Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-16
Recent Ruling May Have to be
Amended to Permit Double Duty.
GUNBoAT PRINCETON SAILS SOUTH
Will Join with Three Other Yankee
Vessels at the Harbor of Corinto.
KNOX HALTs THE zELAYA PROBE
Secretary Asks Committee 10 POST
pOne investigation of Murder
Southern President orders Many
CitiEena Sent to Prison.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15-The Near
| guam situation has caused navy officials
/ some perplexity as to the availability Of
marines on the abttleshlps for service in
| that country
The difficulty presents itself by reason
of the provisio tackled to the navy appro-
! priation bill of the last session Of con-
gress by which the money was to be
available only on condition that the ma
rlncs were restored to the duties hitherto
assigned to them. This made It obliga-
tory that the marines, who had been taken
off the vessels in the navy on which they
were serving, be restored to the battle
ships.
The aeustion now arises as to the avil,
ability of the marines on the vessels of
the navy for duty on shore, There is
said to be no doubt in the minds of naval
officers that the marines might be landed
for temporary duty. If the demand for
service continued, however, the naval
officials are not so sure as TO how long
they would be justified in keeping the
marines ashore.
One authority has taken the position that
the marines could be kept there. even after
the vessel to which they had been as.
signed had sailed away. Others maintain
that this would eb a plain violation of
the law.
Approaching the feelings OF congress on
the subject of keeping the marines on the
vessels the department is said to be de.
termined to go slow in trying to have the
law amended. but It is no secret that It
would be pelased If congress would change
/ the law.
AAnkee Vessel Hnstens south.
The gunobat Princeton is approaching
Nicaragua territory and reported at the
Navy department as being at Acapulco
Mexico, yesterday. 1t is bound for Corinto
and its arrival there will make four war
vessels at that port Of Nicaragua. f',,
On its way from Seattle 1t will achieve
the undesirable record Of being the first
of the American vessels sourpying off to-
ward Nicaragua to run aground. The
cruiser Prairie, by attempting to take a
short cut to Panama across Pea Patch
island in the Delaware river, now sharos
honors with the Princeton.
1t was officially denied at the Navy
department that the battleship Missouri
was making ready to go to Nicaragua, as
had been reported.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-secretary OF
State Knox has requested the senate COM
mittee on foreign relations to postpone the
suggested investigation Of the Nioaraguan
situation until such time as he is able
to give the committee clear understand
ing of Central American affairs.
The committee was called together today
with the idea of having Secretary Knox
make some statement which would ac-
quaint the members with the exact situa-
tion in Nicaragua, but the committee ac-
QulRSCad In his
ment
Published interviews with Senior Enrique
c. Creel have represented him as coming
with View to acting as a sort of
mediator in any trouble between the United
States and Nicaragua The opinion was
expressed by the committeeman that Senor
Creel should be received the ambas-
sador Of President Diaz, but that he could
not be received in the capacity Of a medI-
ator between Nicaragua and the United
States.
Yesterdays dispatches containing an ac-
count OF the anti-Zeiayan demonstration in
Managua were confirmed by a telegram re-
ceived by the State department from Vice
Consul Caldera, From this, which was
dated yesterday morning, it appears that
some OF the demonstrants were arrested by
government authorities but who the pris-
oners were is not indicated. The dispatch
also says zelaya has published a statement
promising to resign the presidency of Mica
ragua In favor of MadriE. who, as Zelaya's
candidate. is not the choice Of the people
there,
Cheer United States.
Mr.. Caldera, in speaking of the demon
stration the night before. says that large
crowds surrounded the American legation
cheering the government and people OF
the United States.
In the absence Of any specific informa-