Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-25
Cant. Shipley Reports.

The OffclaiS OF tne Sldte anu navy
partments were in their offices as usual
for short time today for the considera-
ton of developments in the Nlcaraguan
affair About the only new matter they
had before them was cipher dispatch
from Capt. Shipley, commanding the
cruiser Des Moines, dated at Port L.imon,
giving an account of his visit to Grey
town. That port is occupied by a por-
ton of Zeaya's forces who are practical
ly prisoners, as they are surrounded on
all sides by the revolutionary forces, who
await only the arrival of ammunition to
rout them out. Estrada has announced
that the port is blockaded, and the main
object of Capt Shipley's visit there was
to ascertain the effectiveness of the
blockade and to investigate the report
that about twenty-sx Americans were in
the hands of Zelayas besieged forces.
His report undoubtedly deals with those
subjects and it was at first thought that
its contents might be given to the public
this morning.
AS a result however. of conference
between Rear Admiral Potter. chief of
the bureau of navigation, and MIR. Wilson.
assistant secretary of state, it was deemed
advisab BILE to withhold the information for
the present. The announcement to that
effect was coupled with the statement
that if there were anything to make pub
lie today il would be given to the press al
Mr. Wilson's residence this afternoon at
O'Clock.
Awaiting Definite News.
The apparent delay of the administra-
ton in announcing it's policy in the Mica
raguan affair is attributed to the lack of
definite information as to the exact status
whose summary execution aroused a
storm of protest in this country. Reports
are conflicting as to the part taken by the
two men. as well to the manner of
their death.
According to one report they Joined
the revolutionary army of Estrada and
as members of that force undertook to
plant submarine mines for the purpose of
destroying a transport loaded with gov
ernment troops. Their plan miscarried
and they were captured and shot to death.
Reports differ as to whether they were
given the advantage of trial by military
court-martial. The official report of the
Nicaraguan government says that they
pleaded guilty TO the charges preferred
against them and were regularly sem
The other side is that they we're shot by
order of President Zalaya as result of
personal agonism without proper
trial.
Status of Americans.
Unfortunately the revolutionary forces
under Estrada have not yet been regu-
larly recognized as belligerents by the
United States or any other government
and it is mooted question with the Off
Gals to whether Cannon and Groce,
under all the circumstances, were really
entitled to treatment as regular prison.
ers of war. The efforts of the admins
tration are being mainly directed to OBJ
tanning reliable information these
points before submitting demands on the
| Zelaya government for reparation.
| Whatever else the adminstra ton may
do it is generally accepted that it will
soon recognize the belligerency of the Es-
trada revolutionists, and thus obviate for
| the future such excuse as Zelaya may
| have had for his summary course of ac-
| ton in the case of the two captured Amer
| leans.
| The question of an Indemnity for the
execution of the two Americans depends
on the character of the evidence received
| from American officials at Managua