Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-03
REBELS CAUSE LOST
Estrada Informs Associates
That End Is in Sight.
CHAMORRO BADLY WHIPPED
Escaped With 100 Men and Joins
Mena's Small Force.
Insurgents Still Hope for 1nterven-
ton by United States-Guerrilla
Bands May Keep Up Fight.

BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua. March B.
The insurrectionary movement headed by
Gen. Estrada against the Nicaraguan
government has been practically crushed.
The insurgent campaign in the west has
petered out. Nothing is left to the pro-
visionals but a resort to guerrilla war
fare. encouraged by the desperate hope
that the United States may yet intervene
in wish to put an end to the disturbed
situation in the republic.
For the first time today the correspond
ents and the more prominent personages
of this city were told the true situation.
which, however, had been suspected for
week. The public generally Is still in
the dark and pinning its faith to the
false reports circulated Of insurgent sue
cesses.
These reports have been given currency
not only In this city. but have been sent
broadcast. The deliberate purpose was
to influence opinion in the United States
and elsewhere and to attract recruits
from the governments forces.
Chamorro Thoroughly Beaten.
1t is now admitted that Gen. Chamorro's
campaign was failure. He had hoped
that the interior would welcome and rein
force the insurgent arms.
This was possible up to the time that
President Zeayc resigned His resigna-
ton and the election of President Madriz
appears to have satisfied the people of the
interior and the west generally.
When Gen. Estrada's armies reached
the heart of the country they were given
lukewarm reception and little or no
aid.
comprising the eastern half Of Nicaragua.
Gen. Estrada may proclaim such a re-
public and appeal to the United States to
protect the new republic from invasion
by the Madriz government.
Additional supplies Of ammunition are
ther guerrilla warfare.
The destructive blow fell at Eisma
February %. when Gen. Chamorro was
whipped to q standstill. In killed, wound
800 men, Chamorro himself barely es-
capped.
with 100 or 200 men he fed to San
Vicente. where Gen. Mena was in
in charge OF the insurgent artillery under
Chamorro, was wounded in the leg and
left at plantation near Tisma.
Chamorro Explains Defeat.
Gen Chamorro is said to have reached
San Vicente Sunday and to have wired
his report yesterday. He estimates the
enemys loss at 1000 men and explains his
defeat by the exhaustion of his cartridge
supply.
Disquieting rumors had been in circu-
lation here for a week. Not until today,
when Gen. Estrada let the higher OFF,
cials of the provisional government into
the secret was the situation known.
AS this dispatch is written only the
more prominent people of Bluefields are
in possession of the facts. 1t may be
assumed that the population generally
will receive the unhappy news without
demonstration.
In official circles there was for a time
profound gloom. Later in the day the
officials appeared TO be recovering their
composure.
With the remnant Of Chamorro's force
there are now at San Vicente 500 pro-
visional soldiers. Fifteen Americans re-
oruited at Panama started for the front
today. An effort is being made to gather
800 additional recruits among the Mica
raguans OF this city.
AS a military menace, however, the pro-
higher classification than that of a guer-
rilla band. The present plans are for pur
suing this style of bush war. presuma bly,
with the idea of compelling the United
States to intervene.
Sentiment for Intervention.
The sentiment in favor of Intervention
has been growing since Mena's defeat at
Santa Clara, nearly a month ago. Infor-
nation as to Gen. Estrada'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 Knox.
Bluefelds would now extend open arms
to almost any proposition leading to the
termination of hostilities. Some suggest
separate republics as loophole.
When the revolution began last October
this idea had been fully agreed upon. A
constitution had been drafted and flag
designed as the emblem of a new repub-
lie, which should embrace the eastern half
of Nicaragua.
Then the leaders of the conservative
party, who had been exiled by President
Zelaya and had fomented an inSurrection
their confiscated property in the lake re-
gion. became encouraged by the small,
initial successes Finally they were con-
vinced they could capture the entire
country.
In this idea, they claim. they were en-
couraged by the government at Washing
ton. which desired the punishment Of
President Zelaya.
Chamorro's Luckless Campaign.
The experience of the last two months,
however. has demonstrated that the revo
Iutionary sentiment in the interior did
not survive the retirement from the pres
idency of Zelaya Gen. Chamorro, who
| began the march on Managua, the capital
subsequently found himself in the enemy's
country and almost alone.
He found it necessary to adopt a policy
OF guerrilla warfare. BY great activity
( in cutting telegraph wires and making
night marches he succeeded in deceiving
the government and the country generally
| as to his whereabouts.
| At times his force was split into small
| columns. which attacked and delivered an
| occasional wasplike stroke. Following
| this plan. Chamorro was reported simulta-
| neously at Matagalpa. at Muymuy, at
BOco, at Comiapa and at other places.
There Is reason to believe that reports
| of his capture of Granada and of the
steamer Victoria on Lake Managua were
| promulgated by President Madrfz for
the sole purpose of drawing Chamorro
/ into that vicinity.
Chamorros defeat leaves only Gen.
| Mena's comparatively small force inter-
posed between the enemy's 1000 and the
Il .~x