Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-23
ESTRADA WINS
GREAT VICTORY
OVER ZELAYANS
600 KILLED AND INJURED IN
FIGHT AT RAMA
1900 OF ENEMY AND THEIR GEN.
ERAL SURRENDER
Two Americans Are Reported Slain.
Much Munition Is Sezed-Former
Ruler Issues Manifesto De-
nounclnp Americans
LAssociated Pressl

EOGE lGGDOJ iHSa' a9hat DSS' G-'
X General Estrada has won a
~ complete victory over the gov
srnment troops at Rama.
Six hundred men of both armies
were killed or wounded. Nineteen
hundred of ZeIaya's men have sur
rendered, including General Gonzales,
who was in command.
Two Americans are reported killed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Confirma-
tion of Associated Press dispatches
from Nicaragua was received today at
the navy department In a cablegram
from Commander Shipley OF the Des
Moines, now at Bluefields, dated 3
o'clock this morning. The additional
information is given In the navy de-
partment's adVices that General Cas-
tillo, four pieces of field artillery, 1900
rifles and 100000 rounds OF ammuni-
ton were included in the surrender.
The wounded have been carried to
Bluefelds, where the hospital facili-
ties are inadequate.
Commander Shipley says he has es-
tablished a hospital on shore, employ
ing surgeons, assistants and hospital
supplies from the Des Moines and the
Tacoma.
No>force has been landed from the
American warships, Commander Ship
ley says. Zelaya's loss in killed,
wounded and captured, 5'e reports, is
about 2600. II,
Earlier Dispat IS
An earlier telegram from Comman-
der Shipley, dated the 2lst, says the
revolutionary forces had gained de-
cisiye victory at Rama over the gov
ernment forces.
The telegram states that Estrada's
army on the Goth began an organized
attack on the government position.
The outposts of the Zelaya forces un-
der General Gonzales were defeated
and routed.
The fighting continued Tuesday.
General Vasquez of the government
forces is said to be n prisoner at Ma
nagua, but the cause of his arrest is
not known at the state department.
Commander Shipley's telegram adds
that the surrender of the entire gov
ernment force was expected yester-
day and that Estrada is confident or
complete success.
Commander Shipley says futher that
the United states gunboat Eagle Is
within the harbor, and is prepared at
any moment to land its bluejackets, but
in all probability such a course VIII
not be necessary.
Late tonight no official news of the
progress of events in Nicaragua had
been received by DR.. Castrillo. repre-
sentative in washington of the Estrada
government.
There was great rejoicing, however,
over the reported extent of Estradas $
victory, and this satisfaction was not
confined to the Nicaraguan partisans.
Practically all of the Central Ameri-
can diplomats Joined in the celebration
that marked the downfall of Zelaya,
who long has been regarded as dis
turbing factor in Central America.
1t is believed here that Estrada will
proceed next to Greytown and compel
the surrender of the government
troops bottled up in that place for
more than month.
This may take some time. The
country between Bluefields and Grey
town is swampy and difficult to nego-
tiate, especially for an army AS the
crow flies. it is only sixty miles, but a
wide detour probably will have to be
taken. almost doubling the distance.
once the news of the defeat of the
Zelayan troops at Bluef1elds is con-
veyed to Greytown garrison, the de-
l6dI Ol lIldl lOICGs IL is DGlGN6u ny rev
olutionist supporters here, will be
easy.
To Sack Towns
When that is accomplished the next
move of Estrada will be to capture the
small towns along San Juan river.
which flows past Greytown and couples
Lake Nicaragua with the sea.
In this man1yr the revolutionists
will have clear %, connection with their
base on the tel!board and will then
move swiftly; ward Managua.
In the opilVho of those who have
traversed the ,retuntry, the march of
the victoriou / trada army, even If
it is not opps1,5 1yu,k will take from six
to seven days N Re Managua is within
hailing distancsteu
Most of the 81 ney, it is expected,
will be made in bUats drawn by steam
ers or launches, and that landing will
be made near the capital or in a ter
ritory in which are fairly good roads.
No news of the reported gathering
of Honduran malcontents in Nicara-
guam territory had been received by
the Guatemalan or Honduran ministers
tonight.
The alleged revolutionary movement
is not taken seriously, especially since
the United States has so firmly marked