Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-23
NO CHANGE IN SITUATION
0minous Silence at Department Por-
tends Impending Action.
MAY SEIZE PORT OF CoRINTo
Probable Course in Event Of Ze-
laya's Refusal to Promptly Meet
the American Demands.

Silence. almost to an ominous degree
prevailed at the State Department today
Secretary Knox left the department for
the cabinet meeting shortly before II
o'clock and Assistant Secretary Wilson
was at his home presumably engaged OF
some phase of the Nicaraguan situation
Assistant Secretary Adee. who was the
spokesman Of the department in the alb
senca Of the Secretary and Mr.. Wilson
stated that nothing had been received by
the department that changed the Mica.
raguan status in any degree.
Everywhere in the State and Navy de-
partments there is feeling. of expec-
fancy. every one believing that the United
states Is about to take a decided stet
with respect to Nicaragua.
reports received at the Navy Depart.
ment today show that the vessels OF
the United States Navy are concen-
trating on both coasts of Nicaragua
fully prepared for eventualities. The
gunboat Vicksburg is at Corinto on the
west coast. and the cruiser Buffalo left
Pichilinque yesterday bound for tha,
port by way of Panama
The gunboat Tacoma arrived at Girls
tobal, Panama, yesterday, where she
will probably take on marines and then
proceed to Port Limon, Costa Rica
within easy striking distance of Grey.
town. The cruiser Des Moines arrived
at that port yesterday and will proceed
to Greytown to investigate the block
ade established by Estrada's revolu-
r<x
left Guantanamo, Cuba. yesterday fol
Port Limon. That point will be tn,
American naval base on the Atlanti,
coast and the point of communication
with Washington.
Battleships Too Big.
1t was stated today at the Nav
Department that the shallow water,
along Nicaragua on the Atlantic coas
made the sending of a battleship ther,
useless and such action is not con
templated. Preparations are beins
made by the navy for any emergency
but 1t was denied that rush orders mac
been given for the completion of re-
pairs on such vessels as the Paducaf
and the Dubuque. 1t was admitted
however, that the Albany and the
yorktown would remain for the pres.
ent in Magdalena bay
Reports from the commander of the
Des Motnes in regard to the effective.
ness of the blockade of the revolu:
tlon1stS at Greytown, Nicaragua, anC
from the commander of the Vicksbure
as to the situation at Corinto, were re.
ceived at the Navy Department today
They were transmitted to the State
Department without being made publt.
by the navy officials.
May Seize Corinto.
Action already taken by the Navy De
partment is accepted as an indication tha
In case Zelaya refuses to meet the de
mands of this government Corinto. tn,
principal port on the Pacific, will b.
seized by the United States forces an,
held until Zelaya comes to terms In do
ing this the United States win follow tn
precendent established by the British gov
ernment in 1895. In that year three
British warShipS entered the port of Co
rintO and seized all the government build
ings and archives and maintained pos
session until all their demands were sat
isfied. Great Britain acted in that cas-
with the knowledge and consent of th
United States, 1t being held that the prov
ocation of the Nicaraguan authorities jus
titled the seizure A riot occurred in tn
town of Bluefields in the summer of 1884
and Mr.. Hatch. the British consul
and several other British subjects as
sisted In the restoration of order. Fo
their part in that affair they wer
thrown In prison without any form o
trial and expelled from the country
Great Britain demanded an idemnity o
100000 for that and other alleged out
RACES, and was not able to obtain an!
satisfaction until her forces took posses
sion of Corinto.
Troop Ships Available.
Overtime work has resulted in putin,
the troopship Prairie, now at the Phila
delphia navy yard. in a condition to sal
at any moment after Thursday of thi.
week, with 400 marines wh:@:. are inme
diately available for transportation t.
Nicaragua, and if necessary that numbe
can be increased within few hours no
tice to 100 or even 800. Although tn,
naval officials disclaim any knowledge o
what the State Department Is doing in {
diplomatic way in connection with th'
Nicaraguan situation, 1t Is known tina
they are hourly in expectation OF rece1V
ing orders to direct the Prairie to sail a
almost any time after tomorrow. and tnel
would not be in the least surprised II
other warshipS were oroereo 10 the MIC
araguan coast.
The early departure of the marines
comes as the result of rush orders sent
to the League Island navy yard. after
the State Department received the pre-
liminary report Of the execution of the
two men. It had been intended to have
these marines relieve the $50 marines now
on duty on the Panama Canal Zone.
The date Of departure from Philadelphia
had been set for December 3, by which
time the troop ship Prairie would have
been ready to sail. BY working night
and day, the League Island force will
be able to finish repairs on the ship by
November 26. and that date has now
been set for the sailing of the marines.
Secretary Meyer of the Navy Department
will go to Philadelphia to review them
Marines in Canal Zone.
In event of necessity. the $50 marines
now on 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 Prairie on the At
lantic, the marines could be transferred
from one coast of Nicaragua to the other
in a comparatively short time, Ly way of
the Panama railroad. and then landed at
Corinto. which IS said to be the real OBJ
jective point of the expedition.
President Zelaya is recognized as a
pretty shrewd individual. however. and
it is believed that he will tempcrize by
agreeing to yield to all reasonable de-
mands of the United States II he Is only
given the tine and opportunity.