Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1900-03-16
GUNS FOR GUATEMALA
BIG SHIPMENT OF REMINGTON RI
FILES.
The Republic Straining Itself to Prepare
For an Impending Revoiution---other
Interesting Central American News for
Our Readers.

New Orleans The steamship s.
Oteri, which sailed Thursday evening
for Port Bsrrios and other Central
American points carried among its
freight fifty five cases of Remington
rifles. The consignee of these arms
was not stated in the manifest, md
as the steamer was bound for ports
in three different republics. their des-
tination was something Of puzzle.
The presence of the cases on the wharf
excited good deal of comment and
conjecture, which would have been
materially heightened had it been
known that number of innocent look
ing crates and boxes, marked "mer-
chandise" and presently loaded on the
ship, were really full of Manser cart
ridges
AS matter Of fact, all these NUM-
lions were being forwarded to the
Gustemalan government and behind
the shipment turks an interesting story.
For some time . formidable revolu-
tlonary movement against the Guate-
malan government has been Matching
in Salvador, led and inspired by Gen.
Toledo, formerly minister of war under
President Cabrera. Toledo is an able
professional soldier, and was one of the
men who put Cabrera in power after
the assassination of President Barriaos
some years ago. He was rewarded by
portfolio, and was stanch sup
porteriof thu. government until enemies
near the president began to plot
against him and succeeded In under
mining his influence. Last fall q
grand ball was given In honor of
Cabrera's birthday. Toledo was pres
ent in full uniform, but in the course
of the evening he received slip"
that he would be arrested at day
break on charge of treason, and
quietly slipped away he mounted his
horse and succeeded in crossing the
Salvador fontier. He then became an
active revolutionist, and, as will be
rememb ered by those who have follow
ed Central American affairs, headed a
small army which invaded Guatemala
from the west and captured several
towns He was eventually routed, but
made his escape, and has since been
busily engaged in organizing second
expedition.
1t is that movement which now
threatens the republic, and President
Cabrera taking the alarm, has been
straining every nerve to; reorganize and
re-equip the army. Not long ago his
agent placed an order in this city for
$4,000 new model Remington rifles,
using the Mauser 7-millimetre cart
ridge. This is one of the most formid-
able arms in the world, and has an
effective range of more than two miles
An immense quantity of cartridges
were also contracted for, altogether tri-
pods. The Colt guns were to be of the
same calbire as the rifles, SO that the
whole equipment could use inter
changeable ammunition.
Owing to scarcity of funds In the
national exchequer, the Guatemala rep
resentative was obliged to arrange for
delivery of the rifles in 1000 lots,
each to be accompanied by a suitable
number of cartridges. 1t was one Of
those consignment that left ThursdaG
by the Oteri. Two lots, making 1O5
cases altogether, were sent about
month ago on one of the steamers of
the banana feet. None of the Colt au-
tomatoes have as yet been forwarded,
but the factory at Hartford, Conn,
where they are made is badly crowded
with orders, and there have probably
been none on hand to send.
The cost Of the new arms and ammu-
milton will run close in the neighbor-
hood of $40. 900, and to meet this ex-
pense the Guatemalan government is at
present straining every financial re-
source. 1t has been in bad way for
money for some time past and has
lately been paying all its employees in
deprecated paper currency SO as to
save her coin for the guns Nobody
seems to know where Toledo is getting
his military equipment, but he is said
to have plenty of cash behind him.
There never seems to be any special
cHit ulty In financing Central Amer.
lean evolution that stands ghost of a
show OF vinning OUT The prospect
of having the rsn of the national.treas-