The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-28
They Have Possession of Leon, the Old
Capital of the Republic, and Have
Good Guns and Ammunition.
MAY MARCH ON MANAGUA
WHERE PRESIDENT ZELAYA Is con-
GENERATING HIS SOLDIERS.
Granada and other Cities I'm Favor of
the Government-S1,O oO. 900 offered
for Equipment OF Troops.

Copyright. 1885, by the Associated Press)
MANAGUA, Nicaragua. Feb. q. - The
revolution is 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 TO con-
tribute men for the march Of his enemies
on the capital, Managua- Fugitives VINO
have reached this city from Leon, the old
capital OF Nicaragua. headquarters of the
rebels. which IS opposed TO the Liberal or
Zelaya party 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 Leon
lists are in arms 10 man, and rapidly or
ganizing an army with which TO advance
upon Managua- They have the advantage
of possessing more modern arms and ar
tiIlery. but the adhereuts of the President
are not discouraged, especially as the
Granada Conservatives, concerning whose
attitude as body there was some doubt,
declared themselves to-day in favor of Ze
iaya. This means almost half the battle
won, for Masaya will undoubtedly follow
the lead of Granada. The latter city has
more important commercial interests than
any other city of Nicaragua. Besides, it
IS the eastern port of Lake Nicaragua and
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 Greytown. near the east
crn entrance to the proposed maritime
canal of Nicaragua, in which citizens of
the United States are interested.
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 likely
have turned the tide against the President.
Then. again, the support of the Conserva-
tives of Granada, who are in the majority
by long odds. is not lukewarm support.
They telegraphed to the President to-day,
Offering him the sum of $1.000,000 with
which to equip the troops being hurriediy
enrolled to defend the capital against the
Leonists and their clerical supporters. The
offer was promptly accepted. In addition,
the government can now not only withdraw
all the regular troops from Granada, but
in addition, strong corps of volunteers Is
being raised there to support the President
and its advance guard win shortly leave
Granada for this city, where every prep
aration~ possible f~2s uefense--sp~s been
made.
night and day, and the populace Is wild
with warlike enthusiasm. The military
band which. on certain nights in the week,
plays in front of the Presidents palace,
now plays there nightly. and all the pa
triotic airs are loudly applauded by the
crowds which gather about the executive
mansion. Last night the President was
compelled to appear three or four times in
answer to the demands of his admring
supporters Three thousand men and
twenty pieces of artillery are already mus
tered here. but the men are armed with
old Remington rifles, the supply of cart
ridges is limited and the ammunition is
officer this morning only four exploded
However, this is the ammunition which has
been handed out about the different guard
the arsenal are believed TO be OF much
better quality. Incidentally, IL may be
added, the soldiers Of Nicaragua go bare
footed, are dressed in jean jumpers and
pants. and a straw hat. rifle. bayonet and
cartridge belt completes their equipment.
,ne S a5 OF Pat varg sew
long as the government can obtain
arms. The cost of feeding a Nicaraguan
army Is also very light. A few beans and
plantain make a meal for soldiers in this
country, and they will undertake long
marches without shoes. on this diet, and
fight fairly well into the bargain.
The Presidents army. II has been deter
mined. VIII not wait TO be attacked. So
soon as all the necessary arrangements
are made the government force will adj
vance on Leon and try TO capture that
city before the I,eonists receive the rein
forcements they expect from Chinandaga
and other places north. This step Is es-
pecialiy advisable. II is we'll known that
the Leonists are expecting men and arms
from the Clerical party OF Honduras. In
short. Il looks very much like a struggle be-
tween Clericalism and Liberalism, which
may involve other Central American re-
puhlics beside Nicaragua. From present
Indications. President ZQlaVa u
army In person against the rebels. This is
the determination he has arrived at but
his Intimate advisers hold that 1t would
be risking too much TO leave the capital at
such n crisis. The President combats this
idea, claims he can conhdc the capital to
the care of the loyal inhabitants and that
: his place Is at the head OF his army
The leaders of tho Leonsts OF course
are the leaders OF the Clerical party. but
the head OF the movements is General
Ortiz. an ex-President and a stanch Cler-
ical. He has been an active politician for
a lifetime and has been more or less prom
inently concerned I'm all the national move
ments OF recent years. About this time
last year. for instance. the government OF
Honduras obtained possession of documents
showing that plot existed TO replace
Carlos Ezeta I'm power in Salvador aud
Ortiz In Nicaragua. There was TO ne
simultaneous movement OF Clerica,s in the
three republics, u being judged that such
step would prevent the three governments
from helping each other General Ortiz
ws .s, 'n men "a , fugitive IN Guatemala. but
Nicaraguan government the facts stated
were found TO be correct. and n quantity
OF arms and ammunition intended for the
conspirators were found concealed In a
warehouse at COrIntO.
There - also a rumor that Costa Rica
may take advantage or the rebellion TO
settle some old quarrels which have existed
for years past between that republic and
Nicaragua regarding. principally the route
or the Nicaragua canal and the rights OF
Costa Rica under a concession granted to
the American company. In any case. the