The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-22
REPORTS SAY THAT GENERAL
ESTRADA ROUTED rRocrs
OF ZELAYan FACTION.
ANOTHER FIGHT EXPECTED
AoV'ees Declare That Revolutionary
Army Will Bend Every Effor. to Force
'ne Unconditional Surrender of the
Government Soldiers Then March
Upon the Capital of Nicaragua

Washington. Dec q. Zafaya.s
troops were routed by the Nicararu,n
reNolutionists today in fierce battla
al Rama lasting five hours. according
I" adNices received here this afternoon.
General Estrada. in command Of The
revolutionary army. is reported To have
been successful all along the line. The
battle will be renewed tomorrow. aa.
vices declare. and the Estrada army
viii bend all efforts to comneI ,ha
surrender Of the government forces
uncondtionaily
There is some doubt as TO the ax.
tent of Estrada's success From rav-
olutionary sources the word il sen,
the victory over the Zelayan troops is
complete" The state department has
received word from Thomas II. Nof-
fatt United States consul at Blue
fields, that Estrada had partially
routed and defeated the forces OF Za-
laya. II Is agreed, however. that
the moral effect of such initial sue
cess on the part of the revolutionists
can hardly be exaggerated
The first announcement of the sue
cess or Estrda's arms came in a cable-
gram to DIR. Castrillo. representative
here of the provisional government,
II was signed "Diaz.' Diaz is secre-
tary of state for the provisional gov
ernment. The cahlegram said.
complete victory is ours. Zelaya's
troops are in retreat"
Later tonight the state department.
gave oct the following message from
Consul Moffatt. which had. been sent
by wireless from Colon:
Estrada forces at Tatumbla ana
Recrea. near Rama. commanded by
General Mena at the former place and
General Chamorro. Mattuty and For
nos Diaz at the latter place, partially
routed and defeated the forces Of Ze.
laya. after desperate fighting for sew.
eral hours. The Zelesan forces were
commanded by General Gonzales. A
great many We're killed. the number
being unknown: 100 We're wounded and
l5o prisoners We're taken by the rev.
olutionists. The Zeiayan troops at
Recreo have occupied what has been
considered a strong position. Estrada
Is confident of defeating the enemy
when he renews the attack toma0row
and of forcing their surrender"
The clash between the two armies
was not unexpected here. For DAYS
the armies have been lying PRACTICAL
iy idle in their trenches around Rama.
skirmishes only marring the peace
that brooded over that section. Es-
trada played waiting game in tho
hope that Zelayan commanders would
take the initiative and attempt the
capture of his position. which was re-
ported as strong. Furthermore. with
the waning of President Zelaya.s star
he expected large number of ac-
cessions from the Zeiayan army.
Decides to Strike.
When Zelaya addicted and practical
ly dictated the election of DIR. Madriz
as his successor, Estrada. according
To his diplomatic friends here. de-
termined to strike. Accordingly. he
moved his army forward yesterday and
took the field actively against the
enemy. DIR. Castrillo and his friends
look forward confidently To the re-
ceipt of word of complete victory
and Of the beginning Of the march Of
the triumphant army on the capital.
No official of the state department
would discuss the reported victory.
Ii is known, however. that the news
was not unwelcome Had the Zelayan
army Won. this government would
have been in a somewhat emharrass-
ing position. having esnoused openly
the cause of the provisional govern
ment. In Central Amer can diplomat
lc circles the word brought joy and
there was a general celebration to-
night. The diplomats join in the pre-
fietion that this first victory IS the
beginning III the end nf Ze.ayanism.
and that the next step will be In force
the retirement 0f President Madrix on
the ground that he is n tool of Zelaya
and not the real chief executive of
the country.