Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-23
UNITED STATES
AND NICARAGUA
AT WARS EDGE
CLASH WITH UNCLE SAM NOW
PROBABLE
400 MARINES ARE ORDERED FROM
PHILADELPHIA
United States Expects to Demand
More Than Money for Death of
the Two American
Soldiers
lBy Associated Press.l

Wv tionS are being made for 400
marines to sail from Philadel-
phia Saturday, either for the canal
zone or for Nicaragua.
This will be the first armed force to
land in Nicaragua, if developments in
the situation there within the next few
days require such a course. All de-
pends upon action to be taken by the
state department, which is marking
time pending the receipt of additional
details of the killing of the two Ameri-
cans, Groce and Cannon.
The departure of the marines comes
as d result of rush orders sent to the
League Island navy yard after the
state department received the pre-
liminary report of execution of the two
men by President Zelaya's orders.
1t had been intended to send the
marines to Panama to relieve $50
marines on duty there.
The date Of departure from Phila-
delphia had been set for December 3,
by which time the troop ship Prairie
would have been ready to sail BY
working night and Gay the League
Island force will be able to finish re-
pairs on the ship by November 81
If necessary the $50 marines now in
the canal zone could be utilized in
Nicaragua in addition to the 400 to be
taken south by the Prairie.
With the troop ship Buffalo on the
Pacific coast and the Prarie on the
Atlantic, the marines quickly could be
transferred from one coast of Nicara-
qua to the other over the Panama rail-
road.
Rear admirals galore were at the
navy department today, but i'm no in
stance was it admitted that their pres
ence there had to do with the trouble
in Nicaragua.
1t was said at the navy department
that shallow waters along Nicaragua
on the Atlantic coast made the sending
of battleship there useless, and such
action is not contemplated.
Ready for Rush
Preparations are being made by the
| navy for any emergency, but 1t was
denied that rush orders had been given
! for the completion of repairs on such
vessels as the Paducah and the Du-
| buque. 1t was admitted. however. that
! the Albany and the Yorktown would
| remain for the present in Magdalena
bay. 1t had been generally understood
they were to be ordered north.
The next move of the game being
played with President Zeaya of Mica
ragua will be made by Secretary Knox,
and undoubtedly it will be an impor-
tant and possibly a decisive one.
Zelaya has killed two Americans, it
is believed, in the most summary
and brutal manner, and it is not ex-
pected that he will be permitted to
settle at so much a head for these
or any other Americans he may see fit
to kill
1t is believed that something more
than compensation for Groce and Can
non will be involved in the next step
by the state department.
Secretary Meyer returned to the navy
Hnnl ~ TODD froT. nesfe i i'm
mediately took up the situation with
Assistant Secretary Winthrop and
Rear Admiral Potter, chief of the bu-
reau of navigation, with view of de-
termining how the navy would be able
to comply with any request which the
state department might make upon it,
In general the officials told the sec
retary that the navy was ready for
any emergency which might arise.
The state department is awaiting ad-
ditional information as to the details
of the killing. and until that informa-
tion is cabled to the department here
no important developments are looked
for.
Official Recognition
The departments action in recogniz-
ing the blockade of the port of San
Juan del Norte is in effect a recogni-
tion of insurgency, but this action i'm
all probability will be followed by what
is much more mportant-recognition
of belligerency
Recognition of belligerency is a mat
ter of the highest consequence to the
insurgent forces. Once it is accorded
Zelaya Will be held to strict account
ability for any prisoners he may take,
as the United States undoubtedly
would see to it that they were treated
In every respect as prisoners of war,
according to civilized standards.
The first American warship to arrive
in Nicaraguan waters was the gun
boat Vicksburg. Her presence at
Corinto was announced at the navy
department late yesterday. The little
gunboat is in command of Commander
Alexander S. Halstead. She is
equipped with six four-inch guns and
eight guns Of smaller caliber.
Tne turning point in the revolution
in Nicaragua is imminent, according
to private advices from Bluehelds,
received by owners of one of the larg-
est plantations in that country at Kan
sas City today. The information came
by mail and was dated November 12
Briefly stated, the situation is
summed up by the correspondent as
Government forces now hold Grey
town, which is generally conceded to
be the most important station, strate-
getically, on the east coast. Grey
town is on the San Juan river, which
joins the east coast with the west by
way of the Nicaraguan and Managua
lakes. making the city the key to the
Atlantic ports.
Large bodies of government forces.
it is reported, will be sent through to
the east coast at the close of the
rainy season, which is near. Govern
ment forces on the east coast are
merely doing police duty and holding
the revolutionists in check until the
large army can arrive.
1.-THE declaring of a provisional gov
ernment by the revolutionists caused
an influx of desperate characters of
various nationalities from all Central
American ports. As nearly all the
business on the east coast is in the
hands OF foreigners 1t is difficult for
revolutionists to muster in force. Few
Spaniards are taking part in the re-