Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-03
Associated PressI

VIZ ASHINGTON, Dec. a.
w Naval forces of the United
W States are being moved for
ward tonight to both coasts of
Central America to protect Amer
lean life and property in Mica
ragua by force of arms if neces-
5ary.
With the departure this after
noon from Philadelphia of the
troop ship Prairie, with 700 ma
raines aboard, for the isthmus of
Panama, and, if it be decreed, for
Nicaragua, and with the sailing
from Magdalena bay of the pro-
rected cruiser Albany and the
gunboat Yorktown for Corinto,
on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua,
activity of the navy department
was becoming manifest on both
oceans that wash the Nicaraguan
shores.
Besides the cruisers Des
Moines and Tacoma and the gun
boat Marietta are lying off Port
Limon, Costa Rica, ready Tor
any call upon them. and guns OF
the little gunboat Vicksburg are
pointed toward the custom house
and town of Corinto. The gun
boat Princeton also is endeavor-
inc to make her way from the
Bremerton navy yard to Corinto'
Flag officer Sent
With the probability of many dell
cate questions arising in Nicaragua
the navy department decided TO send d
dag officer to Nicaragua to take COM
mand of the American naval torces.
Rear Admiral William w. Alillpah
was chosen. He sailed for Colon, ran
anna. today on the Prairie. lie VIII
n,ni,e ,,,l his way from there to Corinto,
doubtless as rapidly as possible
Admiral Kimball is member OF the
naval boards of examinations ana re-
tirements and of construction.
No marines have been landed at any
noint in Nicaragua. That statement
was made to the Associated Press 10
night by Brigadier General George r
Elliott, commanding the United states
marine corps. .,.. -,
hoard any United States war vessels
now in Nicaraguan waters" said Gen.
eral Elliott "The marines nearest
Nicaragua are at Panama"
"HaVe they been ordered to Near
agua?'' General Elliott was asked;
mot yet" replied the commander
Cruiser Runs Aground
Carving a rear admiral of the United
states navy. two battalions of marines
and enough implements of war TO con
duct a vigorous campaign against tle
turbulent Central American republic
of Nicaragua, the auxiliary cruiser
Prairie ran aground on the soIt Iiuu Iiuu
Of the Delaware river tohlSht lew
hours after weighing anchor at the
Philadelphia navy yard bound Tor the
Caribbean sea.
Tues were hastily summoned from
this city and it is hoped to release the
vessel so that it may proceed early TO-
morrow morning.
1t is believed the vessel sustained no
injury but, if necessary, the cargo can
be transferred to the cruiser Dixie
which lies in readiness at the Phlladei-
phia navy yard.
The Prairie is aground thirty-five
miles below Philadelphia. between Ne"
Castle and Delaware City. Reports
that stern measures would be adopted
against Nicaragua were given added
weight today when Rear Admiral VIII
liam w. Kimball reached here from
Washington and boarded the Prairie
as a passenger bound for the turbulent
zone.
In addition to the battalion Of 400
marines under the command of Major
S. d. Butler. which already had been
slated to go to Panama. a second
battalion commanded by Major p. A.
Bannon sailed on the vessel. The
combined force is under the. command
of Colonel Mahoney.
Extra Munitions
Two pieces of field artillery and a
machine gun were added to the mu-
nitions on board the Prairie today,
in addition to the two three~inch field
pieces placed on board yesterday. on
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