The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-07
NICARAGUA AND COLOMBIA
BOTH CLAIM DOMINION
OVER CORN ISLAND.
A COLOMBIAN MOVE ANTICIPATED
Nicaragua Secretly Fitted Out an Armed
Expedition Which is Now Thought to
Have Possession OF the Dis
puted Land.

With little beating of drums or blowing
Of trumpets, warlike move upon the
part Of the republic of Colombia is now
| believed to have been checked by the re-
public of Nicaragua, although further
news from the objective point, Corn is
land, is anxiously expected here.
| About month ago the government of
Nicaragua was informed unollicialy that
Colombia had planned to make landing
on Corn island, n valuable strategic spot,
situated about thirty-six miles off Mes
quite coast, belonging to Nicaragua,
whose flag was to be hauled down and
| the ensign of Colombia substituted for it.
| 1t was alleged that Nicaragua was over
taxing Corn island and that the inhabi-
tants, numbering few hundred, had APP
| pcalcd to Colombia for redress on the
ground that territory some five miles
long, which formerly belonged to Colom-
bia, was unlawfully held by Nicaragua.
| 1t was further stated that the project of
San Andrea, Colombia, had assembled a
military force and was only waiting for
the arrival of a Colombian gunboat in
order to embark the troops, proceed to
Corn island, seize it and fortify it against
the possibility of recapturc. That such
| Il plan was discussed there is no reason
to doubt, but President Xeaya of Mica
ragua took prompt steps to meet this
move upon the part of the nelghboring
republic. Very quietly detachments of
| Nicaraguan troops were assembled mere
and at Granada and when all was ready
| they were sent in small parties across
Lake Nicaragua and down the San Juan
river to Greytown and Blueficlds by
| this time the soldiers of Nicaragua are
| believed to be in possession of Big ana
| Little Corn islands, for there are two OF
| them and the work of erecting a strong
fort should be progressing. The troops
| took all their best guns available and Il
supply of ammunition and other supplies.
Storchouscs are also to be constructed ut
Corn island.
OF course if the Colombian expedition
started earlier than expected and reached
Corn island before the Nicaraguan troops
| fighting may have occurred before this,
and If so, the matter may lead to Il gen
eral upheaval in Central America, for
| Colombia was warned automatically and
| through the press early last month that
| her seizure of Corn island might lead to
n warlkc combination of the republics
of Salvador and Honduras in support of
Nicaragua against her. Columbia was
also advised if she still maintained she
| had rights over Corn island to submit
them to the arbitration of disintercsted
| republic. To these threats and sugges-
| tiOns apparently no attention was PAID,
| for il was announced that the Colombian
gunboat was being fitted up for the trans
portaton of Colombian troops to Corn is
land. 1t is hoped here that the Mica
| raguan force reached there in advance
| of the Colombian detachment. Some
years ago at the time work was begin
ming on the maritime canal in Nicaragua,
| it was reported that Great Britain was
contemplating laying hands on Corn is
| land, which, situated at a convenient dis
lance from the Atlantic entrance of the
canal, would have been quickly converted
| into another chain of British forts off the
American coast and would have enabled
| her to be practically in command of the
eastern entrance of the waterway, when
| is in time to join the Atlantic to the Ia
ciiic. Thercupon Nicaragua, acting on
| suggestions. possibly from the United
States took forciblc possession of both
| Big and Little Corn islands, hosting the
Nicaraguan flag over them with much
| ceremony
The British claim to Corn island is I'M
| lcrstood to be based on her former pre-
| tensions, since given up to protectorate
over the Mosquito territory, and British
| Colombia, which originally owned Corn
lSlanu, ccueu inc iSlaIus 10 Nlns w, :.
then the. governing ehieiluih ullucr DRY
| ish auspices OF the Mosquito Reservation.
Colombia, however; insists 'nat ooril
island was only ccdcu 10 MIX "eoIsc VI,
the condition that IL Woulu pe rc'urlleu
whenever required. Nicaragua us pres
ent owner OF what was thc Aiosumllo iTs,
CREATION ana now part OF the hepupnS
OF Nicaragua, disputes TINS polht, "i,u
especially ms the time Tor raising IL OH
cially has long, since passed ana hoius
that Corn island was part OF the MOSQUITO
territory, and ms such Is now portion OF
Nicaraguan territory, IT VIII mus u,
seen that the dispute is pretty one rs
it stands and much may depend upon
which country's troops hrst lana at Corn
island and place 1t in a state OF delense
The Nicaraguan government mas strong
hopes that the blue and whlte nag Oh
Nicaragua is now floating over Corn IS
land, otherwise tins news would not ha''
been allowed to leak out
Corn island. up 10 the present mas peer
little more than the headquarters oi
numerous bands of smugglcrs ana II ilaS
hitherto been found difficult, II not I'm
possible, TO keep garrison therc' II,
soldiers, having nothing 10 90 nut iaHl,s
mount guard now and again while nask
Ing in the warm sunshine III a delightful
the smugglers and eventually deserted II