The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-11
TAFT MUST HURRY
Nicaraguan Revolution Appears
to Be on Its Last Legs.
Now Relies for Success Upon
American Intervention.
TRICKED BY ZELAYA.
Recent Truce Was for Purpose
of Improving His Position.
He Has an Army of 5000 Well
Equipped Men.

staff correspondent Oh the AssoCi1@oO
Press who recently arrived mere mas
canvassed the situation and finds it less
hopeful for the insurgents than mao
been believed.
General Estrada is greatly disturbed
and has appealed to United States Con-
sui Moffat for marines from the cruiser
Des Moines to protect Americans. 1t is
known. however, that what he really
wishes is intervention by the United
States to save the insurgent cause.
While General Vasquez, at the head
of a handful of loyal troops, was par
leying with Estrada's ENJOYS before
Rama, it is said the main army OF
ZeIaya was marching on Bluefields.
A disuuieting report comes from
Greytown, which is said to contain a
government force sufficient to rout the
besieei-9 troops under General Cha-
MORO whenever the word is given IL
is possible that the PROFESSIONALS are un-
duly alarmed. just as they appear TO
have been over confident; but the sltua-
ton is set forth as it is viewed from
the insurgent standpoint.
Blueields, Nicaragua, Dec. IL
There has been a sudden and unpIeas-
ant realization here of government
strength and insurgent weakness.
President Zelaya has outwitted Gener-
al Estrada and the latter's chief hope
is in American intervention.
1t turns out that the conference
sought by General Vasquez, of the
government troops, near Rama, and
which the insurgents had Interpreted
as a sign of yielding on the part of
Zelaya's troops was a blind intended
TO secure a delay of the expected bat
tie until the loyal army had gained
decided advantage of position. 1t is
also learned that while Zelaya had
kept a scattered force before Rama
his real army of 5000 men was hur-
rying by forced marches toward Blue
fields.
The report that a descent upon this
city from Rama was possible only by
river is now known to be untrue.
General Estrada endeavored to COW
ar his alarm by informing the cores
pondents at the front that all was
tranquil with the prospect that Gener-
al Statesque and Major Eva would
surrender
Rushed to Telephone.
Ten minutes after he mad talked
with reporters, the insurgent leader
had his chief diplomatic aide, Adolfo
Diaz on the telephone and was telling
him what he believed to be the true
situation. To his aide General
Estrada declared that the Americans
should send more marines ashore as
NasqueZ apparently had outfanked
him. Estrada also expressed the opin-
ion that a requistion should be made
of the United States government for
protection to the $50 Americans in
Bluefields- Diaz rushed to United
States Consul Moffatt with the intel
llgence and the consul assured him
that Commander Shipley's marines
from the United States cruiser Des
Moines with their six rapid fire guns
would ha hIa RI
here in the event that the loyal army
should suddenly surprise the CITY,
1t was recalled today that Major
Eva, one of the government envoys at
Yesterdays conference was the man
who surveyed the telegraph line
across the country and that none
knows better the hidden ways through
the forests, swamps and hills.
Taft Must Hurry.
If President Taft is determined that
Zelaya shall be deposed, it is believed
here that the United States forces will
find active participation in the strug-
gle necessary.
Apparently General Estrada has
reached the stage where he feels that
the situation is critical unless the
Americans are prepared to assume an
active and supreme control At pres
ent Commander Shipley awaits fur
ther orders from Admiral Kimbail
Al AOCd VI TIE GnemN'S aCIacklng
fortified Rama has been abandoned.
The truce which covered the con
ference of the government eryoys
and which was said to have been ar
ranged to further conceal the march
of Zeleya's men through the hills to-
wards Bluefelds is at an end
AT the conference Zelaya's repre-
sentatives used every pretext to DELAY
coming to the point, and wher the
came to an end it was
win demand that the insurgents in
the vicinity of Rama surrender
Further evidence of the alarm of
the insurgents is shown in connection
with movements of the Bluefields
Steamship company's steamer Di
GiOrgic.
Estrada Feared a Plot.
This company, which derived 2 big
revenue through a concession from
President Zelaya, has always beer he
lieved to be in sympathy with the
source of its revenue. It's shiDs are
in the practice of ascending the river
from BluefielGs to Rama to load with
freight However. on Monday Cen
eral Estrada. fearing a plot through
which the government troops which
were believed to have made a cetour
to Rama, would make a fake seizure
Of the vessel, ordered the up river
trip abandoned. He rushed 3O0I
troops toward Rama. and Thursday,
evidently convinced that these could
control the situation. gave permission
FOR the steamer to proceed to Rama. |
That same night the information was
that large force of the gov
ernment troops was stationed between
Rama and Bluefields, and at once
General Estrada ordered the steamer
% stop at Rama, which she did
Another cause for alarm among the
insurgents is the report brought by
he cruiser Des Moines that Zeiaya's
men at Greytown are far from the
desperate condition which has been
here. They are said to num- |
Der more than 5000 we'll fed ana well
paid soldiers and are opposed Only by |