The San Francisco call., 1909-12-24
Bread, Not Bullets

WASI1l NJ YIN, DeC. Or CNIOW-
ing a premonitory warning to Presi-
dent AIadriz that the United States
will hold him personally responsible
for the safety of Americans in the
western part of Nicaragua the state
department tonight extended more
than moral encouragement to the
revolutionists. Under orders from
Secretary Knox American Red Cross
funds are to be expended in caring
for the sick and wounded of both
armies, more than 1000 OF whom are
incapacitated in Blue6elds.
This move on the part OF the
United States IS expected to be more
efhcacious than a strong force.
Bread instead of bullets" is the
watchword Of the state department,
and it is generally believed that the
prospects of food and medical atten-
ton will win over more men from
the government ranks than any other
plan that could be adopted.
In Pitiable Plight
According to latest reports the
medical corps of the war vessels now
at Bluehelds have installed hospitals.
where scores are being cared for.
The procession of sick and wounded
men through the town IS said to be
pitiful, and although Estrada is do
ing everything in his power to relieve
the suffering his resources are
meager. To relieve the situation
Secretary Knox tonight consulted
with the American Red Cross and inn
mediately afterward sent the follow
ing dispatch to Thomas H. Mofatt,
United States consul at Bluehelds;
The American National Red Cross
will telegraph you tomorrow, the
twenty-fourth, $1,000 and will send
another $4,000. if needed Navy de-
partment has instructed Captain Ship
ley to land whatever surplus supplies
can be furnished from our ships now
at BIuefields and orders will be given
the Prairie, now at Colon. to transport
Immediately to BIuefelds from the
stores intended for the marines or from
the Panama canal commissary depart
ment such supplies as you may ask for
within the limit of $4,000 to be cabled
you tomorrow. You will cooperate
with Shipley In the distribution of sup
plies, payment for all of which. both
tboSa rapda1 from, sbirs - ur,,oeora.
and those sent from Colon. will be re-
couped from Red Cross funds
Pictures Suffering
The dispatch of this telegram fol-
from Consul Moffatt depicting the state
of affairs in Bluehelds. His story OF
the suffering of the defeated ZeIayan
soldiers was brief but graphic Incl
dentaIly he reported that more than
900 were killed on both sides in the
recent battle of Rama. The dispatch
follows:
Two thousand starved. emaciated
prisoners have been brought here from
Zelaya's surrendered army. The sight
of the sick and weary totterfng through
the streets is horrible. Half are mere
boys. The emergency hospital estab-
lished by the Des Moines and Tacoma
contains 90 wounded the. city hospital
60 Few of the surrendered army had
shoes or blankets Scores were almost
naked. all are in a pitiable condition.
Estrada is furnishing them with
blankets. clothing. shoes and food as
best he can. Flour. beans. rice. sugar.
coffee and condensed milk are needed
instantly TO feed the starving Zelayan
soldiers. Disease and death threaten
unless they are given promptly the best
of food and care.
Asks Immediate Aid
The great and sudden demand for
clothing and food for the suffering is
a problem for the provisional govern
ment, whose resources are exhausted.