The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-02-20
Unconfirmed.

City of Mexico, February 19.-Diligent inquiry on the part of the Associated Press in this capital failed to substantiate the reported clash between the Nicaraguan am. Honduran troops. Every available source of supposedly authoritative infor- nation was tapped but in none of these places had the advices of a battle been received.
 Under Secretary of State Algera said;
 "rhe Mexican government last heard from Central America this morning, when a telegram was received from the Mex ican consul general at Honduras. That official made no mention of active hos tilities between the two republics. His message referred to the request by Pres ident Diaz that the trouble be arbitrated and expressed a desire on the part of the Honduran government that certain phase in the communication be elucidated. This request was acquiesced in, and the state department now awaits a definite answer to it's proposal"
 MT. Algera continues:
 Mexico as yet has received no reply to it's note that the difficulty between Mica ragua and Honduras be arbtrated. We must surely expect a definite answer to- morrow.
 in the light of what has transpired, l doubt the story of a battle being true, but at the same time I marvel that these armed forces remain in close proximity for such a length of time and still no clash'
 Dr. Baltazar Estupinian, minister to Mexico from Honduras and San Salvador, declared that he had received no advices of q battle. He added significantly, how ever, that four days ago he had sent a telegram to the government of Honduras asking to be advised of the exact sit uation, but had received no reply to his inquiry.
 At the American embassy nothing was known of active hostilities.
 In certain circles here the news of the battle is credited as those interested in business in the Central American repub lie have long contended that fight was unavoidable.
 Puerto Cortez, Honduras, February 12, by Steamship via New Orleans, February 19.-The attitude of the Honduranian gov renment in the present imbroglio with Nicarauga was forcibly expressed today by the arrival here of a declaration by the national congress of Honduras that this republic is in a state of siege. This declaration was issued at Tegucigalpa, the capital, on February g, and on the day following two thousand men marched to President Bonilla's executive mansion where congress was in session and de- manded war against Nicaragua.
 The mass meeting brought up the sub ject of armed American camps during a discussion of enormous concessions granted by Nicaragua to foreigners, part of these grants being situated in terri tory awarded to Honduras by the recent settlement of the boundary dispute be- tween Honduras and Nicaragua by the King of Spain.
 Reports were surrent some months ago, it was declared by the n,ass meeting, that Nicarauga expected American companies and their men to aid them against Hon. duras in defending their grants, and 1t Is known that these American camps have been arming Concerning these conces- sions, in which Americans are said to be interested the Honduras congress early in this month passed a decree to protect the concessionaries.
 This decree says that "All rights de- rived by individuals under acts of the government of Ncarauga prior to De- cember 23, 1SC6, in the disputed territory awarded to Honduras should be recog nized, and they should continue to pos sess and use these rights according to the laws of Honduras without any other obligations than inscribing their titles in the customary books of registry
 A time limit of six months was fixed for such action. The congressional de- claration of state of siege says in part:
 ''The public tranquility has been dis turbed by the rising of rebels at points O nthe boundary limits of Nicarauga.
 The efforts to adjust the dispute thus raised between the two governments the declaration says:
 Notwithstanding that this incident was submitted for consideration of the arbi- tration convention created by the treaty of Corinto, President General Zeaya of Nicaragua has broken off relations with this republic, menacing it with war"
 As this dispatch was mailed tropos were marching toward the Nicaraguan from tier. exempt officers and soldiers and boys under age were volunteering their ser vices the secretarys of civil officials had been suspended throughout the republic pending the passing of the crisis, and the Red Cross society was organizing for ac- tive field work. War contributions were arriving at the capital freely.
 A late telegram from the cpital an- nounced that the national congress has called uron the people to arm for the public defense
 Formerly of Memphis.
 Gen. Lee Christmas, an American, mas Ger of trains o2 the Honduras Inter-