The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-12
ELAYA STEALS MARCH ON FOES Gives Remarkable Display of
 Strength CONFERENCE USED AS BLIND While Leaders Talk, Troops Hasten to Blue6elds. iEstrada New Relies Upon United States to Protect City from Cap ture--Marines, Gunbcats and
 Cruisers Can Control
 situation.


 Biuefelds. Dec. 11.-This city. the headquarters Of the provisional gov ernment has been thrown into alarm by a sudden realization of the strength : of the government army against which General Estrada. the leader of the insurgents. had been supposed to be making irresistible headway.
 Estrada apparently has been hood winked by Zelaya. and no one would be surprised If the latter's troops should appear in the city at any hour. Estrada is hoping for timely aid from the United States.
 It turns out that the conference, which was sought by General Vasquez Of the government troops near Rama, and which the, insurgents had inter preted as sign of yielding on the part of the zelayan troops was q blind intended to secure delay of the expected battle until the loyal army had obtained decided advantage of position. It is also learned that while zelaya had kept a scattered force be- fore Rama. his real army of 5000 men was hurrying by forced marches to- wards Bluefields.
 The report that descent upon this city from Rama was npssible only by river is now known to be untrue.
 Estrada Covers Alarm.
 General Estrada endeavored to cov- CT his alarm by informing the cores pondents at the front that all was tranquil, with the prospect that Gen. eral vasquez and Major Eva would surrender.
 Ten minutes after he had talked with the reporters. the insurgent lead or had his chief diplomatic aide. telling him what he believed to be. fhe true situation. To his aide Gen. praI Estrada declared that the Amer lean should send more marines ashore, ns vasuuex had apparently outflank- ed him. Estrada also expressed the opinion that request should be made of the United States government Tor protection to the t5o Americans n Blueaelds
 Dlax rushed to United states Consul Monatt. with the new intelligence and the consul assured him that Cunl- fnander Shipleyss marines from the United States cruiser Des Moines. with their slx-rapid fire guns. would te- able to control the situation here in the event that the loyal army should suddentT surprise the city. It was re- caitsd today that Major Eva. one of the government envoys at yesterdays conference, was the man who survey ed The telegraph line across the coun-5 try. and that none knows better the hidden places through the forests, swamps and hills.
 If President Taft is determined that Zelaya shall be deposed. 1t Is believed here that the American forces should find active participation in the strug- Gies necessary.
 AImericmns Controf situation.
 The Amef1can officials here have heen assured that the marines from inc Des Moines are sufilcient to cope with the situation. even with the B. 600 well armed government soldiers, but the provisionais. who are unfa- gnIliar with military discipline wish snore American marines here. Appar- entiy General Estrada has reached staRe where he feels that the situation is critical unless the Americans are prepared to assume active and supreme control At present. Commander Ship lev awaits further orders from Ad- mirai KimbalL
 An idea of the enemy attacking for tified Rama has been abandoned The truce which covered the conference of the government envoys and which war said to have been arranged to further conceal the march of Zelaya's men through the hills towards Bius- fields, is at an end. At the conference Zeiaya's representatives used every pretext to delay coming to the point. and when the conference finally came to an end. 1t was with demand that the insurgents in the vicinity of Rama surrender.
 Further evidence of the alarm of the insurgents Is shown in connection with the movements of the Bluehelds steam ship Company's steamer, Di Giorgio. This company, which derived big rev. enue through a concession from Pres ident Zeleya. has always been believed to be in sympathy with the source Of the company's revenue. The company's boats are in the practice of ascending the river from Bluefields to Rama to load with fruit. However, on Monday General Estrada, fearing plot through which the Government troops, who were believed to have made a detour to Rama, would make pretended seiz- ufe of the vessel, ordered the up river frip abandoned. He rushed 300 troops toward Rama and Thursday, convinced that he could control the situation, gave permission for the steamer to proceed to Rama. The same night in- formation was received that a large force of the Government troops were stationed between Rama and BlueHelds. Genertal Estrada at once ordered the steamer to stop at Rama. Estrada feared that If the tip was continued the steamer would be seized between Cana and Rama by the enemy.
 ZeIaya in Good Condition.
 Another cause for alarm among the insurgents Is a report brought by vhe cruiser Des Moines that Zelaya's n.en at Greytown are far from being In the desperate condition which has been re- ported here. They are said to number 3 900 we'll fed and well paid soldiers and are opposed only by General Cha norro with 400 insurgents. The excel lent condition of the army in GreytUwn Is said to be the main reason why 1t does not leave it's quarters and attack Chamorra. The soldiers are not entho- siastfc over Zelaya and his cause, and prefer being fed to fighting.
 A stan correspondent of the Assocl- ated Press, who recently arrived here. has canvassed the situation and finds if less hopeful for the insurgents than. had been believed. General Estrada Is greatly disturbed and has appealed to United states Consul Moffatt for ma- rines from the cruiser Des Moines to protect Americans It is known, how