The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-02-21
HONDURASDEFEATED
War In Central America Opens
Near Managua.
NICARAGUA DEFENDS ITS FRONTIER

United States and Mexico vsinly En-
dsavored 10 Prevent . Rapture
BY Calling ON Republics 20
Arbitrats.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Feb. 20. :
The troops Of General Bonilla, presi-
dent Of Honduras, at 8 o'clock on Mon
day afternoon attacked the forces Of
General Zelaya. president OF Nicara-
qua, which were guarding the Nicara-
guam frontier. After many hours
fighting the army Of Honduras was
defeated.
The trouble between Honduras and
Nicaragua arose when q number Of
Hondursn indictments organized them
selves into q rebel band In the interior
Of Honduras and after obtaining arms
marched toward the frontier Of NJ
caragua. The government Of Hon.
duras. when informed Of the move
msnt. sent body Of troops In pursuit
Of the revolutionists. When the latter
became aware that the troops Of Hon
duras were moving in their direction
they crossed the frontier and sought
refuge In Nicaragusn territory. some
OF them even reaching this city, the
capital OF Nicaragua.
The government Of the latter rspub-
lie then sent q small body OF Nicara-
guam troops to patrol the Honduran
frontier with the object OF preventing
any further incursions Of revolution
lists. This body OF troops was unex-
psctsdly attacked In Nicarsguan terri
tory By q fierce Of Hondursn soldiers.
The Eicara gusns were worstsd. many
Of the latter were killed and Il was a.
legged that the Hsnduraus shot some Of
the Nicarasuan soldiers who surren-
dered.
The forces Of Honduras then sdvsnc.
ed further into Nicaraguan territory,
burned and destroyed property and
committed robberiss. President Zslaya
OF Nicaragua protested energetically
against tho conduct OF the Honduran
troops and demanded an indemnity
from Honduras. President Bonilla Of
Honduras replied by Offering TO sub
init the matter 10 arbitration. This
proposal was accepted by Zelaya. who
sent a representative 10 Salvador.
where a court OF arbitration met TO
hear both sides OF the case and agreed
at the outset that the armies Of Hon
duras and Nicaragua on the frontiers
OF those two republic. should be dis.
banded.
But they did not accept tho finding
Of the court. aud diplomatic relations
between Nicaragua aud Honduras were
broken on. In any case they charged
each other with having no intention
with abiding by the courts decision
and continued 10 mobilize their forces.
and interior disturbances broke out In
Hondurtl In this connection the Hon.
duran government claimed that Mica.
ragua was aiding the revolutionists IN
Honduras. and the situation became
more serious.
President Zelaya. however. sent q
dispatch 10 the NIcsrasuan consul At
New YORK denying tho allegation. A.
follows:
THE report that Nicaragua Il aiding |
the Honduran revclutionist- Il untrue |
This government has the exlles from |
Honduras concentrated at the capital |
Nicaragua IL on good terms with the
government Of Honduras"
II was announced from Panama that |
the generally accepted view was that
President Zelsya. believing he held the |
balance % power IN Central America.
wanted 10 put the natter 90 test.
In the meantime the governments Of
the United states. Mexico. Guatemala. |
Costa Rica and Salvador brought pres
SURE 90 bear upon Honduras and Mica.
mgua Ia the hope Of keeping them
from going 10 war. and II was NJ first |
considered likely that the efforts Of
the peacemsker- would prove success
full.
At conference az the state depart. !
ment at Washington between secre
tsry Of State Root. Assistant secre.
tsry Bacon and senor Creel. the new |
Mexican ambassador. n was decided |
that identical notes should be sent by |
the United States and MEXICO 10 the
two prospective belligerents urging |
them 20 refrain from actual hosiiiitiss
and suggesting that they renew the re-
Gently dissolved arbitration tribunal In \
Salvador and outlining rule. for the
proposed arbitration. Similar comm
nications were sent 90 the govern !
ments Of Nicaragua aud Honduras by |
those OF Costa Rics. Guatemala and
Salvador. with the result that n the
hostllities continns Honduras and NJ.
carsgua viii nnd the whole Of Central
America arrsyed against their wsriike
designs.
President Roosevelt. n was announc'
I'd from Washington. had received
from the presidents Of Honduras and
Nicaragua In reply to his messages
setting forth the desire of the chief
executive 81 the United States for the
reconvcning n the court Of arbitration
In order 10 preserve peace notes assur'
ing him that the danger Of war was
passed.
Gsverusr Wsoarv0 Removes u~siy.