Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-12-03
ULTIMATUM GIVING PASSPORTS TO
LITTLE REPUBLICS CHARGE A
SCATHING DOCUMENT.
REBELS GET ENCOURAGE
United States Government Recognizes
Revolt as Indicating Feeling of
Nicaraguans.
SEA SOLDIERS EAGER FOR FRAY.

first step of the United States govern
ment toward backing up the declaration
made by Secretary of State Knox re-
gardlng the Nicaraguan situation, was
taken today when the secretary of the
navy sent urgent orders to the com
manders of the cruiser Albany and the
gunboat Yorktown, the two American
warships which are now at Magdalena
bay, lower California. to proceed forth
! with to Corinto, the Pacific coast port of
Nicaragua, nearest to the capital of that
country.
The Buffalo, now at Panama, can sail
tor CorintO at an hours notice. and
other warships along both the Pacific
and Atlantic coast could land marines
Or blue jackets within a few hours.
Thus the government is in a position to
seize Corinto or take other offensive
action should the situation seem to war
rant.
information received at the state de-
partment during the last few days in
dlcatess that the Zelayan army as well
as the Zelayan government is disintegrat-
ing. On the other hand, the revolu-
tlonlsts under Estrada are receiving con-
slant accessions.
Marines Ordered to Sail
The troop ship Prairie with detachment
OF about 100 marines aboard for Panama
and possibly for service IN Nicaragua
has received orders to sail from Phila-
delphia this afternoon.
When the officers, buejackets and ma
rlnes who are about to sail south on the
transport Prairie, read today the inter
esting letter of Secretary of State Knox.
Of bnt
ably would eat their Christmas dinner
in or about Nicaragua
While the marines are ostensibly
scheduled to leave tomorrow for the
Panama canal zone to relieve marines
now on duty there, the men at the yard
there feel sure that the latest turn i'll
the Nicaraguan situation dispels any
doubt about the ultimate destination of
the Prairie. All are in high spirits. and
eager to get away.
Besides taking south the marines. tba
Prairie will carry two field pieces, SOO.-
600 rounds of ammunition. and tents and
other equipment for the 700 men.
The concentration of the four warshiDs
together with the Buffalo with al! her
marines at Corinto is taken to Indicate
the determination of the officials here to
be able to meet any call for the pro-
lection of American citizens. On the
Albany are about $50 blue Jackets. an
on the Nicksburg, Yorktown and Prince
ton about 100 each. These, together
with the marines, would make an army
equal to any organizat ton reported to be
serving under Zelaya.
Will Have Large Force.
At the same time the United States
will have formidable force within strik-
ing distance OF the Atlantic coast in
case of danger to American lives or prom
erty in that section Of Nicaragua At
Port Limon, Costa Rica are anchored
the cruisers DeS Moines and Tacoma.
each with $50 men aboard and the gun,
boat Marietta with $50 men,
Admiral William W. kimban i,
Washington today for PHILADELPHIA =,
take passage to Panama on the Prairie.
His mission on the itshmus of Panama
is not explained at the department. but
it is believed that he will take command
of the navy forces operating against
Nicaragua. He will probably proceed to
CorintO.
There is rejoicing today in the ranks
Of the Nicaraguan instruction party
who have been friends of President Ze-
laya. The cause is the ultimatum hand
ed down yesterday by the United States
to the Nicaraguan government, and is
contained in the note which accompanied
the passports delivered by Secretary OF
State Knox to Felipe Rodriguez, charge
of the Nicaraguan legation.
Time Has Come to Act.
The strength of the note and its per-
sOnal tone are the subjects of comment
in diplomatic circles. 1t is generally
recognized that the United States has
decided the time has come TO put an
end to further attacks on American life
and interests in Central America
The far-reaching effect of the note is Il
matter of especial comment. The fact
that President Zelaya is, apparently, to
be held responsible for the murder, so
called of the two Americans GrOce and
Cannon, and that the note intimates that
Zelaya is the culprit, put sting to the
situation. Almost feverish interest in the
next step of this government is manifest.
Concealed in the vigorous but carefully
prepared note dictated by Secretary
Knox is seen a warning to the Central
American republics that they must be
have and conduct themselves as other re-
publics in the western hemisphere con-
duct themselves This and the direct an
nouncement that the United States in
tend to see that the family of western
republics live tremendously, is believed
by displomats to be epochal. The Mon
roe doctrine has attained in the eyes of
the diplomats a new dignity
Most Scratching Document.
The letter is seemingly a mere pro-
test against existing conditions and,
while it bristles with declarations, it
smacks of the so-called American short
sleeve" diplomacy. That this view of
the document is incorrect is plainly
shown by careful reading. The note is
generally regarded as one of the most
scathing documents issued from the state
department in many years.
STILL GUESSING ABOUT COOK.