Madero Spurns Offer of Mediation and Opens Attack on Foe.

New York Times 100 years ago today, February 12, 1913:
FLEEING CITIZENS CUT DOWN
For Hours Big Guns and Rapid-Fires Sweep Streets of the Capital.
GREAT CARNAGE REPORTED
Witness of the Fighting Says Bodies Cover Streets Where Fighting Has Occurred.
SHELLS WRECK BIG BUILDINGS
3 Americans Reported Among the Wounded, Including Lloyd Osbourne.
NORTH IS TURNING TO DIAZ
Regular Troops in Chihuahua Said to be Ready for a Rebel Triumph.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    MEXICO CITY, Feb. 11.— In the heart of this capital real civil war was in progress for several hours to-day. Heavy artillery were used on both sides, and the firing was directed without regard to the non-combatants in the streets or to the property of foreigners.
    The Government losses are heavy. One estimate is over 1,000 killed and wounded. This is probably conservative.
    The loss among the non-combatants is also heavy.
    The principal fighting was along the line of Balderas Street. Other cannon were posted near the hospital in the American quarter. The churches of Pan Pablo and Nino Perdido were damaged.
    Serious damage was done to many business buildings by shell and solid shot. When firing ceased neither side had obtained any appreciable advantage.
    President Madero is reported to have said that he would begin fighting in earnest to-morrow and that the situation was good. He seemed in good spirits and confident to-night, and asserted that the people were with him. Nevertheless, the populace is really neutral, but many are volunteering to Gen. Diaz and are allowed to enter the arsenal when they have credentials.
    It is learned to-night from the highest source that Gen. Blanquet, with 1,200 men, is on his way here to join Diaz. If this proves true, it will probably be the turning of the situation.
    According to reports, Gen. Blanque refused to leave Toluca, answering President Madero's telegrams brusquely, but finally he agreed to come after he had received a dispatch from Diaz. It is understood he was stopped by burned bridges, but these he will repair and come through as soon as possible.

Supply of Food Low.
    The food supply in the capital is low. There is no milk or bread to be obtained, owing to the military activity in the city and the outskirts. The people in the larger houses are feeding many.
    No anti-foreign feeling is evident. On the contrary, foreigners are treated well except by the Government troops.
    Foreigners have been further warned to avoid the danger zone.
    Reports are in circulation that Gen. Huerta has been killed. These are unconfirmed.
    Another report says that Col. Rubio Navarette was killed. He was Huerta's artillery chief.
    There is great tension in the city tonight, and many will not go to bed.

A Day of Hot Fighting.
    The first cannon shots in to-day's battle were fired at 10:20 o'clock this morning, and the last gun was fired at 3 o'clock.
    The Federal forces assumed the offensive, and from guns placed only 2,000 yards from Gen, Diaz's main position fired solid shot and shrapnel.
    The enemy replied in kind, and a brisk cannonading ensued.
    Two of the Federal guns were silenced by noon and had to be replaced.
    Diaz's strength was practically unimpaired, his cannon being fired only at intervals and with much better aim.
    A force of rurales charged the arsenal before noon. They were allowed to approach near; then the guns and rapid firers opened, killing seventy men at the first volley and wounding many. The force retired in confusion.
    Bullets from both sides swept the streets, killing many non-combatants. No attempt was made by the Maderists to keep the crowd back or empty the buildings on the line of fire. Diaz had cleared the houses in the vicinity of the arsenal last night.
    At 3 o'clock it was thought Diaz had a slight advantage. His loss was smaller and he had more ammunition.
    Two solid shot took the corner off the American Consulate. Two Americans were wounded, one seriously.
    The Madero cannon placed behind the Mexican Herald building near the Foreign Relations Building, fired many shots which fell on the buildings. An artillery Captain who was congratulated by the Generals told them to "go to hell: he wanted no congratulations for killing his brothers." There is a marked defection from the ranks, and a lack of spirit.
    It is believed that the railways to Vera Cruz and the north have been cut.
    The number of dead cannot be estimated. The Red Cross is caring for the wounded, so far as possible.
    The Government forces shot over the arsenal, hitting the street car line a quarter of a mile beyond. One woman was wounded. The foreign colonies are orderly; the hotels crowded.

Diaz Confident After Fighting.
    Gen. Diaz still holds the arsenal tonight after the day's bombardment. The losses officially reported to him by the surgeons are light, only two dead and five wounded. One of the dead is an American named Weiss, who was a spectator. The rebel leader regretted the unintentional killing.
    The arsenal to-night shows practically no damage from the cannonading. Rebel outposts have been put back several blocks.
    When interviewed to-night Gen. Diaz expressed great confidence. He regretted the bloodshed and pointed out that he was the attacked party and not the aggressor.
    Concerning the general uprising, which started the revolution. Gen. Diaz said that some regiments had promised to join the rebel forces, but had failed at the pinch. This resulted in the killing of Reyes and Ruiz, and much useless bloodshed.
    It had been reported that the water supply at the arsenal had been cut off. This Gen. Diaz denied. He said it was possible to do this, but he could get water.
    He expressed the greatest regret at the bombardment of the American Consulate and said he hoped it was not his guns that did the damage and that it would not provoke any incident.
    His force, he stated, numbered 2,000 men and he expected more. He denied that any of these were foreign filibusters. All were Mexicans. He expected to be joined by De Lao with 3,000 men, but this was not prearranged. He would accept the aid of the Zapatistas conditionally.
    He reiterated his previous statements that he was not personally ambitious, and wanted only a change of administration. He would retire when this object had been accomplished.

Diplomats Ask for Zone of Safely.
    The Diplomatic Corps Will request the creation of a neutral zone for the segregation of foreigners. The British, French, Germans, and Americans are protecting their legations and patrolling the foreign colonies.
    There are many refugees at the American Embassy. A few misdirected shots hit that building.
    A few drunken soldiers are holding up people who are on the streets tonight. Gen. Diaz has expressed his regret that he is unable to prevent such incidents.
    Arnold Shanklin, the American Consul General, and John De Witt Van Horn, the Vice Consul General, were in the consulate when it was bombarded. They escaped by breaking two doors into the next building, and arrived safely at the Embassy.
    All Americans in the Government service are safe to-night.