Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-24
VICE CONSUL IS ASKED FOR FACTS
Were Men Planting Mines on Their
Own Responsibility.
NAVY DEPARTMENT IS READY
Marines Can Be Sent South Any Time
After Tomorrow.
SALVADOR ARMY IS ACTIVE
RumOr that Government IL Preparing
to Invade NIcRraEuR-Number
of Americans Reported
Missing.

Missing.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2S-The delay cn
the part of the United states in taking
any action with respect to the killing by
order Of President Zelaya Of Nicaragua, OF
the two Americans. Groce and Cannon, it
developed today is occasioned by he in
ability Of the government up to this time
to fix the exact status in Nicaragua OF the
slain men.
1t was explained today that every ef-
fort was being made through government
agencies to determine whether tn Sc men
were in fact, members OF the revolutionary
army or whether they We're acting on their
own responsibility at the time they wers
captured. If fl can be proven, as seems
very doubtful, that they were really re-
sponslble for planting Of mines for tho
purpose Of blowing up troop ships Of the
Nicaraguan gov .mcnt and were ac.ins
in this matter Oh their own responsibility
their status would be very differeat from
what it would be were they acting as a
part of the revolutionary forces. 1t Is
this point that the state department is
trying to clear up before it takes any
aggressive action against Zelaya.
Vice Consul Asked for Facts.
The American vice consul at Nicaragua,
Henry Caldeva, has been instructed to OBJ
tain a npossible information on the sub
iect and it is believed that other agencies
have also been employed for the same pur-
pose and until this Information is received
it is extremely doubtful IL The United
States will take any steps looking to the
chastlsement Of ZeaCa beyond putting it.
self in a position to act promptly should
occasion require it,
1t is believed that plans for the concen-
tration Of warshps and marines on the
Nicaraguan coast will continue and il may
be that this show Of force win have a
marked effect in stimulating the energies
and hopes of the reyolutionsts and result
in large accessions to their army from the
dlsaffected portions OF the country held
by zelaya's army
Navy is Ready to Act.
! The Navy department is preparing for
any eventuallty in Nicaragua.
Overtime work mas resulted in putting
! the troop ship Prairie now at the Phiu-
delphia navy yard, in a condition TO sail
at any moncnS after Thursday of this
! week, with 400 marines who are imme-
diately available for transportation to
/ Nicaragua. If necessary. this number
! can be increased within few hours
notice to 700 or even 500.
/ 1t is known that the naval officers are
/ hourly in expectation Of receiving orders
: to direct the Prairie to sail and they
would not be in the least surprised If
other warships were ordered TO the Mica
raguan coast.
/ $ / nco prevailed at the State department
! today. Secretary Knox and Assistant Sec
retary Wilson were not at the deplrtm, mt
and Assistant Secretary Adee stated that
nothing had been received by the depart
men, that chang the Nicaraguan status
in any degree.
At the end OF a TWO hour and a half
/ session Of the cabinet today, 1t was an
nouncCd that neither the NicaraGuan sit
uauon, the Standard oil decision, nor the
sugar trust fraud situation in New YORK
had been considered.
Salvador May Take Part.
NEW ORLEANS sSUy. IA dispatch
from Port Lima, Costa Ilica, says that
passengers arriving at Punta Arenas re-
port great moye.aeEt OF troops In sal
vadorean ports 1t is said General Pru-
dencio Aifaro is at the head Of 1,OO0 Mica
raguans. This expedition is said TO be
well armed and equipped.
The arrival Of Don Luis AlonzO Bara-
hona, the eX-Candidate for the presidency
Of Salvatore, is mumentaYIly expected and
he Will join with Allaro and glgueroa as
one OF lnt revolutionary GnlGLs.
The revolution,sts are said u ~ IA
possession Of Castillo Vicjo.
In q san Jose paper IL Is predicted that
the invasion OF Salvador boy Nlcaraguans
may precipitate a general uprising In Cen
tral America.
Following is the situation as seen in
Salvador.
| II Altaro is beaten the troops Of Sal
vador and Guatemala VIII march through
Honduras to attack Zelaya. II Alfaro sue
coods, a revolution in Guatemala viii be
assured.
Scores Of applications from Americans
for service In the Estrada army I'm Mica
ragua are being received by his office,
according to Consul General Sussman, rep
rcsenung the provisional government in
New orleans. None OF the offers has been
accepted on account OF the neutrality laws.
Most Of the applications are from the
gulf states.
a cablegrum from Colon to the Plcayuue
tonight says: Passengers arriving from
/ Nicaragua report that a number OF Amer
leans who were in business In Nicaragua
are missing and say that they are lan-
gushing in jail
I president ZGlaya has plastered all that
portion Of Nicaragua governed by him with
flaming posters denouncIng the Americans
in JDe most violent language and calling the
present revolution 'thc Gringo conspiracy"
The cruiser Des MOines has gone to
/ Greytown