Mexican Rebels Ready For Battle.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 2, 1913:
Federals Occupy Guaymas and Insurgents Prepare to Defend Hermosillo.
YAQUI CHIEF DEMANDS PAY
Gen. Rabago Orders All Forces in Chihuahua to Mobilize for Defense of the State.
    EL PASO, Texas, May 1.— The unexpected entrance of strong Government forces into Northwestern Mexico to-day comes at a time when the insurgent State government is pressed for funds and apparently lacks ammunition and food supplies.
    Three thousand Federals from the south are well on their way to Chihuahua City, threatened by an insurgent attack, according to an official report received to-day in Juarez. Guaymas, the California Gulf port and the only remaining point in Sonora held by Huerta troops, was occupied by almost 2,000 Federal soldiers who arrived by boat from the Pacific Coast. The occupying of Guaymas by Federal reinforcements not only prevented danger of an attack, but caused the insurgents to prepare to defend Hermosillo, the Sonora State capital.
    Chief Bule, commanding the Yaqui Indians enlisted as Sonora State troops, is in the capital demanding immediate pay for his men and equal rations with the Mexicans.
    The movement of a new Federal column into Chihuahua State caused the canceling of the order from Gen. Antonio Rabago, Military Governor, that all forces in the State, including the garrisons of Juarez and Parral, mobilize to the defense of the capital. The invading column is commanded by Gen. Mungia and comes from the Torreon district on the Durango-Coahuila border. Military trains are reported at Jiminez rebuilding the destroyed Mexican Central Railway on the route.

    SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 1.— A warning to American and other foreigners to leave the City of Mexico while there is still rail connection with the coast was issued here to-day by a representative of the Carranza Government. The note asserts that Southern Constitutionalistas are preparing to advance on the Mexican capital.

    NOGALES, Ariz., May 1.— State troops in Empalme showed great activity tonight, preparing either to resist an attack from the Federal reinforcements arriving at Guaymas, or to retreat toward Hermosillo. Only the two Mexican gunboats can be seen from positions held by the insurgents. The majority of the reinforcements arrived on the steamer Pesqueira. German and English cruisers have appeared in addition to the American cruisers already in the harbor.

    MEXICO CITY, May 1.— Zapata forces dynamited a train on the Interoceanic Railway near La Cascade to-day, killing many and wrecking and burning the train. This train was followed by a military train, which retreated to Otumba when the news of the attack reached the officer in command.
    After the explosion the rebels fell upon the passengers, slaughtering even those who were unarmed.

    MEXICO CITY, May 1.— Gen. Trucy Aubert, in command of the campaign against the Carranza rebels, and Gen. Rabago, with headquarters in Chihuahua, have joined the rebel movement, according to reports in many quarters here. This, however, is denied in the national palace. The only concrete fact admitted by the Government affecting the status of the men is the recall of Gen. Aubert. No reason for his recall is assigned, but it is understood the Government is not satisfied with the way he is conducting the campaign.
    In support of the rumor of the defection of these Generals is the fact that orders have been issued for the concentration of troops at Chihuahua, even to the point of evacuating Juarez. It is conceded that this is equivalent to the surrender of a port of entry, an act not probable, even in a defensive campaign.
    The latest centre or the rebel activities is in the State of Zacatecas, where the rebels recently have gained control of four towns, including Sombrerete, a populous mining town.
    Conditions on the west coast are regarded as sufficiently serious by the American Ambassador to impel him to suggest to the State Department to send a warship to Mazatlan.