTILLERY BATTLE IN MEXICO; OUR CONSULATE HIT
Special to The New York Times.
    LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11.— The staff correspondent of The Times at Mexico City sends a dispatch to his paper to-day in which he says:
    "Mexico City seems doomed. Many fine buildings are ablaze from the fire of artillery, and dead are piled high in the streets. Gen. Huerta, commander of the Federal troops, is reported dead, and the reign of President Madero seems ended. Col. Diaz, leader of the rebel forces, is in command of nearly all the city. His men are fighting like veterans, while those defending the National Palace, where Madero is ensconced, have taken to drink and are reeling on the firing line. Diaz's men, seeing this, were quick to take advantage of it, and within an hour to-night Diaz had extended his zone of control to the Alameda itself.
    "I was invited by Col. Diaz to view the battle from the rebel lines. Force for force, the two sides seemed equally matched, though Diaz was far better equipped in the matter of field and quick-firing guns. This advantage was partly offset by the fact that skilled men to handle the guns were not plentiful.
    "Actual firing began about 8 o'clock in the morning, the Federals being first to fire. At first it was desultory and confined largely to the advance lines, but by noon it grew heavier. Huge columns of smoke began to appear over the city about 1 o'clock, and soon flames could he seen. From my position. I judged these fires had been caused by the rebel artillery fire, as they were in a direct line from Diaz's position.

Citizens Are Mowed Down.
    "At 3 o'clock the federals rushed out, planted two field guns, and poured a merciless fire toward Diaz's position. The street in front of these guns was filled with dead, innocent citizens who had taken no part in the battle.
    "It was at this juncture that men, seemingly intoxicated, were seen in the lines of the Federals. With a yell Diaz's men hurled themselves down this little by-street and stampeded Madero's men. They fled pellmell into the Federal breastworks, and the rebels, seizing the guns, turned them upon the fleeing men. Diaz came up, and in a hot sortie managed to extend his front line to the Alameda, which at 6 o'clock he was still holding.
    "At this time I have no certain manner of estimating the dead, but the total must be in thousands. Many streets are practically impassable for bodies lying in the road. The people, panic-stricken when the battle began, huddled wherever they could escape the flying bullets. When the artillery fire started many buildings began to burn. The people rushed to the streets only to be met with the fire from the field and rapid-fire guns. The bullets were no respecters of persons, for both women and little children fell with the men. Gen. Huerta is said to have been caught under the falling walls of the Young Men's Christian Association Building."