The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-28
NICARAGUAN AFFAIRS
The British Flag Flies Over the Town
of Corinto.
IT'S NOW A CLOSED PORT
Affairs as They Now Stand Open
a Fair Prospect OF Alarming
Events In the Future--Ac-
ton of the Natives.

Washington. April 27.-The British
have occupied Corinto. and the British
flag has been raised over the city
Doctor Guzeman received two cable
grams at 1890 to day. giving him the
first official information.
The landing was made at i o'clock
this morning.
All government officials, as well as
the Nicaraugan population Of Corinto.
Doctor Guzeman says, vacated the
town, leaving it in the possession of
the British troops.
Secretary Gresham returned to
Washington from Woody at 1 o'clock,
and said that up to that hour the
state department was without any in
formation regarding the situation at
Corinto, and was in the dark as to
whether or not the British troops had
been landed. 1t is probable that later
in the day Doctor Guzeman will ac-
quaint the secretary with the informa-
ton from his government.
The belief was entertained by the
administration that Nicaragua would
pay the indemnity, and the landing of
troops would not occur, but this hope.
as Doctor Guzeman's dispatch shows,
was not realized.
1t is understood here that Command
er Trench of the Royal Arthur has
been constituted military governor Of
Ccrinto. The fact that cable advices
do not speak of trouble is accepted as
showing the landing of the British
troops was peaceable and unopposed.
Reports yesterday indicated that 800
Nicaraguan soldiers had been concen-
| trated at Corinto, and forces from
TT I..x- I&..4 10
that all Nicaraguan authorities with
drew, leaving the British complete
masters of the situation, indicates the
local soldiery were not called upon.
The understanding among officials
for several days has been that armed
resistance would be useless. The re-
port that Central American states
would unite to help Nicaragua make a
military defense has never been seri-
ousiy entertained by officials here. as
they say these countries united could
not make an armed force worthy of
mention alongside the British forces.
1t is stated, however, the evacuation
| of Corinto does not mean surrender by
Nicaragua. Troops are believed to be
in the neighborhood of Corinto ready
to resist the movement of British
troops.
Minister Guzeman has officially noti-
| fed the state department of two cable
messages received by him from San
| Juan del Sur, the cable station to
which the authorities have retreated.
| A telegraph line runs from Corinto to
| the cable station, and IL is stated the
| Nicaraguans cut this line, thus cutting
| the British off from communication
with the outer world, except by boat
| to the cable station. The main body
| of Nicaraguans crossed the lagoon
which separates Corinto from the
mainland, and are strongly entrenched.
Notwithstanding the announcement
| in cablegrams TO the Nicaraguan min
lister, in administration circles the
| opinion is firmly expressed that Ad-
miral Stevenson has not landed troops
1t is stated the administration has
been advised that the real cause why
a peaceful settlement has not been ef-
fected already is that Nicaragua has
been unable to raise the indemnity
within the three days allowed.
The events of the day in diplomatic
circles here were the landing of the
British troops at Corinto, the aban-
donment of the town by the native
officials and the population and the
shrewd move of the Nicaraguans in
| declaring Corinto a closed port. The
| first news of the event came in the af-
| ternoon. DR.. Guzeman received two ca
| Diagrams from his government forward
| ed from San Juan del Sur, the Nicar-
aguan cable port about 12 miles south
| Of Corinto. The first cablegram stated
| that the British troops had landed at
| Corinto and that the British flag was
| flying over the town. which had been
| deserted by the Nicaraguan officials
and the native inhabitants. The sec
| ond cablegram showed that the au-
| thorities had gone to San Juan del Sur,
| cutting the wires connecting the cable
port with Corinto. so that the British
| forces at the latter place could not
communicate with their home govern
ment. except by sending boat to the
cable station. The main body of the
Nicaraguans who had abandoned Cor
into had crossed a lagoon which sepa-
| rates the town from the main land
| and had strongly entrenched them
| selves. This information was prompt
| ly communicated to the state depart
| ment.
| DIR. Guzernan, who has been in i'll
| health and has suffered from the ner-
vous strain of the last few weeks, was
| Obliged to take to his bed this after
noon. But he would not do so until he
/ had gone through the train to see Sec
| retary Gresham and communicate the
| substance of his cablegrams to him.
i The news, IL was apparent, was not
| expected by the state department,
which had never believed that the Mic
araguans would go to the length OF
permitting the occupation OF Corinto
| in preference to paying the indemnity.
That the only difficulty in the way OF
a speedy settlement OF the trouble was
| that arising from the trouble expert
enced by the Nicaraguan government
| in raising the money hastily, and that
/ the British admiral would be indulgent
on this point when fully satisfied OF
the disposition OF the Nicaraguans to