Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-07
Some Things You Want to Know
Trouble in Honduras.

horseback unattended in the suburbs Of
his capital. The financial policies OF the
Bonilla administration were admirable.
Peace and plenty prevailed throughout the
country. But Manuel was not free from
the vices OF his predecessors. He could
and did at times take things into his hands
and smash the laws and the constitution
with typical Central American reckless
ness; as, for instance. when he caused the
arrest and Imprisonment Of seven con-
gressmen, on the charge Of conspiracy, in
vading the halls Of congress, and aking
the members In the very place Of assem-
bly,. BY and by. clever as he was, Manuel
made a mistake. He sent Timoteo Miralda
as minister to Nicaragua. Miralda was
an accomplished gentleman, no doubt, but
he wasn't enough Of a diplomatist TO keep
his chief from getting into trouble with
Zelaya. In fact, Miralda advised Bonilla
to enter into a hard-and-fast alliance with
Zelaya. a project which Bonilla felt OBJ
liged to frown upon, That displeased
Zelaya. From that day forth the ruler Of
Nicaragua set about TO compass the de-
struction of the recalcitrant Honduran eX-
ecutive.
The opportunity which finally presented
itself resulted from the announcement Of
the king of SPANS award in tn Honduras
Nicaragua boundary dispute. The king
gave the territory in dispute to Honduras,
and Bonilla thought he was entitled to
send troops into that district and take
possession. His forces, however, were
promptly attacked by Nicaraguan soldiery,
as invaders OF Nicaraguan soil. That was
the beginning of hostilities. Zelaya was
agagl nAN nhANtlI L., IN@ R1a1g a0a1NGt
Honduras by a number OF "emigrados,'
such as Generals Rosales and Gutierres,
Constantine Fiallos and ex-President
sirra. These men took prominent part in
raising and leading the army which was
presently dispatched against Bonilla,
Though Salvador lent moral and material
assistance to Honduras, the campaign re-
suited in the complete defeat OF Bonilla.
The Nicaraguan troops defeated the Saliva
doreans at Namasigue and at San Marcos.
One feature of the military operations was
the advance Of a Nicaraguan army under
General Estrada along the northern coast
of Honduras. Estrada-the same, by the
way, who is causing so much disturbance
in Nicaragua just at this moment-captured
Truxillo, Celia, Porto Cortez and San
Pedro, and held the coast thenceforth until
Davila, as provisional president, secured
the withdrawal Of the N~icaraugan forces
from Honduran soil.
Bonilla, after many adventures made his
way to Mexico. Then we went to Belize
where he now makes his home. His deposi-
tion left the presidential chair vacant. 1t
was necessary to find somebody to fiji it.
To this task the "%junta" of Honduran exiles
with the N~lcaraguan army, addressed itself
with great cheer, though but small success
THE s'ftntap had haap fnru1a1 arly In the
campaign, and was composed of Generals
Rosales, Castro and Oqueli Bustillo. They
agreed to hold the Craftsmanship in rota.
ton, each one for fifteen days at a time
? Naturally enough, this scheme produced
l discord~ The longer they debated the
! choice OF president the more 1t became ap.
! parent that their interests clashed and tn,
l more obviously impossible became an,
[ eventual decision.
Zelaya, watching the process of event,
> with an anxious eye, now attempted TO fore
= stall the 'junta's'' determination. Az hi
I suggestion ex-Presldent Sierra prociaime,
4 himself president and raised his flag II
I Amapala. The news of this rising was re
! ceived in Tegucigalpa with quite othe
e effects than zelaya anticipated. 1t in
Il stantly became apparent that unless Sierrt
were to return to power, some person VIII,
= would be generally acceptable to tn
t country must be put in the vacant presi
e. dency. The man wanted was one VIII,
I would be honest, able and above all, on
e who had taken no part in the recent revo
g luton. Such a man was General Migue
e Davila. Davila had been elected vic
J., president on the ticket headed by Manue
o 3onilla, but had been legislated out o
5 office by the congressional decree whereof,
= Bonilla was declared dictator for a tern
s OF six years. He took up with energy an,
:. courage. the difficult and dangerous tasI
v confided to his hands.
g N detachment Of his troops intercepte,
t Sierra and his followers at Nacaome an,
( inflicted upon them a crushing, defeat
!. From that time to the present peace ha
p been the main object of Davila's admins
e tration. He believes that the one thin
= Honduras needs is quiet. The country 1
l. rich and its Development is assured. 8
}. long as no recrudescence of revolution i
l. anticipated. While he has been able t
: prevent the actual outbreak Of war. Dacil
e has much to contend with in the constan
s menace implied in the presence of Manue
e Bonilla in Belize, within easy striking dis
e lance Of the Honduran coast. As long a
I Bonilla is there the risk of trouble
l. great, and that fact has sufficed TO max
r Davila's way any but an easy one.
For these reasons Davila has been
i sincere supporter Of the plan whereof
n Washington hopes to prevent any furthe
s conflicts between the various Contra
( American states. For these reasons, toe
c he abstained from meddling in the presen
J. Nicaraguan embroglio.
n By FREDERICK J. HAsK11N.