The San Francisco call., 1909-05-13
United States Will Make Gem
tral American Republics Let
Each Other Alone
Grew of Cruiser Albany in Fight
With Force of EmigradOs
Invading Salvador
John MOisant, American Citi-
zen and Trouble Maker Acting
as Agent for Nicaragua
II the Leader Has Been Cap
tured He VIII Be Tried
as Traitor

w terday by San Franciscans
who are deeply concerned in
isthnian affairs of an engagement
in Nicaragua between the crew
of the United States cruiser Albany
and force of emigrados that John
Moisant was leading against Salvador.
The engagement was brief and de-
cisive, and although no informa-
ton to that effect has been re-
ceived it is believed that Moisant
has been or will be taken pris-
oner and brought to this country
for trial under an almost forgotten
federal law making it treason for an
/ American citizen 10 act in a friendly
1 foreign country contrary to the de-
clared policy of the United States
While the news of the engagement
has been received from an apparently
reliable source kilograms from Wash
ington state that the navy department.
knows nothing of any unusual activity
in Central America
Following news of the Albany's
active interference in the Central
American quarrelfest comes word
that President Taft has taken further
steps TO compel Nicaragua's s observ-
ance of the peace compact entered
into with the United States by all the
Central American republics. A force
of 200 men, it is reported, left Pen
sacola April % for the trouble belt.
and if it is necessary more ships will
be sent. The Albany is now at Co
rinto and the cruisers Colorado and
South Dakota are at Amapala.
Moisant Is Trouble Maker
John Moisant is held at Washing
ton to be largely responsible for the
failure of Nicaragua to comply with
the terms of the peace pact. Original
| ly he was located in Salvador. where
as long as he engaged in the legiti-
mate business of raising sugar ne en-
ljoyed prosperity and Salvador internal
peace. A desire for more, however.
led him to mix up with the politics of
the country. He decided that presi-
dent of his own selection would be
easier to work for concessions than
Figueroa. He set to work to STIR up
revolution. The story of his efforts
has been told and retold 1t ended in
Moisant being driven out of Salvador.
/ He found refuge in Nicaragua,
where, as a secret agent, he entered
the service of President Zelaya, one of
Figueroa's bitterest enemies. Other
trouble makers were deported from
/ Salvador and Moisant's work was to
gather these emigrados together in
I Nicaragua. arm and equip them at
! Zelayas expense. and invade Salvador
when the proper time arrived. This
/ force of discredited SalvadOrans was
concentrated at the most northerly
point on this coast of Nicaragua
From there it is a short trip across
the gulf OF Fonseca to Salvador, and
the expedition was to be ferried over
on the Nicaraguan gunboat Mono
tombo and an ancient yacht that was
bought some months ago at Panama
Forgot About Uncle Sam
Moisant seems to have thought the
time for attack had arrived and also
seems to have overlooked the vigi-
lance of the United States navy. The
emigrados under Moissnt and the Al
bany's company met at Playa. about
20 miles southeast of the volcano of
Cosiquina and the march on Salvador
came to sudden stop.
Moisant and his ambition to dictate
in Central America have cost the
United States government some. pres
tige and vast sums of money. Before
Washington realized that most Of the
trouble was of Moisant's own making
the state department took his part
Special agents were sent TO Salvador
to see that Moisant's 5 sacred rights as