Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-23
Victory at Rama Puts
New Heart Into the
RevoIutiOnists.
Resignation as President Fol-
lowed by Taking Command
of the Forces.

trada, it is said, today will assume the
offensive against the government of
President Madriz. The insurgent lead
ers hold the Zelayan element was re-
moved from consideration by the
sweeping battle of Rama. Madriz and
associates represent the enemy. A
march on Managua is believed to be
| imminent.
One Feed Converts.
Prisoners captured at Rama have
been well fed, and all now espouse the
cause of Estrada They will be arm
ed and enrolled in the ranks of the
insurgents.
VIII Go Via Greytown.
Details of Estrada's further cam
paign are not made known, but 1t IS
understood his movement on Managua
will be via GreytOwn, which he ex-
poets to fall with little show of re-
sistance. Various groups of the en-
emy in the vicinity of the San Juan
river will be wiped out and the path
to the capital made along Lake Nicar-
aqua.
Casualties Not Made Known.
The exact number of dead, injured
and captured in the fighting near Rama
/ either is not determined or the facts
are withheld. Today Bluefield realizes
what real war means. Wounded fill
the hospitals and the dead lie in many
homes Funerals are being held in
great numbers.
The insurgent elation over the tri-
umph that has placed Estrada in un-
questioned possession of Rama, Re
creo, and the strategic point of Ia
tumble Hill, as we'll as adjacent terri
/ tory heretofore disputed, is tempered
| by the sorrow Of grief-stricken homes.
Are GrimIy Determined.
There Is less of noisy rejoicing at
the capital of the provisional govern
ment. but the grim determination to
overthrow the government at Managua
has been strengthened by the sacrifices
of. the past few days. Generals Mena,
Chamorro, Diaz and Matuty are popu-
lar heroes today. American surgeons
from the cruiser Des Moines are CIV
ing splendid service in the care of the
wounded
Takes Command of Army.
Washington, Dec. 23.-Dispatches 20
the state department today indicate
Zelaya has assumed the direction Of
military operations in the western por-
ton of Nicaragua, and a stubborn re-
sistance to the expected advance OF
the revolutionists is looked for. Riots
are reported at Masaya and Granda.
where the people fought with the sol
diers. American citizens at Granda
are again calling for protection.
BeEinninE Of the End.
Officials here regard the victory of
the revolutionists at Rama as the be-
ginning of the end Of the Zelaya-Mad-
riz faction as the potential forces in
Nicaragua. It is believed here that
within a month Estrada VIII be do
facto president of Nicaragua.
zeIaya still ProcInIminE.
Managua, Nicaragua, Dec. 23.-In
spite of reports from Bluefieids that
the insurgents had administered a
crushing defeat 10 the government
forces and had taken 2,GCO men and
officers prisoners, ex-President Zelaya
yesterday issued a manifesto ignoring
the reported battle.
The manifesto declared that Zelayas
surrender of the presidency was caus-
ed by a desire to save Nicaragua the
humiliation of outrages threatened by
a powerful foreign nation, which was
inaugurating a decisive influence over
the destiny of Nicaragua. Because OF
his resistance against the imposition
of tuhelage, which was the forerunner
of the conversion of the Latin nations
of this continent into dependencies Of
the United States, he had incurred the
hatred of that government.
On Verge of Victory.
When the defeat of the revolution
lists appeared certain. he said. the
United States government inexplicably
severed relations with Nicaragua.
through Secretary Knox's letter to the
charge d'affaires. He protested before
the world against the meddling Of the
United States and the threat to land
marines.
Zelaya, In his manifesto took up var
ious clauses of the Knox letter In an
attempt to refute certain charges with
copies of letters he had received from
John Gardner Coolidge, the former
American minister at Managua. thank
ing him for his courteous treatment In
the matter of the claims OF Guafenaia
and Salvador
Like Csse of the afnine.
rT-,a f9-roa- rr-o-fIo,.