New-York tribune., 1909-12-30
ZELAYA ACCUSES
u. S. MARINES
SATS FOUR HUNDRED
FOUGHT At RAMA.
T5centy Men of Force, alleged
Deserters, Found Dead, J
He Declares. =

not my Judge / am answeraDle only 70
my government for my actions" said
Jose Santos Zelaya. following his arrival
to-day from Salina Cruz Asked to-
night what attitude he would assume
should Secretary Knox seek 10 have him
extradited from Mexico. Zelaya refused
TO discuss the probability Of such situ-
atiou but intimal ted that Secretary
Knox would not have the rigit 10 re-
guest his presence In the United States
II have no feeling against the Ameri-
can people at large, nor the govern
ment." he said. Secretary Knox has
been Systematically misinformed and
public opinion in the United States has
been prejudiced against me. but the real
facts must become known in time, and
IL is TO time that I trust for my vindl-
cation.
My relations with the preceding
American government We're exceedingly
friendly The present situation contains
many unfortunate conditions. both for
our own people in Central America and
the Americans. Secretary Root had the
complete confidence OF Central America
and his policies were drawing the people
closer together. politically and COM
titude of Secretary Knox is undOing all
that work throughout Latin America
Zelaya made the assertion that Ameri-
can marines engaged in several recent
battles in Nicaragua and that twenty OF
them were killed He said:
a WEIRD TALE.
There were four hundred Americans
fighting with the insurgents at the re-
cent battle of Rama AT the battle OF
Colorado Junction, on November 1, the
bodies of twenty American marines were
found dead on the field by our forces.
They were all from the American gun
| boats anchored in the river TO protect
American interests. The official expla-
nation given me was that these men
were deserters."
Zelaya believed that the confederation
of all the Central American republics
would ultimately be brought about. as
the great masses of the people were
unionisrs The principal obstacle to the
union thus far has been the selfish arti-
tude of persons in power, animated Dy
private interests
He favored central government for
the new republic rather than strong
federal government. explaining his
meaning that under a central govern
meflt the various states would preserve
their identity, having officers 70 transact
surh general business as might concern
the whole of Central America and leav-
ing each of the present republics more
or less independent in handling its IN
ternaI affairs.
ZeIaya declared that on December 20.
1907. he teIegraphed Washington his will
ingness to retire from the Presidency and
from politics altogether if a cOnfedera-
tion of the FIVE Central American states
could be brought about
EXECUTION OF AMERICANS.
.sThe Immediate outlook in central
America" said ZeIaya. is difficult TO
prophesy The struggle between the
present government and the forces OF
Estrada will probably reach climax IN
short time. but so many factors enter
INTO the result that IL would be very
wise man indeed who could discount
the future
Estrada Cabrera is the evil genius OF
cur people. for we are all Central Amer
leans at heart. without sectional lines
Cabrera has poisoned the minds AT
washington He has furnished money.
suDnIies and men 10 the insurgents IN
the recent fighting. He will do the same
against the actual government of Hon
duras. but he will never be accepted by
our people, and his Vaccinations must
be exposed in time so he will be known
for what he is
ZeIaya declared that he never signed
an order for the execution of Cannon
and Groce. but added that il was true he
| refused TO interfere with the carrying
| out of the sentence of the court martial
| He said;
These men were contracted for in
! Guatemala to assist the revOIutionists-
/ Cannon had only recently been set at
/ liberty in Honduras upon his promise
| made before the secretary OF the Ameri-
| can Legation in TegucigaIpa and the
/ American Consul TO leave Central Amer
| lea forever. Both officers acted as his
/ sponsors.
| The men were engaged at the time Of
/ their capture in charting the country
/ and laying mines in the rivers for the
, destruction of the troop ships of the gov
/ ernment. They also acted as spies
/ They We're tried by court martial ac-
| Cordiug to law and found guilty. I ap-
| proved the findings absolutely in the in
terests of military discipline.
1 SAY THEY CONFESSED
The stories of torture are absurd
/ The men were not even held incommuni-
cado. as is customary. but were allowed
to use telephone and telegraph lines 10
communicate with their friends have
\ in my possession statements from both
men. in which they not only admitted
their guilt completely. but asked for
pardons and offered To take commissions
with the government forces"
ZeIaya on his arrival to-day was met
by a delegation OF Central Americans
| AS he stepped from Pullman car sew
| eral persons in the crowd shouted
| Viva Zelsya, Viva Mexico." A Mexican
timidiy cried Down with the Yankees."
/ and was hissed.
Zelaya was met fifty miles from the
capital by Francisco Castro. Nicaragtlan
Minister To Mexico. From the railway