The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-22
Commander of Cruiser Des
Moines Reports Decisive
Victory for Estrada.
BLUEFIELDS is NOW
AN ARMY HOSPITAL
More Than 1900 Men Either Kill
ed, Wounded, or Captured in
Battle at Rama.

The disastrous defeat OF the entire
regular army Of Nicaragua by the revo-
lutionary forces under General Estrada.
and the surrender Of the remnants OF
the entire army OF Zelaya, was reported
to the State Department today IN dis
patches forwarded by Captain shipley.
commander Of the cruiser Des Moines.
now at Bluehelds.
More than $500 men Of the govern
ment forces were either killed, wounded
or captured, according 10 the dispatches
from Captain shipIey. and BIueaelds
has been turned into a vast army hos
pital TO care for the wounded OF the
two armies.
Want Orders.
The gunboat Eagle is in the harbor
at Bluehelds and shipley asks orders
to prepare for the instant landing Of
marines should they be needed to pro
tect American interests
Captain shipIey in his dispatch dated
3 a. m today. says;
Yesterday the ZeIayan forces were
completely routed after several hourS
hard lighting and surrendered IN the
afternoon.
Generals Gonzales and Castillo. with
1890 men were captured with four field
pieces, 1.5OO rifles. and million rounds
Of ammunition.
Goo Lives Lost
The hghting of the last tvaa days Is
-sttHoated TO have cost 900 men killed
or wounded on both sides. The wound
ed are being brought TO BIuedeids. Hos
pitai facilities are very inadequate.
7 have established a hospital on
shore employing surgeons from the Ia
coma and Des Moines with fourteen
assistants and a oommissary detach-
nent and a gang Of carpenters. No
force has been landed. as II is supposed
that all viii be quiet It Is estimated
that the Zelayan losses killed. wounded,
and captured viii reach 2.600 men"
Ready To Land Marines.
In an earlier dispatch Captain Ship
ley says that the gunbOat Eagle Is with
IN the harbOr and urges the necessity
of his being prepared TO land men at a
moments notice.
Captain Shipley says that Estrada's
army began an organized attack on
December % on the outpCsts OF the Ze-
Iayan forces under General Gonzales
These We're defeated and routed, and DO
men were captured or killed Fighting
continued throughout that day and the
day following until the Lelayan forces
surrendered. II is reported IN Bluenelds
that the former general Of the Nlcara-
yuan forces NasqueZ, has been linprls-
oned in Managua-
rrIgb on 10 AIanagua 10 secure control
az the Pacific side Of the country,
which is the stronghold Of the govern
ment
Not An Easy March.
Although the ZeIayan army was prac-
rcalIy. concentrated at Rama. and the
bic-est part OF his forces have been
captured, it is possible that Estrada
may meet with serious resistance, par
ticularly on the part OF the adherents
Of Nadriz. who are numerous, and have
by their former maneuvers shown their
determination TO retain their leader in
the presidency-
II nghtinE follows in Managua and
other points adjacent TO the Pacific
coast, iL is possible that a condition
of chaos greater than any yet anCiCi-
uated viii eusue. On the other hand.
ii is hoped that an agreement may be
reached by Estrada and Madriz where
by further conflict may be ObViared-
The state Department has made no
further move and no steps VIII be
taken until the presence Of American
marines or blueiackels Is required for
The protection OF Americans and Ar1eri-