Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-15
sALvADoRiAn ARMY BUSY
Guatemalan Forces Repealed in
Salvador.
THREE STATES NOW IN TURMOIL
Nicaragua Most Likely to Take Part
in Contest-Trouble Brewing
for Long Time.

received here from San Salvador
says that Honduras declared war
against Guatemala today.
According to this same message
the following proclamation has
been circulated in Salvador:
General Bonilla, commanding
the Salvadorian army, has repealed
the Guatenaalan forces at Meta
pam. in Salvador, ten miles east of
the Guatemalan frontier. The vic
torious army of Salvador retained
the positions captured from the
enemy.
The declaration of war by Honduras
upon Guatemala brings third state active
ly into the Central American trouble. which
has been progressing with more or less Sc
we're fighting and bloodshed for month or
more. Honduras and Salvador are now ar
rayed against their neighbor on the west
Nicaragua and Costa Rica are the only
two countries still passive. and it has been
said that the former is about to take part
in the fighting.
Up to today Honduras las seemingly
taken no part In the difficulty between her
neighbors. Recent reports. however, de-
clared her territory had been invaded by
Guatemalan troops in pursuit OF fugitives
from the army of Gen. Regalado, the Sal
vadorian commander, who was killed in
the fighting at Jicaro.
The present trouble in Central America
has been brewing for long time. Fer
the past five years the revolutionists in
that country have been planning. intriguing
and preparing for the overthrow of Presi-
dent Cabrera, and in their efforts to this
end they have not failed to appeal for sup
port to certain elements in Honduras and
Salvador, working on the national jealousieS
for first place among the several states
forming Central America.
President Cabrera has been harshly criti-
cised by his enemies. They declare he
rules with extreme despotism. and that no
mans life is safe under his administration.
and that the country morally end rvonom-
icaily is going to the dogs under his unwise
and ill-advised course.
On the other hand President Cabi era has
declared this revolution movement to be
inconsequential and that the government
would promptly put 1T down.
President Cabrera term of office in fact,
expired in 1905 He has insisted however.
on holding Office.
State Department Uninformed
The State Department has no information
concerning the declaration of war by Hon
duras against Guatemala, but no surprise
is manifested. as the frontier of Honduras
is in the disturbed district That no ad-
vices have been received on the subject Is
not surprising as the United States repre-
sentative to the country also represents
Guatemala and lives in the latter country.
While the United States has consular Off
GERS in Honduras, they may not find 1t easy
to communicate with the American minister
in Guatemala or with the State Depart
ment The diplomatic representative of the
United States to San Salvador resides in
Costa Rica and might not receive early re-
ports from that country.
Cabreras army Is said to have no faith
in him. The pay of the soldiers has often
been in arrears. The fighting men OF the
states of Central America are little more
than automata to be led into battle to
shoot, to charge and to be killed at the
command of their officers The army of
Guatemala is in fairly good shape There
are some 1000 professional soldiers In the
republic. with 5000 able-bodied men of
600 men. 1t was reported recently that
Guatemala had $1,000 men under arms near
the Salvador boundary line.
The reyoIutionists are said to have plenty
of fighting men. arms and ammunition. and
they doubtless have invaded the frontier
of Honduras. Salvador and Mexico during
the fighting against Cabrera. They are
headed by Gen. NJ. l.. Barrillas, former
president of the country, who has the as
sistance OF Gems. Catillo, Pined and Toledo.
Guatemala is a little larger than the state
of Ohio It's population is GO per cent per
100, the remainder chiefly half caste and
small proportion of pure European descent.
Cause of the Trouble.
The trouble between Salvador and Guate-
mala Is an outcome OF the progress of the
revoiutionists in their efforts to GUST Ca
brera. They have invaded Salvadorean ter
ritory and. Guatemala claims. have re-
ceived support from that government.
While no actual declaration of war has
been made between these two countries, a
state Of war practically exists. All Guate-
malean citizens between eighteen and fifty
years old have been called upon To join the
ranks and martial law has been declared.
The statement has been made that Saliva
dorean regulars are fighting with the Qua
temalan revolutionists. but President Esca-
Ion of Salvador has declared that his gov
ernmen. was observing strict neutrality
and had nothing to do with the revolution
In Guatemala.
The revolutionists appear SO far to have
had the best OF It, They have captured
and held several towns. and as the move
ment progresses and succeeds their ranks
are constantly being strengthened.
sisting OF 300 men and the militia OF
1900. In case of war military service is
compulsory from eighteen to fifty years of
age.
The area of the republic is estimated at
about 5000 square miles. and the total pop
ulation at 1.0O6,S4S people. Aboriginal and
mixed races constitute the bulk of the pop
ulation.
Action Of Honduras Surprising.
The participation of Honduras in this
trouble comes as a surprise. There has
been very little to intimate that this coun-
try would get into the fray. recent dis
patch from Manuel Boniiiav president of
Honduras. to the Honduras consul general
at New Orleans said that the number of
Honduras troops on the Guatemalan from
tier had been doubled for the purpose Of
the peace
The army OF Honduras consists of 500
men, with 10000 militia This republic
has an area of about 10000 square miles.
md a total population of something under
100000.
Efforts Of State Department.
The State Department has been trying
to prevent an actual clash between Qua
tema1a and Salvador, and instructions
have been sent to Minister Merry at san
and to Minister Combs at Gun
temala City, to nse their good ofacss With
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