The herald., 1896-02-28
To Calm the Ardor of Belliger-
ent Nicaraguans
REVOLUTION is RAMPANT
After the Fashion Approved 10 Latin
American Countries
Other Central American States Arc Likely to
Take the Opportunity to Settle Their
Old Orudges

Associated Press Special Wire.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Feb. 27. (via Gal
weston. Copyrighted, 1896, by the Associ-
ated Press).-The revolution is now in full
blast and all the cities of Nicaragua on this
side of the country are in arms and prepar-
ing either to support President Zelaya or to
contribute men for the march of his
enemies upon the capital, Managua.
Fugitives who have reached this city from
Leon. the old capital of Nicaragua, head
quarters of the rebels, which is opposed to
the liberal, or Zelaya, party on general
principles and as result of differences Of
long standing, the chief of which is the
transfer of the capital from Leon to Mana
qua, say that Leon is in arms to man
and rapidly organizing an army with which
to advance upon Managua. They have the
advantage of possessing more modern
arms and artillery, but the adherents of
the president are not discouraged, especi-
ally as the Granada conservatives, concern
ing whose attitude as body there was
some doubt, declared themselves today
In favor of Zelaya. This means almost
half of the battle won, for
Masaya will undoubtedly follow the lead
of Granada. The latter city has more inn
portant commercial interests than any
other city of Nicaragua. Besides, it is the
western port OF Lake Nicaragua and stop
ping 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 Greytown, near the 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
conservatives of Granada, who are largely
in the majority, is not lukewarm support.
They telegraphed to the president today
offering him the sum of $3,O00,OO0 with
which to equip the troops being hurriedly
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 with
draw all the regular troops from Granada,
but in addition strong corps OF volunteers
is being raised there to support the pres-
dent, and it's advance guard will shortly
leave Granada for this city, where every
preparation possible for defense has been
made. The military authorities here are
working night and day, and the populace
10 wild with warlike enthusiasm. The
the week playt in front of the presidents
palace, now plays there nightly, and all
the patriotic airs are loudly applauded by
the crowds which gather about the execu-
tive mansion. Last night the president
was compelled to appear three or four
times in answer to the demands of his ad.
miring supporters.
Three thousand men and twenty pieces
of artillery are already mustered here, but
the men are armed with Remington. rifles
and the supply of cartridges is limited and
the ammunition is bad. Out of ten
cartridges tried by an officer this morning
only four exploded. However, this is the
ammunition which has been handled about
the different guard houses, and the boxes
of cartridges from the arsenal are believed
to be of much better quality. incidentally
it may be added. the soldiers of Nicaragua
20 barefooted, are dressed in jern jump
ers and pants and straw hat; rifle, bayO-
net and cartridge belt completes their
equipment. Consequently the expense of
putting q few thousand men in the field is
not very great SO long as the government
can obtain arms. The cost of feeding
Ncaraguan is also very light. few beans
and a plantain make good meal for SOL
diers in this country, and they will under
take long marches without shoes on this
diet and fight fairly we'll in the bargain.
The presidents army, it has been deter
mined, will not wait here to be attacked.
So soon as tho necessary arrangements are
made the government force will advance
upon Leon and try to capture that city be-
fore the Leonists receive the reinforce
ments they expect from Chinandega and
other places near here. This step is speci-
:ally advisable, as it is we'll known that the
Leonists are execting men and arms from
the clerical party of Honduras. In short,
it looks very much like struggle between
clericalism and liberalism, which may in
goive other Central American republics
hasidea NicaraQua.
From present indications President Ze-
laya will lead is army in person against
the rebels. This is the determination he
has arrived at, but his intimate advisers
hold that it would be risking too much to
leave the capital at such a crisis. The
president combats the idea, claims he can
confide the capital to the care of loyal in
habitants and that his place is at the head
of the army.
The leaders of the Leonists, of course,
are the leaders of the clerical party, but
the head of the movement is Gen. Ortiz, an
ex-president and staunch clerical. He
has been an active politician for a lifetime
and been more or less prominently con-
nected with all the revolutionary move
ments of recent years. About this time
last year, for instance, the government of
Honduras obtained possession OF docu-
ments showing that a plot existed to re.
place Carlos Ezeta in power in Salvador
and Ortiz in Nicaragua. There was to be
Simultaneous iuOVoInent OF clerlCal6 Ill tile
three republics, ii being judged that such a
step would prevent the three governments
from helping each other.
General Ortiz was then a fugitive in
Guatemala, but when tho matter was in
vestigated by the Ncaraguan government
the facts stated were found to be correct,
and quantity of arms and ammunition
intended for the conspirators were found
concealed in warehouses in Corinto.
There is alsn a rumcr that Costa Rica
may take advantage of the rebellion to
settle some of the Odd quarrels which have
existed for years between that republic
and Nicaragua, regarding, principally. the
route of the Nicaragua canal, and the
rights of Costa Rica under the concessions
granted to the American company.
In any case the situation is a most criti-
cal one, not only for Nicaragua, but for all
ahe Central American republics and the
presence of United States warships on the
coast would do II great deal OF goodvand
could certainly do no harm.
GOVERNMENT VICTORY
MANAGUA, Feb. 27 (via Galveston).- THE
government forces have commenced an ad-
vance upon the departments in revolt