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Show iL I 3L 1 U I l?fiB li But Mexico City Does Not Fear an Attack Mexico City, May 5. Although to-1 to-1 day, the fifth of May, 'one of Mexico's great national holhlas, as the aunl-ersary aunl-ersary of the victory of General Diaz troops over the French, has been fixed upon by scores of rumor-mongers rumor-mongers during the last week as the date for a concerted insurrecto attack at-tack upon many towns and even upon up-on the capital Itself, residents of the capital were Inclined to smile today when one mentionod the probability of Immediate attack 'Reports of approaching trouble are still most plentiful, however. Tho rebels are admittedly stronger today than they have everbcen before. But there Is no good reason, says the department de-partment of war, for bolieying that thev contemplate an Immediate attack upon the capital. Should tho attack be made, the rebels will be met by a garrlBon composed com-posed as follows, according to information infor-mation from the war department: Two thousand artillerymen, 1,000 Infantrymen, 500 cavalrymen and 2,000 policemen Neither government officials nor ordinary residents of the capital arc inclined to under-estlmate tho seriousness seri-ousness of the situation. Both officially and unofficially it Is known that the number of rebels In this part of the republic is growing constantly and their confidence has been demonstrated repeatedly during tho last week. But for them a successful suc-cessful attack on Mexico City, It would bo necessary, say the gocrn-ment's gocrn-ment's military men, for them to mobilize their scattered bands of marauders at points nearer the city and to bring south forces now operating opera-ting at distant points In tho stato of Durango From the opposite direction direc-tion It would be necessary to bring northward revolutionary troops from almost as far south as tho Isthmus of Tehauntepoc. It Is possible that over-confident rebel leaders may believe that the capital can be taken with the few thousand men now within ' a day's ride. But the government does not pay them the poor compliment of thinking that they will try iL conceding con-ceding that they arc better strategists strate-gists than so far shown. While realizing the growth oftho revolt, the residents of the capital taro showing more optimism today than for some tlmo past Reports from El Paso regarding ,the peace .couferonce have caused ofliclal Mexico to believe that the end of the war Is at hand Minister de la Barra Is confident that a satisfactory agreement will be reached and his opinion Is shared by most of the government officials. There is, of course, a possibility that Madero's agreement to the terms may not bo recognized by nil tho rebel bands, but the government believes be-lieves that with this main difficulty adjusted, it will have little trouble In dealing with the smaller leadeis. Particularly Is there satisfaction over the terms of peace agreed to between the government and Ambroslo Flg-uroa, Flg-uroa, representing the rebels In the States of Guerrero and Morelos. ihis leader Is one of four FIguoroas who aro in the fore in tho district comprising com-prising tho States of Guerrero, Pu-ebla, Pu-ebla, Oaxaca and Morelos. Reports are current in the capital of a battle which Is said to have occurred oc-curred yesterdav at TrcH Marias, 45 miles from Mexico City, between 2,000 rebels and a band "of federals, which has been pursuing them for several days. No confirmation of the reports can be obtained, however. Tho rebels, under the command of General Moreno, were first seen along tho railroad near Tres Marias on Wednesday. Wednes-day. They were not sighted, however, when a work train passed along tho railroad yesterday morning. It Is considered con-sidered not Improbable that the pursuing pur-suing federal troops caught up with them some time yesterday. |
