The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-03
1nsurgent Campaign in the West
Has Collapsed.
BLOW FELL AT TISMA
Where the Revolutionary Army
Lost 500 Men.
American Commander of Artil-
lery Wounded i'm Leg.

fnsurrectionary movement headed b.
General Estrada, against the Nicar
aguan government has been practically
crushed. The insurgent campaign il
the west has petered out and nothing
is left to the PROFESSIONALS but a resor'
to guerrilla warfare. encouraged by the
desperate hope that the United States
may yet Intervene in a wish to put ar
end to the disturbed situation in tbs
republic.
For the first time today the cores
pondents and the more prominent per
sonages of this city were told the true
situation which however had been sus-
pected for week. The public generally
is still in the dark and pinning its
faith to the false reports circulated OF
insurgent successes. These reports nave
been given currencv not only In TINS
city, but have been sent broadcast with
the deliberate purpose of influencing
opinion in the United States and else
where and attracting recruits from the
governments forces.
1t is now admitted General Chamor-
ro's campaign was a failure. He had
hope that the interior would welcome
and reinforce the insurgents arms.
This was possible up to the time that
President Zel1ya resigned. his reslg
nation and the election of President
Madriz appears to have satisfied the
people of the interior and the west
generally and when General EStrada'S
they were given lukewarm reception
and little or no aid.
There is still talk of a new republic
comprising he eastern half cf Mica
rugua. General Estrada may proclaim
such a repuclic and appeal to the
United States to protect it from tnva-
sion by the Nadri- government Ad-
ditional supplies of ammunition are
to further a guerrilla warfare.
The destructive blow fell at TiSma.
on February %, when General Cha
MORO was defeated. In killed, wound
ed and captured, the insurgent general
lost 500 men. Chamorro himself bare
" escaper and with 100 or 200 men
fled to San Vicente, where General
Mena was ntrenched. Godfrey Fowler,
the American who was in charge of
the insurgent artillery under Cha
MORO. was wounded il the leg and
left at plantation near Tisma.
General Chamorro is said to have
reached San Vicente Sunday and to
have wired his report yesterday. He
estimates the enemy'S loss at 1000
men and explains his defeat by the ex-
haustion of his cartridge supply.
Secret Comes Out.
Disquieting rumors had been in cir
day when General Estrada let the
higher officials of the provisional gov
ernment into the secret was the Situa-
ton known. AS this dispatch is writ
Bluefelds are in possession of the facts
but it is assumed that the population
generally will receive the news with
out demonstration. In C1hcial circles
there was for time profound gloom,
but later in the day the officials ap-
peared to be regarding their compos-
ure. With the remnant of Chamor-
ro's force there are now at San Vim
cente 500 provisional soldiers. Fifteen
Americans recruited at Panama started
for the front today and an effort is be-
ing made to gather 500 additional re-
cruits among the Nicaraguans of this
city The present plans are for the
prosecution of this style of brush war
ia 'sumably with the idea of COM
pelling the United States to intervene.
The sentiment in favor of interven-
ton has been growing since Mena'S
defeat at Santa Clara nearly a month
ago. Information as to General Estra-
da's willingness to allow the United
States to step in and supervise the
elections was conveyed to the state
department some time ago but elected
no expression from President Taft or
Secretary Kncx-
Bluefelds would now extend open
arms to almOs1 any proposition leading
to the termination of hoStilities.
Some suggest separate republics
When the revolution began last Octo-
Der this idea had been fully agreed
upon. A constitution had been drafted
and a flag designed as the emblem of
a new republic. which would embrace
the eastern half of Nicaragua. Then
the leaders OF the conservative party
who had been exiled by President Ze-
laya and had fomented an inSurrection
with the primary object of recovering
their conflscated property in the Lake
region, became encouraged by the
small initial successes and finally were
convinced they could capture the en-
tire country.
Encouraged by Washington.
In this idea they claim they were
eneoura ged by the government at
Washington, which desired the pun
ishment of President Zelaya.
The experience of the last two
months. however has demonstrated
that the revolutionary sentiment in the
interior did not survive the retirement
of Zelaya from the presidency and
General Chamorro, who began the
sequently found himself in the enemy's
country and almost alone. He found
1T necessary to adopt a policy of guer-
rilla warfare and by great activity in
cutting telegraph wires and in making
night marches he succeeded in de-
ceiving the government and the coun-
try generally as to his whereabouts.
At times his force was split into
small columns which attacked and re-
livered an occasional warlike stroke
ported simultaneously at Matagalpa, at
Muymuy, at Boaco, at Comiapa, and
at other places.
There is a reason to believe that the
of the capture of Granada and
of the steamer Victoria on Lake Man
aqua were promulgated by President
AIadriz for the sole purpose of draw
ing Chamorro into that vicinity.
Chamorro's defeat leaves only Cen
eral Mena's comparatively small force
between the enemy's army
of 1000 and the east coast. Some of
prov sional leaders profess TO believe