The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-21
BATTLE BEGINS IN
CENTRAL AMERICA
Forces of Salvador and Hon
duras Attack Nicaragua
CARRY SEVERAL POSITIONS
Engagement Opened at O'Clock Yes.
terday Morning In Fortified Hills.
Losses On Both Sides
Are Reported.

San Salvador, March 20-The following
communication was made today to the
correspondent of the Associated Press by
the Salvadorean force that is engaged
with Honduras fighting Nicaragua:
1--WE prepared to attack the enemy yes
tcrday in the fortified hills known as the
Portilles de Namasique.
AT 10 o'clock in the morning our ar
tillery took up positions in front and on
the sides of the hill Accommodating par
ties were sent out and the preparations
for the fight were completed.
THE battle began at. o'clock this
morning with a heavy artillery fire. Gen
erals Savelar and LAcona operated on
the right wing, while General Chavarria
conducted the movements on the left. The
remainder of our army was in the center.
Our columns, with unriyalled gallantry,
carried the front and hanking positions
of the enemy by assault. We dislodged
the enemy from al their positions ex-
cepting the last, where desperate ress-
tance was made.
"The final effort OF the engagement will
be made at this point.
"The enemy is estimated at 5000 we'll
armed men.
The Honduran forces had regret
table losses in commanding and other
officers.
THE enemy's loss in killed and wounded
were considerable
Surprise as to Loot Order.
Washington March 20.-Great surprise
no ta1 n, "a sb sbfpptop dinlnp1n : IN ,.ir
cles by the announcement in press dis
patches that Nicaraguan troops had been
promised the right TO loot the first Hon
duran Salvadorian city they may capture.
Such announcement to soldiers by gov
ernment authorities is In direct violation
of the general trend Of the rules of war
Tor the last century.
The navy department received a dis
patch today announcing that the gunboat
Marietta arrived yesterday from Puerto
Corte Honduras. This is one of the points
on the north coast of Honduras which
is threatened by Nicaraguan and Hon
duran revolutonists.
Mr. Corea, the Nicaraguan minister,
called on Secretary Root today and en-
tered an emphatic denial of reports from
Central America to the effect that Pres
ident Zelaya of Nicaragua has given his
soldiers the privilege of looting the first
Salvadorian or Honduran town they cap
ture. Mr. Corea made this denial on the
authority of a dispatch he received from
Mr.. Gomez the Nicaraguan minister for
foreign affairs. The dispatch stated that
the reports of President Zelayas' proffer
of looting are fabrications which were
made up in Salvador and originally pub
ished in semi-official daily paper in
that country. AS the proof Of the falsity
of the report Mr.. Gomez says that Mica
ragua has been in control of San Marcos
Corpus, Yuscaran, Danlia and Mariatta,
and there was no complaint OF looting In
those towns previous TO the report, which
the minister denounces as false.
Mr.. Corea also had a dispatch stating
that the Nicaraguans are beseiging Cho-
lutte and that Celba will soon be at
tackled.
American Interests Safe.
American interests in the Caribbean
ports of Guatemala and Honduras are
not believed by Commander William r.
Fullam of the United States navy to be
seriously menaced BY the presence OF
Nicaraguan naval vessels in that vicinity
A reassurng cablegram to that effect
was received at the navy department to-
day and by acting Secretary Newberry
was laid before the state depar tment
Commander Fullam on the Marietta is
IN control of the situation in the vicinity
Of Puerto Cortez. Trujiilo arJ Belize
three ports Of Guatemala and Honduras
from which great quantities OF fruit are
shipped to the United States. His dis