Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-31
SITUATION is COMPLICATED
Each Party Seeks to Collect Customs.
at Bluefelds.
COURSES CONSIDERED
Both Involve Seizure of Litr. ons
for Pacification, Other for Adj
ministratiou Of Finances.

NPPio""eo ihe Cnfted States gov
erhment may be compelled to assume a
protectorate over that country. 1t appears
mat action Of that kind by either the
united States or Mexico may be neces-
sary for the settlement of the political
troubles or Nicaragua. The government
FORCES appear to be unable to drive the
Estrada insurgents out Of Bluefields. Re-
cent repeated efforts to do so have been
attended by loss of life and great suffer
ing and hardship on both sides. The fire
OF the American gunners who are with
Estrada's forces has been very disastrou.
TO the cause of Madriz and is said to
have been the principal reason of the
failure to capture Buefelds
The situation is now further complicated
by the efforts OF both parties to collect
the customs and other dues at Bluefields
Since the Madriz forces seized the reg
ular custom house on the bluff. a shor-
distance outside the city. they claim the
right to collect the customs on all mer-
chandise entering that port. That claim
however. is disputed by the Estradists.
who naturally do not relish losing the
revenue derived in that way. They have
established another custom house three
miles up the Escondido river. and insist
that all commercial business be trans
acted at that point. By virtue OF their
commanding position on the bluff at the
entrance to the harbor, the Madriz forces
unless prevented by the American gun
boats, would be able to stop all merchant
vessels passing in and out OF the harbor.
Double Duties Impossible.
The exaction of double duties will not
be tolerated. and may precipitate radical
action by the United States. The most
probable course of action in such an
event would be the assumption of tenn
porary control over the city OF Bluefields
pending the establishment Of a constitu-
tional government in Nicaragua. 1t Is
not doubted that Commander Gilmer 0f
the Paducah would be able, with the
forces Of biuejackets and marines at his
command. to take possession OF the city
of Bluefields and control ITS affairs.
1t is admitted at the State Department
that this government is somewhat en-
barrassed by existing conditions at Blue
fields, and that 1t may soon become nee
esSary to take drastic action for the res
Secretary Of State has studiously avoided
the recognition Of the provisional govern
ments of Madriz and Estrada. and sees
no necessity for doing SO now.
Two courses OF action are said to be
under serious consideration. Both involve
taking possession Of Bluef1elds. In one
case 1t would be done for purposes OF
as In the case of Clrba. In
the other it would be merely for the ad-
ministration of the finarces involved. as
in the case Of Santo Domingo. The case
Of Nicaragua, in its initIa. stage. differs
essentially from that OF Cuba. In the
case Of Cuba the United States occupied
the island at the request Of the president
H. LII
ity to control the turbulent elements.
There is no constitutional president OF
Nicaragua and Secretary Knox does not
recognize Madriz as even the de facto
president of that much-Gisturbed coun-
try.
Estrada Not Recognized.
1t was reported today that Secretary
Knox had decided to recognize the pro-
visional government OF Estrada at
Bluefields. and permit the collection OF
customs by that party alone. but the
report was denied at the State Depart
ment. 1t was said at the department
that there were TO developments in
the situation so far as known there
since the reported fghting near Blue
fields yesterday morning.
Although there has not been any or
icial declaration on the subject. ii Is
not believed that the United States Will
ernments shall pay customs duties a.
Bluefields. Several of the South Amer
can countries have recognized the Mad
riZ government, and 1t is probable that
hey will pay their customs duties I"
lis representatives. However, that Is
to be a matter in which the
United States has no concern, its ac-
ion having reference to the payment
IF customs duties by American ship
)erS.
Fighting Was Severe.
BLCEFIELDS. Nicaragua, May "a
Zen. Lara. commander Of the Madrir
,orces. again attacked Gen. Estrada's po-
'itions yesterday. About o'clock In the
he began an assault on the
OF Estrada's left flank with 500
men, but after hard fighting, in which
many were killed and wounded, the
Madriz troops were forced to retire.
About the same time an assault was be-
gun on the trenches on the extreme south
1ank, but this, too, failed. there being
urther heavy losses to Lara's men. Es-
rada succeeded in capturing a large
number of prisoners, who report that
Gen. Lara Is convinced that 1t will be
impossible to take the intrenchments of
he PROFESSIONALS.
The fighting was the heaviest that has
AIKEN place during the operations around
3luetields and the losses were proper
'eems to be excellent authority that the
lead and wounded in yesterdays struggle
llone will foot up 80. The prisoners cap
ured were in shocking physical condition.
Custom House Moved.
The port of Buefields has been ON
tally changed by the provisional gov
from the bluff to point three
niles up the Escondido river. and the
ustom house has been officially moved
O the city Of Bluefields. The repre-
entatives of Madriz. however. who hold
he bluff, claim the right to stop all
-essels proceeding in and OUT of the har-
or, and to collect duties from them
This has complicated the situation. and
Is understood that q ruling OF the
tate Department Of the American gov
rnment as to whom duties shall be paid
5 awaited.
II is learned that there was nearly
lash last Friday night between the
fadrtz gunboat Venus and the Ameri-
an gunboat Paducah. Irias. the COM
lander OF the Venus, gave notice that
was his intention to lombard the Es-
rada trenches. In order to reach them
18th his guns IL would have been neces-
ary to throw shells over the city proper.
he commander OF the Paducah cleared
is vessel for action and notified the
that he would sink the
enus IL a single shot was fired. The
enus withdrew from her poDtiOn and