Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20

Letters TO the fatnil1eS or the uectdStu
have been kept for evidence.
Act Not Punishable by Death.
The assertion that the condemned
Americans confessed to laying mines In
the San Juan river is received In official
circles here with some doubt. The lay
ing OF mines I'm time of war. it is pointed
out, is not an uncommon procedure, ana
is not regarded as a departure from the
rules of ordinary warfare.
The Sta.e Department has received a
letter from the Nicaraguan legation 1t
has not been made public, but Ii is under
stood to have contained substantially the
same statement made to our vice consul
at Managua by the minister of foreign
affairs made public by the legation.
Rebels Denounce Zelaya.
Late last night the Secretary of State
received the following telegram from Gen.
Salvador Chammorro. general i'm the revo-
lutionist army. and two associates:
The despotism of Zelaya is atrocious.
The country has been turned into a TALL.
Tie penitentiary at Managua is "a den
of horrors where thousands of citizens
are tortured in order TO wrench out their
last cent. Prisoners are starved, f1Ogged
and slain.
Terror beyond description. Zelaya
hires adventures. the scum of all ma
tions, who serve him as eXecutionerS and
diplomatic agents.
.'Trias, secretary general of Zelaya s
government. has murdered his colleague,
-Altamirano. minister of foreign relations
By such men is Zelaya surrounded.
''Bluefields Is fighting to free Nicaragua
from this burning shame.
THE government OF Costa Rica toler-
ates the occupation of its territory by
Zelayas troops. The government of Hon.
duraS is Zelaya's ally.
We protest in the name of humanity
and civilization and call on the sons of
Washington and Lincoln to sympathize
with the oppressed people of Nicara-
qua"
The telegram, which is dated Pan
ana. November 10. is signed by Sal
Vador Chammorro, Marcos Velasquez
end Alden Canton.
The Secretary of State is not prepared
at this time TO announce what further
action he will take with respect to the
recognition of the belligerency of the
Estrada government, but there is reason
TO believe that formal announcement
that the Secretary has taken this step
will he made In the near future.
Recognition of Belligerency.
The most notable recognition of bel
iiserency in the history of the United
states was the recognition of the Con-,
federacy by Great Britain and other Eu-
ropean nations as belligerent national
power.
In this connection. the statement of
Mr.. Adams. representative of the United
States to Great Britain, to Earl Russell
jn regard TO the British recognition OF
the Confederacy belligerency was re-
called today.
at any rate said Mr.. Adams. there
was one compensation The act re-
leased the government of the United
States from responsibility for any mis-
deeds of the rebels toward Great
Britain.
IF any of their people should cap
Il.rits cH IN
the ocean the reclamation must he made
only upon those who had authorized
the wrong The United States would
not he liable.
President in Full Accord.
President Taft is in full sympathy with
the policy of Secretary Knox in dealing
with the Nicaraguan situation with
firm hand, even to the extent of using
force To- insure full and complete protec-
ton TO citizens of the United States in
Nicaraguan territory.
Another warship, the gunboat Tacoma,
has been added to the small fleet pre-
viously ordered to the scene of trouble.
The gunboat Vicksburg Is on the Pa
cific coast of Nicaragua and the cruiser
Des MOines and the gunboat Vicksburg
on the Atlantic coast.
Although the ord9s to the naval COM
manders do not contemplate actual inter-
ference between the government forces
and the revolutionists. they do direct the
full protection of American lives and in
terests at all hazards.
Zelaya In Bad odor.
Zeiaya. the president OF Nicaragua, is
not held in high esteem in official circles
In Washington. No secret is made Of
general desire for his downfall.
He Is regarded, in every sense of the
term, an undesirable person. whose en-
forced retirement from Office Is essential
to the welfare of his country. For that
reason, the administration feels justified,
To the insurrectionists In expediting
Zelaya's downfall and in holding him to
strict accountability for the summary
execution of Americans by his troops.
Nevertheless. it is expected that the
government will move with care and de-
liberation. and be sure that it has
abundant justification for any drastic ac-
ton II may take against President Zelaya
party.
Knox Demands Facts.
That Secretary Knox is thoroughly in
earnest in the premises is clearly indi-
Gated in his telegraphic instructions to
Henry Caldera, United States vice con-
sui and charge d'affaires at Managua.
The text of the Secretary's message fol-
lows:
Immediately ascertain and cable full
and positive information as to the fate
of the two captured Americans. This
government can scarcely credit the report
of the summary execution OF two Amer
lean citizens taken with the revolutionary
army The charge d'affaires of Nicaragua
here also has been asked, geographically
TO demand full Information, for this gov
eminent will not for one moment tolerate
such treatment OF American citizens"
0roce's Mother Seeks Information.
The department yesterday received a
telegram from Mrs. F. II. Groce of Hemp
stead, Tex, saying that Leonard Groce.
one Of the victims Of Zelaya's wrath
was her son. She asked the department
for particulars concerning his death.
Another Interpretation OF the recogni-
ton of the belligerency OF the revolu-
ffonists was made yesterday when Secre-
cary Knox sent numerous kilograms to
merchants interested I'm the shipping trade
along the Atlantic ports in the vicinity of
hostilfties- In his telegram to the Blue
fields Steamship Company Thursday night
The Secretary recognized the right OF the
Levolutionists to blockade the port of
Greytown or San Juan del Norte.
In his replies to the kilograms OF yes
terday the Secretary repeated the con-
tents OF his message to the Buefields
Steamship Company. and added:
The safety of a ships going to a port
which is closed or blockaded. in fact or in
theory, is a question for the interested
parties TO determine and act on, and not
question for determination by the Of
ticials concerned in clearances."