Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-23
WAR SHIP GOES TO NICARAGUA
Government Persists In Intercepting
Messages Directed to United
States Officers.

NEW YORK, Feb. pa special from
Washington says: Nicaragua has again Of
Tended the United States and is to be called
to account for it's impolite action. Ap-
parently at the instance of the Nicaraguan
government such a strict censorship has
been applied to all cable and telegraph
lines controlled by President Zelaya that 1t
has been absolutely impossible for either the
State or Navy departments to communicate
with their agents. Protests made to Senior
Corea the Nicaraguan minister here, are OF
no avail Protests to the cable companies
have produced no result. The administra-
tion has finally determined to take the
matter in it's own hands and has ordered a
naval investigation preparatory to such ac-
tion as may seem proper.
The cruiser Detroit will make the investi-
CATION. It's commanding officer, Commander
]. H. Dayton, has been ordered to proceed
with his vessel from New Orleans to Blue
fields, Nicaragua, where he will consult with
Commander F. NJ. Symonds, commanding the
Marietta now there, and deliver to him the
instructions the Navy department has been
vainly trying to send by cable. The Detroit
will then proceed to Greytown, where Com
mander Dayton will make an investigation
into Nicaragua's peculiar action. He will
be assisted in his inquiry by Commander
Symonds, who will remain at Bluehelds, the
center Of the revolution, TO provide protec-
tion for American citizens and interests.
What Is especially peculiar in connection
with Nicaraguas refusal to permit messages
to or from the American agents within its
boundaries is that 1t allows cable communi-
cation between the British war ship and
British agents In Nicaragua and British Of
ficers outside that country. In some circles
there is a belief that the Ncaraguan gov
ernment is endeavoring to curry favor with
Great Britain, just for what reason, how
ever, is not apparent in view of the willing-
ness of the London government to abrogate
the Clayton Bulwer treaty, so as to give
the United States free hand in the con-
struction of the Nicaraguan canal. 1t is
said there is absolutely no excuse for the
refusal to receive the messages as Grey
town Is in the possession of President
Zelaya's government and operations of the
insurgents are confined to Bluefelds and its
vicinity. Moreover the American man-of-
war at Blueields is there simply to provide
protection for American interests and it is
said that President Zelaya ought fully to
understand so. II may be, however, that he
does not desire the true condition OF af-
fairs in eastern Nicaragua TO become known
and this may be the reason for the censor
ship. Should the abuse continue the au.
thorities may go so far as to direct the
Detroit to take temporary possession of the
cable station at Greytown in order to get a
message through,
WASHINGToN, Feb. 22.-Being unable to
get into telegraphic communication with the
commanding officer of the gunboat Marietta
the Navy department has instructed the
commander OF the cruiser Detroit at New
Orleans to proceed at once to Bluehelds to
learn the situation there. The department
thinks either the government of Nicaragua
or the insurgents are exercising an embargo
on messages TO the United States.