The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-28
THEY'RE Up In ARMS
Active Preparations for War in Gen.
tral America.
IT'S AN OLD CAPITAL FIGHT
Defeated Leonists Propose to
March Upon Managua, But
Money and Arms VIII Be Ss-
cured to Defend the City.
Copyright. 1895. By Associated Press.

Copyright. 1885. by Associated Press
Managua, Nicaragua, Feb. 2T, via
Galveston. Texas.-The revolution IL
now In full blast. and all the cities OF
Nicaragua on this side of the country
are In arms and preparing either to
support President Zelaya or contribute
men for the march OF his enemies upon
the capital. Managua.
Fugitives who have reached this city
from Leon. the old capital OF Nicara-
qua, headquarters OF the rebels. which
is opposed TO the liberal or Zelaya par
ty on general principles and as a result
OF differences of long standing. chief OF
which is the transfer OF the capital
from Leon to Managua. say that the
Leonists are in arms to a man and are
rapidly organizing an army with which
to advance upon Manague. They have
the advantage OF possessing more mod
ern arms and artillery. but the adher-
ents of the president are not discour-
aged, and especially as the Granada
conservatives. concerning whose atti-
tude as body there was some doubt.
declared themselves to-day in favor of
Zelaya. This means almost half of the
battle won. for Masaya will undoubted-
ly follow the lead of Granada. The lat
ter city has more important commercial
interests than any other city of Nicar-
agau. Besides. IL is the eastern port OF
Lake Nicaragua and the stopping place
OF the steamers that cross the lake to
Fort San Carlos, at the mouth OF the
San Juan river, by which waterway
communication with the Atlantic ocean
is maintained via San Juan del Sur,
better known as Grcytown. near the
eastern entrance TO the proposed mar
itime canal Of Nicaragua, in which cit
liens OF the United States are interest
ed. Thus. with Granada and other
smaller cities supporting him. President
Zelaya hopes TO crush the rebellion in
due time.
The loss OF Granada would most like
ly have turned the tide against the
president. The support OF the conserv-
atives OF Granada, who are in the ma
jority Is not a lukewarm support They
telegraphed the president to-day offer
ing him s1.OO0.OO0 with which TO equip
the troops being hurriedly enrolled to
defend the capital against the Leonists
and their clerical supporters. The Of
fer was promptly accepted. The mill
tary authorities here are working night
and day and the populace is wild with
warlike enthusiasm. Three thousand
men an d20 pieces OF artillery are al
ready mustered here. but the men are
armed with Rmington rifles.
IL looks very much like a struggle be-
tween clericalism and liberalism. which
may involve other Central American re-
publics besides Nicaragua. From pres
ent indications. President Zelaya will
lead his army In person against the
rebels. This is the determination he
has arrived at. but his intimate advis-
ors hold that II would be risking too
much 10 leave the capital at such
crisis. There Is a rumor that Costa
Rlca may take advantage OF the rebel
lion to settle some OF the old quarrels
which have existed for years between
that republic and Nicaragua regard
ing. principally. the route OF the Nicar-
aqua canal and the rights of Costa
Rica under the concessions granted to
the American company. In any case.
the situation is a most critical one. not
only for Nicaragua. but for all the
Central American republics.