The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-03


NICARAGUA ON WAR FooTISG.-As we pre-
dicted some months ago, Nicaragua has been
forced into war with Costa RIGA. We have
q large mass Of letters and documents from
our correspondents in Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA, from which We have given copious selec-
tons and translations in another place.
The State with which Nicaragua is now at
war adjoins its territory on the south. 1t has
an area of about fifteen thousand square miles,
ard population estimated at two hundred
thousand. There are about ten thousand l.
dfaDs, and the rest are chiefly mixed-whai ye
would call quadroons. The regular army is
very small two hundred men but there is
militia force of FIVE thousand. We are told
that the latter is good for nothing. That re-
mains to be proved. The President is elected
for six years San Jose is the capital, and b At
thirty thousand inhabitants. The chief sea-
port is Punta Arenas, on the Pacific. Costa
RIGA is the only Central American State that
has paid its debts and has balance on the
right side of it's cash book. The source of its
wealth is the cultivation Of coffee, which Is
shipped chiefly to Europe from the port above
named. There is a large French and Germ n
population which is inimical to Walker
The declaration of war came from Costa
Rica, and in two days after its reception at
Granada, Colonel Scblessinger, of Cuban nobo-
riety, was en- route to invade Costa RIGA, with
rife battalion numbering three hundred msn.
AS there is no Nearaguan navy at present the
operations must be carried on by land, and at
the last accounts SchlessiBger's troops l. al al
ready crossed the frontier. Nicaragua is pref
ty safe from invasion by Costa RIGA, as there
through narrow passes, which could be defend
ed by very small number Of determined men
against almost any force that could be brought
against them. 1t seems probable that if, az we
are told, the Costa Ricans made no resistance
to Schlessingers troops, they intend to fall
back upon San Jose, and defend Il to the Last,
1t is supposed that Walker will receive large
achievements from California and New r.
leans, and that he will take the field in person,
and march direct tor San Jose. which Is about ten
days journey; but as the road winds through
three chains OF mountains, and is chiefly through
the enemy's country, the commissariat must be
supplied for three weeks at least. The state
ment that French man. ofwar had arrived at
Punta Arenas, to assist the Costa Ricans, Ia
contraaicted by this arrival II it we're the
fact it would annoy Walker to a great extent.
1t would prevent him from operating by sea,
in Gaze he should get transportation, and during
three or four miles Of his land march his troops
would be under the ships guns The demo
cratic party in Nicaragua have received the
declaration of war with exceeding Joy, and
Walkers Napoleonic promptness seems to have
delighted his friends and frightened his enc
mice. No doubt he will further follow the ex-
ample of the great Corsicsn by making the
Costa Ricans pay the expenses Of the war, and
something handsome besides
This appears to be the state of things Our
readers will naturally inquire for the real
cause of war. 1t has not yet appeared. The
Costa Ricans have doubtless been deceived by
the enemies Of Walker IN the o.ber Central