The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-10

San Salvador. Republic Of Salvador
March According TO dispatches re-
ceived here a large force of Nicaraguans
We're practically annihilated in three
hour battle with the Hondurans yester-
day afternoon near Turguage, The Mica
raguans attacked the HondUTans, who
occupied strong positions in defense Of
the town, and repulsed the charges, final
~ routing the enemy.
According TO dispatch receired by the
State Department yesterday from Philip
Brown, the secretary of the United States
Legation 20 Honduras and Guatemala.
the President of Honduras and all of the
members Of his cabinet, except the minis
ter of public works, are at the front,
leading the Honduras forces against the
troops of Nicaragua.
The minister of public works IS az
Tegucigalpa, conducting the affairs cf
the government of Honduras. Mr.. Brown $
dispatch is dated AmaIpa and states that
he is about to start FOR Tegucgalpa, the
capital Of Honduras, to look after Amer
can interests there.
United states Embarrassed.
The United States government has been
put in AN extremely embarrassing posi-
tion by the summary withdrawal from
N!caraguan soil Of United States Minister
Merry because of his disagreement with
President Zelaya.
Just what Merry charges against the
Nicaraguau government in the formal
complaint, which he has filed with the
State Department, cannot be ascertained,
but it is known that he has given the
details of an angry alteration with
President Zelaya. growing out Of the
claim Of S30,0o1 damages made by sam
We'll. "A citizen of New Orleans, who holds
a liquor concession.
The rcticence of the State Department
to discuss the case. coupled with the fact
of Merry's withdrawal. has given rise to
reports that the ministers encounter with
the Nicaraguan pTesideht was more than
a verbal one
II is understood that representations
viii Immediately be made through the
proper diplomatic channels here before
any definite action Is taken 10 adjust the
differences. Because Nicaragua is at
b
the United States viii be very loath to
press for "a settlement at this time. if
such is deemed 10 be the proper course.
Merry Tried TO Adjust Claims.
Mr.. Merry. who spends most of his
time in San Jose, the capital of Costa
Rtca. recently went 10 MdnagUa to adjust
the claims of several Americans. among
them being the case of George D. Emery
and others, Of Massachusetts, who had a
concession from the government Of Mic
aragua for taking out mahogany, which
was hauled in logs 10 the seaboard and
shipped To the United States and sold to
the Pullman Palace Car Company 4
misunderstanding arose between the con-
Cessionaires and the government, and Mr.
Merry was asked 10 lend his good offices
toward an adjustment. In this matter, he
was successful an agreement having
been reached 10 submit the matter Il
arbitration. and the cause is now pending
In the matter Of the claim of sam Wen,
OF New Orleans. according to the report
Mr.. Merry was not so successful It APP
pears that Mr.. We'll had a concession
from Nicaragua for handling the liquor
trade and collecting the revenue there
from, amounting, in effect 10 an internal
revenue tax.
Goods Were Seized.
It is alleged that his goods were
shipped in bond 20 Nicaragua. and, as
the result Of some controversy. were
seized by The government Mr.. Wei
claimed $4,000 damages. and an arbitra
tion was arranged, but Mr.. We'll, claim
ing that he had not been treated fairly
refused to abide by the settlement, and
Mr.. Merry sought to adjust the matter
It is reported that it was then he mac
his lively quarrel with President Zelaya
and that he left the NicaraguJn capita
with strained relations existing among
himself and the President and some OF
the members of his cabinet He has
complained to the department that his
Cablesruns, which pass through Nicara-
qua, have been delayed and incoherent
While Alr. Merry's dispatches nave been
coming through in a more or less irregular
manner no has taken the precaution to
communicate with the department by
mail. ard thus far no settlement of the
We'll case has been reached.
Salvador Is Cautious.
It is explained at the State Department
that the action Of Salvador, in declaring
a state Of siege, is simply a measure OF
precaution. frequently resorted to in Cen
traI American countries when the coun-
try is threatened with war or invasion
and indicates that Salvador is apprehen-
sive that she may be drawn into the con-
troversy between Nicaragua and Hon
duras.
The proclamation of a siege is I'm effect
a declaration of martial law. and with
draws some constitutional privileges and
guarantees.