Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-19
Satisfaction Demanded of
President ZeIaya for
His Acts
IN KILLING AMERICANS
Prompt Apology and Indemnity
to Families Of Dead Men
Expected.

Washington. Nov 19.-The execution
by order of President Zelaya of Nicar-
aqua of the two Americans. Leonard
Grace and Leroy Cannon, condemned
as insurrection.sts. with the resulting
international complications. recalls the
thrilling events of the 10-year war in
Cuba when the Spanish government
executed summarily General Ryan and
number of other Americans who were
captured and charged with being fill
busterers.
Feeling wrought Up
At that time American feeling was
wrought to a high pitch of excitement
and nuIhbe- OF American vessels
were ordered to Cuban waters and the
immediate outbreak of a war between
The United States and Spain was avert
ed only through a prompt apology by
Spain for the action of the Cuban cap
tain general. ana the payment of in
demnity to the families of the victims.
SITUATION Is Tense.
Washington. Nov. ia tense sit
nation exists this morning as a result
Of the execution of the two Americans.
Cannon and Grace. in Nicaragua. It
is fairly assumed that press dispatches
from Managua are accurate in the
statement the men were executed after
a court martial trial on a charge they
had attempted by use of dynamite
mines to blow up President Zelaya's
troop transports
If the statement of department ad-
vices confirm this story the question
1t issue will be. whether the charge
against the men justified their exeCu-
lion.
Mny Be Justified
If it should appear the Americans
slipped within the lines under disguise
when they planted the mines they
might be regarded as spies and so sub
iedted to summary execution, but if
engaged in their work openly, it will
probably be held they should have
been treated as prisoners of war. In
The latter case there is is no doubt
ZeIaya will be called to account and
ample reparation demanded.
May Recognize BeIIgerents.
washington, Nov 19.-Indications
Ieem clearly to point to the recogni-
ion by the United States government
If the belligerency of the revolution
SITS IN Nicaragua and It is not improb-
lble q public declaration to that effect
loon will be made.
Have Whole COnst Ldne.
The insurgents are IN practical con-
rol of at least half of the whole Of
Nicaraguan territory and have posses
hon of the entire Atlantic coast line
I1cept Greytown. and the blockade Of
hat port completes the whole line.
rhe warsfr1ps dispatched to Nicarag-
aan ports will probably reach their
destination today.
ZeIayn Dfstrusts Own People
Panama, Nov. 19-Passengers arriv-
ing from Nicaragua report Zelaya, dis
trusting his own men, has surrounded
himself with foreigners, and that 1000
persons have been imprisoned either |
because they were suspected of dis. |
! Ioyalty or had refused to contribute to |
he war tax.
Keep ON StreeES mt w1RqFt.
After o'clock at night no one is |
Illowed In the streets OF any Nicara- |
u1an towns under government control |
mi s1l houses ara ordered closed at
hat hour. Anarchy reigns within the |
government as well as IN the army |
becauas Zeiaya viii trust no one and |
las made foreigners his conf1dants.
All Called to Arms.
EAH Nicaraguans have been called to |
nfns and many are leaving the towns /
md Joining the rebels or hiding In the |
noaIntair Businesses. Up to the pres |
mt Zelata has exacted war contrtbr1-
ions of IearIJ 81 100000 and all who |
efuse to pay the tax are Immediately
Imprisoned. Many persons have been
hlled by s1fdiers during the disorders
hat occur daily in the towns.
Not Confirmed by VvIre.
Bfuefelds Nicaragua, Nov. Ia
Wires to the interior are down and It
b impossible to confirm here that Ze-
hya ordered the reported execution Of
wo AmericaIs,
Explanation Demanded
washington, Now 19.-The United
States government last night demand
ID from Nicaragua a full and satisfac-
Dry explanation of the killing of two
americans, Leoaard Grace and LIE Roy
Cannon, who wsre executed summar-
y by order OF President Zelaya when
hey were found Il the dnsurgent army.
The demand wa made in a peremp- II
)ory note, oouchet IN diplomatic but /.