Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-09
PUERTO CORTEZ HAS FALLEN
Steamer at Mobile Brings News Of Latest
Engagement in Honduras
REPORT OF MOVEMENT At WASHINGTON
Omctal Advicea Indicate that Fort
Was Taken by NicaraEuan
Army, which Marched
from TrujIIIO.

MOBILE Ala. April 8-Puerto Cortez
one Of the principal ports Of Honduras, is
now in the hands OF the Nicaragua ac-
cording to advices received here today Tho
NicaraEuan army and navy are active and
are reported to be moving on Ceiba, the
other port OF Honduras
This information was contained in a tele-
phone message received this morning by
the Tacker Steamship company from New
Orleans, stating that a cablegram had just
been received from Puerto Barrios to that
effect.
The Honduran railroad and the cable
have been. It is understood here, in control
Of the Nicaraguan army since the capture
Of Tegcuialpa. the capital, and news from
the seat OF hostilities for the last two
weeks has been obtained by mailboat or via
cable from Puerto Barrios Guatemala, All
cable messages are carried from CorteE
by boat 20 Puerto Barrios and this re-
quires about seven hours by smslboat
Advices received here say that Ceiba,
Honduras, is also in the hands Of the
Nicara guans.
Report at Washington.
WASHINGTON, April S-While official
confirmation Of the capture OF Puerto Cor
tex, Honduras, by Ncaraguan troops has
not reached the State department cable
gram was received today from Frederick
NJ. Ryder, consul at San Juan Del Norte
Nicaragua, saying that sdvices had been
received there that troops were advancing
toward the Honduran coast from Trujillo.
The cablegram failed to say whether the
troops were marching toward Puerto Cor
tex but is understood here that the dis
patch had reference to the Nicaraguan
army and that It was advancing from
Trujillo, which already was in the hands
of the Nicarsguans, to Puerto Cortez
This makes 1t probable that the capture OF
Puerto Cortez was by the Nloaraguan
army, especially American gunboats on
the coast Of Honduras would likely prevent
a bombardment of the town by the Nicara-
guam navy.
Ambassador Creel and Minister Corea
Of Nicaragua had brief conference today
with Assistant Secretary Bacon at the
State department concerning the Central
American situation.
CeIba Reported Taken.
Advices received today from Commander
Fullam Of the United States gmbost
Marietta, via steamer Columbia, just ar
rived, say that Ceiba was taken on the
evening Of April by the Eicaraguans.
Not a shot was fred The Nicaraguan
forces then left for Puerto Cortez on board
the gunboat Ometaphe, and a small gun
boat They we're preceded by the Marietta
to protect American interests
II had been agreed between Commander
Estrada Of the Nicaraguan forces and
Commander Fulam of the Marietta that
Puerto Cortez should not be bombarded.
Gable advces received here say that Puerto
] ~
guans, and It is believed that the Hondur-
ans at Puerto Cortez surrendered. although
1t was said by passengers aboard the Co
lumbia from Ceiba that General Ordenaz
had refused to surrender and would fight to
! the last ditch
| In a message 10 the master Of the Co.
/ lumbia Commander Fulllam OF the
Marietta says that the Nicaraguan forces
had promised not to lombard Puerto Cortez
and that he believed there would be no re-
slstance. He said that the Nlcaraguans
claimed that a new regime would be estab-
lshed on the Honduran coast Immediately
and that both sides to the controversy
understood It is for their interest to let
| foreigners alone.
! After the conference II was stated that its
purpose was to ascertain from Senior Corsa
whether his government was prepared T.
entertain a proposition looking to the ter
mination OF hostilites. The proposition
itself has not yet been formulated.
State department advices by cable re-
ceived over night are to the effect that
/ the Nlcaraguan force which landed al
! Trujnlo, on the north coast OF Honduras
was marching westward, intending to oe.
cupy Puerto Cortez, on the eastern boun.
dairy OF the country whose capture already
has been reported.
CeIbn Is Abandoned.
NEW ORLEANS April s.-That Puerto
Cortez was surrendered without fghtius
and that about 1900 Honduran soldier,
abandoned the port two days before tn,
! Nicaraguan troops appeared was the in
formation brought here tonight by tn,
steamer Anselm.
The Hondurans did not desert their pos
through cowardice according to these dis
patches, but decided the war was over
/ They returned to the banana plantations
where most OF them had been employed al
laborers before the war broke out
United States marines closed all saloons
in Celba after the abandonment OF the Dor
by the Houdurans.
The following proclamation was issue,
Commander Fullsm OF the Marietta an,
Virgil c. Reynolds. United States consul:
To the people Of Celba-Thc generals O
civil authorities will assume charge OF m
city government All liquor saloons will b.
Immediately closed and will remain 20