Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-20
STATE DEPARTMENT. is AT.
TEMPTING TO DETERMINE
WHETHER CHARGES AGAINST
MEN JUSTIFIED DEATH.
ONE THOUSAND
ARE IMPRISONED
RETURNING PASSENGERS FROM
NICARAGUA TELL OF zELAYNs
ACTIVITY; PRESIDENT DIS
TRUSTS OWN MEN.

Panama, Nov. 1ss--Rassensers
arriving from Nicaragua report
that ze!aya, distrustina hts own
men, has surrounded himself with
foreigners and that 1000 persons
have been Imprisoned either be-
cause they were suspected of dis
loyalty or had refused to contrib
ute to the war tax.
Washington, Nov ia tense sit.
uatlon exists this morning as a result
of the execution of the two Americans,
Cannon and Grace, In Nicaragua. 1t is
fairly shown by the press dispatches
that the court martial trial was on
the charge that they had attempted by
the use of dynamite mines to blow
up President zelaya's troop transports.
II the state department advices con-
firm this story the question at issue
will be whether the charge against the
men justified their execution. II 1t
should appear the Americans slipped
within the lines under disguise when
they planted the mines they might be
regarded as spies and SO subjected ia
summary execution. but if engaged Ii,
their work openly, It will probably be
held that they should have been treat
ed as prisoners Of war. In the latter
case there Is no doubt Zelaya will be
called to account and ample repara
tion demanded.
Insurgents Have Upper Hand.
Indications seem clearly to point
to the recognition by the United
States government of the belligerency
of the revoutionists in Nicaragua and
1t Is not improbable public declara-
tion to that effect will soon be made.
The insurgents are in practical con-
troll Of at least half Of tn ewhole Mic
araguan territory and have possession
Of the entire Atlantic coast line ex-
cept Greytown and the blockade of
that port will complete the whole line.
The warships dispatched to the
Ntcaraguan ports will probably reach
their destination today.
In determination to enforce the
Root compact of peace in South and
Central America, If by so doing 1t re-
quires a naval force and the practical
control Of that Central American re-
public, the government has made
peremptory demand on President Ze.
laya for an explanation of the execu-
tion Of two Americans condemned as
insurrectionists, and has practically
recognized the belligerency Of, the Me
araguan revolutionists.
Irritated beyond further patience by
the attitude Of Zelaya, whom it looks
upon as another edition OF Cipriano
Castro, and reused to Indignation by
his apparent efforts to foment discord
and threaten the peace of this hemis-
phere, if not involve the powers of Eu-
rope, the United States government
has thrown aside all further efforts Mt
|conciliation.
Leroy Cannon, one of the Americans
executed, is Pennsylvania who has
been identified with Central American
disturbances for several years. He
was chief OF police of San Miguel, San
Salvador, and was mixed UP In the
revolution OF two years ago. He was
arrested at Tegucigalpo and thrown in
to prison. President Davia wanted
to have him executed, but he was fin
ally released through the Offices of the
American ministry
Nothing has been learned of the
identity of Leonard Grace. 1t Is ex-
pected that this information will be
forthcoming Immediately, as the state
department has called upon the Ameri-
can vice consul at Managua for 3 re.
port
Senior Hazera expressed himself last
night as deeply disappointed at the ar
rangement. He refused to make
statement, but did declare that he had
no intention of leaving Washington at
present unless ordered to do SO by his
government.
The attitude of the government was
clearly shown late today. when the
state department sent a dispatch TO
the Bluefields Steamship company, the
headquarters of which is in New Or
leans. The company's regular steam
er was about to set sail for Biuefields,
Nicaragua, with a miscellaneous cargo
in which were a number of rifles and
other munitions Of war.
The corporation was warned by
agents of the Nicaraguan insurrection.
ary forces that the vessel would be liza.
bic to seizure, and the steamship com.
|pany promptly called on the state de.
partment to declare the protection this
government would give in such a case