Diaz, master of Mexico . od theFrench siege. Gradually Bazaine contracted his linesabout the city. His forces grew stronger by reinforce-ments, while the garrison of Oaxaca grew weaker bydeaths and desertions. With the loss of his cavalry, thenumerous mountain bands of National Guards, who hadnow no means of protection in reaching him, were inhiding or had dispersed. The republican troops atTehuantepec, upon which he had relied for some help,were known to be disaffected. Diazs soldiers were fight-ing without hope against four times their and again he attacked the French to delay
Diaz, master of Mexico . od theFrench siege. Gradually Bazaine contracted his linesabout the city. His forces grew stronger by reinforce-ments, while the garrison of Oaxaca grew weaker bydeaths and desertions. With the loss of his cavalry, thenumerous mountain bands of National Guards, who hadnow no means of protection in reaching him, were inhiding or had dispersed. The republican troops atTehuantepec, upon which he had relied for some help,were known to be disaffected. Diazs soldiers were fight-ing without hope against four times their and again he attacked the French to delay theiroperations. The bombardment of the town was terrificand almost continuous. Bazaine was using four-inchmortars in addition to his other heavy artillery. Foodwas scarce in Oaxaca. Traitors were at work amongthe soldiers. One day, while the French were attacking,Major Adrian Valadez shouted to his men to jump theirtrench and go over to the enemy. Thus Diaz lost anofficer and loo men. Colonels Toledo and Corella had 206. President Diaz and His Son in Chapultepec Park. DIAZ, TAKEN PRISONER, AGAIN ESCAPES great difficulty that day in dealing with their demoral-ized soldiers. Soon after Lieutenant-Colonel ModestoMartinez deserted, but was killed by a French sentrywho mistook him for a spy. On February 8, 1865, the situation in Oaxaca wasappalling. The garrison had exhausted its supply offood and ammunition. For many days the population ofthe city had been begging for food, and their constantcomplaints further depressed the soldiers. Diaz moved about his native city, encouraging, com-manding, and doing his utmost to check the general spiritof despair. He had done everything in his power. Hehad melted church bells into cannon balls. He had evenput a howitzer in a tower of the convent of San Fran-cisco and had remained with it until the members of hisstaff dragged him away. But finally his officers de-clared that it was impossible for a garrison so small anddemoralized to stand an a
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