Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-30
ZeIaya Claims -Four Hundred
Participated in Fighting
Around Rama and Left
Twenty Dead on Field.
MEN WERE DESER TIERS WAS
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Nicaraguan Fugitive Reiterates
Declaration That Secretary
Knox'S Action Was Based on
MiSinformation.

| tBy Morning Journal Special Leased WirsI
Mexico city. Dee. 29.--"Mr. Knox
Is NOS my judge | am answerable
only To my government"
Jose santos Zelayu. who arrived
| here this morning from Salina Cruz,
thus replied to a question tonight as
to what attitude he would assume
should Secretary Knox seek to extra
dite him from this country. Zelaya
refused to discuss such probability
but strongly intimated that the secre-
tarN of state would not have the right
to request his presence in the United
States
II have no feeling against the
American people at large nor the gov
ornment,' he said. Secretary Knox
has been Systematically mislnformed
and public opinion in the United
states has been prepared against me.
hut the real facts must become known
in time aud ii is To time I trust for my
vindication.
My relations with the preceding
American government were exceeding
ly friendly. The situation contains
many unfortunate conditions, both for
our own people in Central America
and the Americans. Secretary Root
had the complete confidence of Cen
tral Amertep aud his policies were
drawing Tho pao3sle etoScr together,
politically and commercially ] am
AFRAID the attitude OF Secretary Knox
Is undolng all that work throughout
Latin America.
ZelaNa said American marines en-
gagged in several recent battles in Nic-
aragua and that twenty were Killed.
He said. DO YOU know that there
were 400 Americans fighting with the
insurgents at the recent battle at
Rama? DO YOU know that after the
hattle of Colorado Junction, Novem-
Der |, the bodies of twenty American
marines We're picked M ON the field
b. our forces, all dead, and all of them
were from the American gunboats
anchored in the river to protect
American Interests? The official ex-
PLANTATION given me was that these
men were dcserters.
Zclaya believes the confederation OF
all the Central American republics
will be brought about, as
he says the great masses OF the peo-
pie are unionists and the principal
obstacle up to this time has been the
selfish attitude of persons in power
by private interests. He
fators a central government. explain
ing that under a central government
the various states would preserve their
Identity. having officers To transact
such general business us might CON
cern the whole of Central America,
ana leaving each of the present re-
publcs to handle its interior affairs,
President Zeaya declared that on
December 20, 1907, he had wired
his willingness to retire
from the presidency and from politics
altogether II confederation OF the
i've Central American states could be
brought about
The immediate outlook In Central
America" said Ielaya. lis difficult to
prOphesy The struggle between the
present government and the forces of
Estrada will probably reach climax
Ia Il short time but so many factors
enter into he result that II would be
F, wise man indeed who could discount
he future. Estrada Cabrera is the
wi genius Of our people--for we are
all Central Americans al heart with
mt sectional lines. Cabrera has pois-
,ned the minds at Washington. He
las furnished money supplies ana
men To the insurgents I'm the recent
lighting He viii do the same
against the actual government OF Hon
luras hut ne viii never be accepted
ly our people and his Vaccinations
must be exposed i'm time. so he will
ie known for what he is"
Tho former dictator reached here
oon after 5 o'clock this morning and
sas met by a delegation OF Central
americans. As he stepped from
pullman several persons shouted
viva Zclaya. viva Mexico" A Mex
can timidlN cried. Down with the
Yankees, and was Kissed.
Ielaga was met fifty miles from the
apitai by Francisco Castro. Nicar-
guam minister to Mexico and close
iiend of the dictator. From the rail-
,Hy station he was conveyed in "A
oach To- the Palace hotel, where five
ooms had been engaged for himself
M party. As yet no arrangements
lave been made Tor Zelaya to meet
resident Diaz. though IL is believed
be- will call upon the chief executive
# Mexico in the next few DAYS to
hank him for his Kindness In permit
ing him to come To Mexico on the
.unboat Guerrero.
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