The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-28
Catholics in Revolt Against the
Liberal Government.
CHANCES DO NOT FAVOR THEM.
The Country Is Rallying 10 the Sup
port of President Zelays.
He Is Gathering Troops at Nanssua
and VIII Not Wait 70 Be Attacked.
but VIII Move on Leon, the Cath
oiic Heaiquarters-zelaya TO Take
the Field Himself.

Copyrighted by the Associated Press.
ManageIa. Nicaragua. Feb 21.--The revo-
lution is now in fgli blast. ana all the
cities of Nicaragua on shls side OF the
country are in arms and preparing 20 sup
port either President Zeiaya or coasrth-
ate men fer the march of his enemies upon
the capital ManagRa. Fugitives who have
reached this city from Leon. the old cap
ital Of Nicaragua. the headquarters OF the
rebels, which is opposed to the Liberal or
Zeiaya party. on general principles. and as
a result OF differences Of long standing,
the chief of which IS the transfer OF the
capital from Leon TO ManaguA. say that
Leon Is IN arms to a man. and rapidly
organizing an army with which 10 adj
vance upon Aanagua. They have the ad-
vantage Of possession of more modern
arms and artillery. but the adhsrents Of
the president are not discouraged. espe-
cially as the Granada Conservatives. con-
cernlHg whose attitude as a body there
was some doubt. declared themselves to-
day in favor of Zeiaya.
This means almost half OF the battle
won, Tor Masdya will undoubtedly follow
the lead of Granada. The latter city has
more Important commercial interests than
any other city of Nicaragua Beside. it
is the western port OF Lake Nicaragua and
cross the lake 10 Fort san Carlos. at the
mouth OF the San Juan river by which
waterway communication with the At
lantie ocean is maintained via san Juan
del sur. better known as Greytown. near
the Eastern entrance 10 the proposed mari
time canal OF Nicaragua, in which citi-
zens OF the United States are interested
Thus. with Granada and other smaller
cities supporting him, President ZeIaya
hopes 10 crush the rebellion in due time
The loss of Granada would not likely have
turned the tide against the president
Then again, the support of the conserVa-
tives of Granada, who are in the major
ity by long odds, is not lukewarrn support
They teiegraphed TO the president today,
Offering him the sum of 81 900. .o0o to equip
the troops being hurriedly enrolled to de-
fend the country against the Leonists and
their clerical supporters. The offer was
promptly accepted. In addition the gov
ernment cannot only withdraw all the
regular troops from Granada. but in addi~
tion strong corps 90 volunteers is being
raised there to support the president, and
its advance guard viii shortly leave Gra-
nada for this city. where every prepara-
tion possible for defense has been made
The military authorities here are work
ing night and day. and the populace Is wild
with wariike enthusiasm The military
band, sshish on carsain nights In the week.
now plays there nightly, and all the pa
triot.c 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 bis admiring
supporters. Three thousand men and twen-
~ pieces Of artillery are already mustered
here, bat the men are armed with Reming-
ton rifles. the supply of cartridges is linn
tied and the ammunition is bad Out of
ten cartridges tried by an official this
morning. only four exploded. This is the
ammunition which has been handled about
the different guardhouses and the boxes
OF cartridges from the arsenal are believed
to be Of much letter quality inc.4eatal-
ly. II may be added. the soldiers OF Nicara-
qua go barefooted. are dressed in jeans
jumpers and trousers. and a straw
hat. rifle. bayonet and cartridge belt
complete their equipment. Conse-
quently, the expense of putting few
thousand men in the field is not great. SO
long as the government can obtain arms.
The cost of feeding a Nicaraguan is also
very light few beans and a plantain
make a good meal for soldiers Ia this coun-
try. and they will undertake long marches
without shoes on this diet. and fight fairly
well into the bargain.
The presidents army win not wait here
TO be attacked. AS soon as all the arrange
ments are made. the government force
viii advance upon Leon. and try 10 capture
that city before the Leonists receive the
reinforcements they expect from Gilman
dega and other places north. This step
Is especially advisable. as II Is well known
she Beonists are expecting men and arms
from the clerical party Of Honduras.
In short, II looks very much like strug-
gle between Clericalism and Liberalism,
which may involve other Central American
From present Indications President Ze-
laya Will lead his army In person against
the rebels. This is the determination he's
has arrived AT. bat his intimate advisers
hold that ii would be-risking too much 70
leave the capitol at such a crisis. The pres
ident combats this idea. claims he can con-
hde the capitol To the care OF the loyal
inhabitants. and that his place is at ths
head OF the army.
The leaders Of the I.e9nisls Of course.
are she leaders of the Clerical party. hut
the military leader is Gen. ortiz, en- ex-
president and stapnch Clerical. He has
been a. active politician Tor a lifetime. and
has been more or less prominently con-
cerned in all the national movements oS
recent years. About this time last year.
for instance. the government Of Honduras
obtained possession % eoclmen-s show
ing that a plot existed to replace Carlos
Ezeta fn power in s-alYa1or and DFits in
Nicaragua. There x8s 10 ~ a si1Iu'fa-
neous movement Of Clericals 81 the thTes
republics. it being judged th7t such step
would prevent the three governments from
helping each other. Gen. Ortiz was then
Fugitive IN Guatemala, hW wnen the mat
ter was investigated by ths Njcar3guan
government the facts stated wera found
70 be correct. and quantity ~ arms ard
ammunition intended for The con~p}r7tOrs
were found concealed IN warehouses in
Corinto
There is also 4 rinpoT that Costa Blca
may take a5va ntaEe ~ the rebellion 20
settle ore OF the old auarrels which have
existed for years between thai republic
and Nicaragua. regarding principally the
route of the Nicaragua canal, ard the
rights of Costa Rlca under the Conces-
=Sons granted 20 the American company.
IN any case tAe situation Is = most crfti-
cal one. not ouly for Nicsragua. bn for
ali the Central American republics, and
the presence II United States waFsnips on
ths coasts would % eseat deal O. good
and could airsly DO no harm.
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.