The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-28

MANAGUA. Nicaragua, Feb, 27.-LCopy-
right 1886 by the Associated Press Via
Galveston, Textile revolution is now in
fuIl blast, and all the cities OF Nicaragua
on this side OF the country are in arms
and preparing either TO support Presi-
dent 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 Nicaragua,
headquarters Of the rebels, which is OPP
posed to the liberal. or Zelayan party. on
general principles. and as a result of diff
ferences Of long standing, chief of which
IS the transfer of the capital from Leon
to Managua, say that the
LEONISTS ARE 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 and especially as the Gran
ada conservatives. concerning whose atti-
tude as q body there was some doubt.
declared themselves today IN favor or
Zelaya This means almost half OF the
battle won, for Massaya VIII undoubted-
~ follow the lead Of Granada. The latter
city has more important commercial IN
terests than any other city OF Nicaragua
Resides. it 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 co1nmuniea-
ton with the Atlantic ocean is main
tanned via San Juan del Sur, better
known as GreytoHn, near the eastern en-
trance &c the
PROPOSED NIARATIAIE CANAL
of Nicaragua, in which citizens of the
United States are interested. Thus with
Granada and other smaller cities support
ing 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 in the majority by
long odds, Is not lukewarm support They
autographed to the president today oher-
ing him the sum of S1.o0O,OOO with which
TO equip the troops beng 1H hu rgn5tay
against the Leonists and their
clerical supporters, The offer was
promptly accepted. In addition the
government car 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 president. and It's
advance guard will shortly leave era
NADIA for this city, where
EVERY PREPARATION POSSIBLE
for defense has been made. The mill
taIv authorities here are working
night end day and the populace is
wild with war-ike enthusiasm. The
military band, which on certain nights
in the week plays in front Of the presi-
dents palace, now plays there nightly,
and all the patriotic airs are loudly
applauded by the crowds which gather
about the executive mansion. Last
night the president was compelled to
\
to the demands Of his admiring sup
porters.
Three thousand men and twenty
rieces of artillery are already mus
tered here. but the men Ere armed
with Remington rifles, the supply OF
cartridges IS limited and the ammuni-
zion is bad. Out of ten cartridges
tried by an official 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 ar
senaI are believed to be OF much better
quality Incidentally, it may be added,
4he soldiers Of Nicaragua go bare
footed. are dressed in Jean jumpers
and pants and straw hat; rife, bayo-
ret and cartridge belt completes their
e1uipment. Consequently the expense
Of putting a few thousand men In the
field is not great. so long as the gov
eminent can obtain arms. The cost OF
FEEDING A NICARAGUAN
IS also very light. 4 few beans and
MAINTAIN make a good meal for sol
diers in this country, and they will
undertake long marches without shoes,
on this diet, and fight fairly well into
the bargain. The presidents army
viii not wait here TO be attacked. So
soon as all the arrangements are made
the government force will advance
upon Leon and try to capture that city
before the Leonists receive the rein
forcements they expect from Gilman
dega and other places north. This
step is especially advisable, as it is
well known the Leonists are expecting
men and arms from the clerical party
Of Honduras. In short, it looks very
much like q struggle between clerical
ism and liberalism. which may involve
other Central American republics be-
Eides Nicaragua From present tndi-
cations President Zelaya will lead his
army in person against the rebels.
This is the determination he has ar
rived at; but his intimate advisers
hold that 1t would be risking too much
TO leave the capital at such a crisis.
The president cOmbats this idea and
claims he can confide the capital to the
care of the loyal inhabitants, and that
his place is at the head Of the army.
The leaders OF the Leonfsts OF course
are the leaders Of the clerical party, but
the
HEAD OF THE MOVEMENT
is General Ortiz, an ex-presldent and a
staufch clerical He has been an active
politician for a lifetime and has been
more or less prominently concerned in all
the national movements of recent years.
About this time last year, for Instance.
the government Of Honduras obtained
possession of documents showing that a
plot existed 20 replace Carlos Ezeta. IN
power in Salvador and Ortiz in Near
aqua There was to be simultaneous
movement Of clericals in the three re-
publics, it being judged that such step
would prevent the three governments
from helping each other.
General Ortiz was then a fugitive in
Guatemala. but when the matter was
investigated by the Nioaraguan govern
rnent the facts stated were found 10 be
correct and quantity or arms and am
nunition intended for the congpirators
C1rinto
There Is also q rumor that Costa Rica
may take advantage Of the rebellion to
settle some Of
THE OLD QUARRELS
which have existed for years between
hat republic and Nicaragua, regarding
principally, the route of the Nicaragua
canal,
In any case the situation is a most cri-
eLcaI one, not only for Nicaragua but for
all the Central American republics, and
the presence Of United States warshipg on
the coasts would do great deal of good
and could certainly do NO harm.
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