The San Francisco call., 1909-12-25
ESTRADA'S MEN
WERE NO COMIC
OPERA SOLDIERS
Nicaraguan Insurgents Fought
Bravery in Desperate Con-
f1ict With ZeIaya's Army
Successful General Expects No
Further Opposition in His
March to the Capital

the National railway and Of the Ma
tional steamship line
Through some peculiar framing Of
The customs laws he also benefited from
premiums on the expectation of cef-
Zee, lumber, gold. hides and rubber
snd from duties OF from 10. TO so per
cent on the importations Of all sorts Of
manufactured articles.
Among his other known interests
were the street cleaning OF Managua,
done by contract; the sugar refinery of
san Antonio. the planning mills and the
sale OF property to or by the govern
snent. He also exacted a share in all
concessions granted by the government
IN this manner. He is a large stock
holder in concessions granted 10 the
g uehelds company-James Dietrick
Guichora. Salazar, Emery-snd in q
number Of mining concessions.
Power of the Trusts
The system was so perfected that no
land owner could devote his property
10 raising sugar cane or tobacco with
out the authorization of trusts created
and controlled b. Zelsya.
On the Atlantic side Zelsya has op-
Grated through the business house of
Lopez & Martinez. Lopez is cousin
of Zelaya and is now Jailed by the rev
oIutionists Through this house alone
Zelaya has just received profits of
5000 or $4,000 American money
Railways and steamers of the coun-
Try were managed for him by his part
ner. Julio West, a Swiss. The con-
tract for the construction of the rail-
way from san Miguel TO Monkey point.
which ne controls through West Is
To cost the government $2O.0 United
States money per month. The country
already has disbursed $500. 600 in the
last three years on this line. and only
four miles have been built
National finances also have been used
for his enrt -hment. The system has
been for Zelaya to underwrite govern
rnent bonds at a large discount and
then TO dispose of them TO bankers at
SO per cent profit.
= II is conservatively estimated that
he appropriated So per cent OF all Gus
toms dues by the simple process of
compelling payment OF customs dues
through compulsory purchases Of gov
ernment bonds, Of which he alone was
supplied and which he sold al so per
cent appreciation over par after having
bought them at 40 per cent discount
sfroH par
No Cost for Labor
Then. again. zeIaya operated a
plantation in the Champ de Mars, which
soldiers OF the garrison work for him
Another he owned in partnership with
the commander Of the penitentiary and
they divided the profits, the labor be-
ing convict labor for which they did
not pay. Through a dummy he has the
contract for the new drainage system
= So. rs~- L. ,o-nva
he holds the contract for the clothing
and equipment Of the army
Zelsva maintained q special Office
for diseounting salaries of state en-
ployes. paying them 20 per cent of
their claims and retaining 80 per cent
commissions. To render this effective
the treasury was maintained in an
empty condition.
Each governor of department (prov-
ince) had the exclusive privilege of
trading in cigars, cigarettes and to-
hacco, the local privilege of traffic
IN aguardiente and the licensing OF
games Of chance, and was compelled
10 turn in TO Zelaya so per cent Of the
proceeds.
Battle of Rama
BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua, Dec "a
The details OF the battle of Rama are
now known. The victory of the in
surgents was as complete as has been
claimed by them.
After two days Of fighting, the
fercest that Central America has seen
General Estrada Tuesday wiped ont the
enemy OF Zelaya's army Of 5000 mer
but SOC escaped. The killed and wounded
On both sides. as before reported. num-
bered 500. and 1900 of the government
froops surrendered after a desperat te
resistance. Three Hotchkiss and -four
Maxim guns 1000 rifles and 100000
rounds Of ammunition We're included in
the booty.
General Estrada processes to believe
that his march to Managua will be un-
opposed
DeIirious With Joy
Biuefelds and the neighboring coun-
try are delirious with joy. The victory
ie said to have been won on the very
day scheduled for the Inauguration oi
Doctor Madriz OF Nicaragua in success.
sion to Zelaya-
General Luis Mena is again here. Hi,
troops arrived on the scene OF battle
when the victory was in the balanc,
and turned the tide in favor of the in
surgents.
Uncle Sans Surgeons
At the request of United States Con
SUI DlCndls AOluIuduQSE CLlDl6N OF lQt
United States cruiser Des Moines SEN
his hospital squad ashore, establishing
an Independent hospital where 40 o
the wounded are receiving care. The
American medical men have been abl,
10 give their services to all who were
IN need Of them.
Six Americans participated in th'
battle, operating rapidfire guns. Thel
escaped injury with the exception o
one named Bashford. who received
three bullets in leg.
The prisoners include General Con
zales and General Castrillo. Genera
Nasquez, who was returning to Ram;
from Managua when hostilities began
did not reach the scene during tn
fighting. He was a few miles distan
when the government troops wer,
routed and il is possible that some so
men escaped with him.
Taken by Assault
After zelaya's trenches had beeI
shelled they were taken by assault il
the trenches were several women VIII,
preferred risking their lives in the con
fict to starvation in camp.
These women were armed with rifle,
and fought coura geousiy. One of then
was wounded and later brought to tn
hospital here. A large proportion o
the prisoners was found to be boy
under IS years OF age. They accepte,
defeat as though IL were very welcome