The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-03-18
GUNBOATS IN FIGHT
Salvador and Nicaragua In
Naval Conflict
MEXICO HEARS OF BATTLE
United States orders Envoy Home,
Breaks of Diplomatic Relations
with zelayas Country and Gives
Strict Orders to Warships.

Mexico City, Mar. 19.-lt is reported
here that war has broken out between
Nicaragua and Salvador and that there
has been an engagement between the
Sflvadorean gunboat Presidente ana
the Nicaraguan gunboat Momotombo
Three Nicaraguan gunboats, led by
the Momotombo. attacked the Saliva.
dorean gunboat Presidente The lat.
ter by a lucky shot put the Momotom.
bo out of action almost at the begin.
ming of the engagement. The three
Nicaraguans then withdrew. Later the
Momotombo was repaired and went in
pursuit of the Presidente.
The first engagement took place
Tuesday. The gunboat Presidente left
the port of Acajutla under sealed or.
ders and proceeded to cruise along the
Nicaraguan coast.
President Zelaya OF Nicaragua. get
ting wind of this, ordered the Mono
tombo and two other ships TO intercept
the Salvadorean vessel and engage II
in battle. The Presidente was encoun
tered off the harbor of Corinto but
succeeded in getting in action first and
disabling the Momotombo The latter
was compelled to withdraw and limped
back to the port of Corinto.
II is believed that a second engage
ment was fought either Thursday or
yesterday. According to reports the
Momotombo carries among its crew
American officers and gunners.
The result was unknown.
The Mexican government is without
official advices as to the truth of these
rumors.
The Herald yesterday advocated an.
nexation of the five Central American
states by Mexico The general opin.
ion here is that intervention is newt
able and Mexico looks to the United
States to make the initial move.
United States and Nicaragua Split.
Washington, Mar. 13.-Owing to the
continued disturbed conditions in Mic
aragua and President Zelaya's failure
10 make serious efforts looking to the
settlement of the Emery claim the
state department yesterday, by with
drawing Mr.. Gregory. the American
charge at Managua and ordering the
legation placed in the hands of the
consul, who will have no diplomatic
capacity, practically broke off diplo
matte relations with that country.
Affairs in Central America have
been closely watched by the American
and Mexican governments, both OF
which have now come to an under
standing that the time has arrived
when drastic measures should be en-
forced to insure peace in the Central
American republics.
Ambassador La Barra of Mexico
spent some time at the state depart
ment In conference with Assistant
Secretary Wilson, and the determine
'tion was reached that If the American
warships now in Nicaraguan waters
and those 10 be sent there are not suf
ficient to impress President Zeaya
that the treaty of peace entered into
between the Central American repub
lies is not TO be lived up to more rad
ical steps would be taken TO accom-
plish that result The impression was
given that II need be Intervention
would be resorted OF. The govern
ments of the United States and Mex
leo, 1t was stated, are in full accord as
to the policy to be pursued toward
Nicaragua, and are now anticipating
Zelaya's further moves.
Report Of War Unconfrmed.
So far as could be ascertained no
official information has been received
here Of a reported naval engagement
between gunboats OF Nicaragua and
Salvador. AS bearing on affairs in Mic
argua the following statement was OBJ
tained from official sources:
Under telegraphic orders issued by
the navy department an armored
cruiser will remain upon the west
coast OF Nicaragua pending the ar,
rival OF the Yorktown, to take that
stand Indefinitely and the Dubuuue
and Tacoma are proceeding to cruise
on the Atlantic coast OF Nicaragua and
in the neighborhood OF Honduras"