The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-02
PLAN OF COLOMBIA TO SEIZE COIN
ISLAND FRUSTRATED BY MIC
ARAGUA.
OF THE INVASION.
PRESIDENT ZELAYA TOOK PRONpr
STEPS TO PREVENT THE PLANS
EXECUTION.
MAY HAVE OCCURRED.
In Case Colombia Was on the
Ground Before the Troops From
Nicaragua Arrived

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Jan. with
little beating of drums or blowing of
! trumpets, warlike move upon the part
of the Republic Of Colombia is now be-
| lieved to have been checkmated by the
| Republic of Nicaragua, although fur
| ther news from the objective point.
Corn island, is anxiously expected here,
About month ago the government
OF Nicaragua was informed unofficiaIIy
that Colombia had planned to make a
Ianolng on Corn island, a valuable
strategic point, situated about thirty
six miles off the Mosquito coast. belong
ing to Nicaragua, whose flag was to Le
hauled down and the ensign Of Colom-
oia substituted for it. 1t was alleged
that Nicaragua was overtaxing Corn
island, and thset the inhabitants. num-
Derlng few hundred had appealed to
Colombia for redress, on the ground
that the territory, some five miles long,
which formerly belonged to Colombia,
was unlawfully held by Nicaragua It
was further stated that the prefect Of
San Andrez, Colombia, had assembled
a military force and was only waiting
for the arrival of Colombian gunboat
in order to embark the troops, proceed
to Corn island, seize 1T and fortify it
! against the possibility Of recapture
1
is no reason to doubt, but President
Zelaya, Of Nicaragua, took prompt
steps to meet this move upon the part
OF the neighboring republic Very quiet
| iy detachments Of Nicaraguan troops
were assembled here and at Granada,
ana When all was ready they were sent
In small parties across Lake Nicaragua
and down the San Juan river to Grew
town ana Bluefields. By this time the
sololers or Nicaragua are believed to
be in possession of Big and Little Corn
Island, for there are two Of them. and
the work of erecting a strong fort
should be progressing.
The troops took all their best g11ns
available and supply of ammunition
and other supplies. Storehouses are
also to be constructed at Corn island.
OF course, if the Colombian expedition
started earlier than expected and
reached Corn island before the Nicara-
guam troops, fighting may have oc-
CURED before this, and If so, the matter
may lead to a general upheaval in Cen
tral America, for Colombia was warn
| ed, automatically and through tha
press early last month, that her seizure
| OF Corn island might lead to g. war
like combination of the republics of
salvador and Honduras, in support Of
| Nicaragua against her Colombia was
also advised if she still maintained she
had rights over Corn island, to submit
! them to the arbitration Of a disinter-
ested republic. To these threats and
| suggestions, apparently no attention
was paid, for it was announced that
| the Colombian gunboat was being fitted
UP for the transportation of Colombian
| troops to Corn island. It is hoped here
! that the Nicaraguan force reached
! there In advance Of the Colombian de-
| tachment.
! beginning on the maritime canal of
! Nicaragua, it was reported that Great
! Britain was contemplating laying
hands on Corn island, which, situated
! at a convenient distance from the At
| lantic entrance Of the canal. would
have been quickly converted into an
| other of the chain of British forts off
| the American coast and would have
/ enabled her to be practically command
| er Of the eastern entrance Of the water
| way which is in time to join the At
| lantic to the Pacific Thereupon Mica
ragua, acting upon suggestions, pos
| sibly from the United States, took Off
! cial possession Of both Big and Little
| Corn islands, hoisting the Nicaraguan
| flag over them with much ceremony,
and giving diplomatic notice Of the
same
The British claim to Corn island is
understood to be based on her former
| pretenSions, since given up, to a pro-
tectorate over the Mosquito territory,
and because Colombia, which original
ly owned Corn island, -ceded the is
| Land to King George, then the govern
ing chieftain under British auspices Of
the Mosquito reservation. Colombia,
| however, insists that Corn island was
only ceded to King George on the con-
! GitiOn that 1t was to be returned when
ever required. Nicaragua as present
| owner OF what was the Mosquito res
| ervatiOn, now part of the republic of
! Nicaragua, disputesthe point and espe-
cially as the time for raising it off,
cially has long since passed, and holds
that Corn island was part of the Mos
| quito territory and as such, is now a
| portion Of Nicaraguan territory.
1t will thus be seen that the dispute
Is a pretty one as it stands, and that
/ much may depend upon which coun-
/ try's troops first land on Corn island
and place it in a state Of defence. The
hopes that the blue and white flag OF
Nicaragua is now floating over Corn
island otherwise this news would not
have been allowed to leak out.
Corn island is considered to be the
healthiest spot about the coast of Cen
| trail America. The inhabitants are
mainly Indians and smugglers also a
few American and English merchants
! doing business there. Both Big and Lit
! tie Corn islands afford good anchorage
to the largest vessels close to the shore,
and, in short, a better spot for a
coaling station and repair shop for the
/ United States war vessels could hard
| ly be found. Under the circumstances,
| when the Nicaraguan canal is built it
would be good policy for the United
States to obtain possession Of the Corn
islands by purchase or otherwise and
/ have a fine sentry box almost at the
| Atlantic entrance cf the proposed new
waterway, thus settling all disputes as
to their ownership. The garrison" Of
| Corn island lately has been a so-called
governor and three policemen