Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-06
Some Things You Want to Know
The Truce in Nicaragua.

The civil war in Nicaragua doesn't now
occupy the pIOmient place it used TO have
on the front page OF the daily newspaper.
The present, It appears is merely breath
ing spell in the campaign. both parties
having had, temporarily, at least, their
glut Of fighting at the sanguinary battle
Of Tisma. In Manague. which is President
MadriE' headquarters, everybody goes on
the assumption that the revolt is crushed,
and that il is only a matter Of time when
the government forces will invade the de-
partment of Zeaya and bring the seeded
territory back under lawful authority. At
Bluefieds, which is the revolutionary capi-
tai, preparations are being rushed for a
renewal Of the campaign. q few weeks from
now. Estrada still claims authority over
an ill-defined region extending as far into
the interior as Muelle de Bueyes. At that
place General Chamorro. the revolutionary
commsnder-in- chief, has his headquarters,
and Is working hard for the organization
Of new army.
The war has affected life in Blueflelds
very slightly. Here and there one may
see on the streets a limping veteran, while
in the hospital stil lnger the malmed
relics Of the battle OF RecreO. There are
many fresh graves in the desolate little
cemetery on the hillside behind the town.
But as for the machinery Of government
H. grinds on in Bluefieds as arderly as
though no such thing as war existed in the
entire universe. General Estrada has pro-
mulgated a new mining law-that's the way
laws come into existence in Nicaragua
owadays-allowing all goods destined for
use in the mines TO be imported free Of
duty. Many Of the mines in northeastern
Nicaragua are owned or operated by Amer
leans, and this new law benefits them more
than anybody else. Estrada, moreover, has
reduced the customs duties in general
about 50 per cent Steps have been taken
to improve the lighting OF the city Of Blue
fields. Up to the present 1t has relied
to a considerable degree upon the kindly
! offices Of the moon and stars to perform
this important municipal function, but oil
lamps and acetylene are now helping in
the good work The municipality, also, is
wrestling with plan for the paving and
sewerng of the town, and IL anybody cares
TO risk his money in the speculation, the
contract for the work may be obtained no
doubt on very favorable terms.
Estrada has appointed governors to
represent him at Cape Grsccias and in
Bluefields. The latters official is a clever
lawyer named Rivera-zenon Rivera Of
Rlyas. The other chief official of the
Estrada government is Francisco f.
Moreira, secretary of state. He is lawyer
The military establishment is headed by
Generals Matuty, Chamorro and Mena,
under whom are Brlgadier Generals Ma
ciz and Correa, Matuty, Chamorro and
Mena are all men of picturesque history
Matuty is a Honduranian by birth and a
III civil engineer by profession. He speaks
t., English fluently and has studied in schools
to OF engineering in the United States Incl.
dentally, he has figured in several revolu.
ed tions in Honduras. He is reputed to be a
ed man Of great personal courage He has
of led his men into a CORE of battles alway.
IN. well in advance of the charging line anC
e- get he never has been wounded.
let Chamorro' was born and reared ir
Granada. He is the son Of Salvador
TO- Chamorro, once wealthy merchant of that
At city. In 1899 zelays came into the presi
rs deney and made things uncomfortable fol
II the Conservative party, to which the
Nj Chamorros, father and son. for genera.
Is tlons back, have belonged. But in 1896 a
- revolution was started in the city Of Leor
H. and Zelaya, needing the help OF the Con.
de seryatives, made overtures to them, and
more especially TO the Chamorros. They
d. vent in with a will and vanquished Leon
he tor him: whereupon Zelaya forgot abou,
nd MS promises, and Emiliano Chamorro
80 Estrada's lieutenant Of today, departed fol
OF the healthier climate of adjoining re
he public. Since then he has plotted steadil,
M against the Nicaraugan government H,
en- is a OF simple tastes, unassuming fl
ne character, and one of those daredevil
es' soldiers Of whom there are so many II
Central American politics.
Mena figured in several conservative up
risings against Zelaya in times past /
IT 1893 he was captured by Zeaya who mad
Intellectual efforts to induce him to com
,th over to his side, or at least to promise t
remain neutral in any future revolt. Al
though Mena refused the offer, Zelaya re
+ leased him from duress However, tn
nod willy president kept him under scrutiny a
: we'll as he could, But Mena knows hi
nv. business. One night he was missing fror
rial Nicaragua. When next heard of he wa
ne in Costa Rica and had the good sense I
the return only to take part in the present uI
of rising.
Her II is difficult TO untangle the history @
zee. the campaign which came TO an end q
at Tisma The American press has give
,ish less notice to the battle of Tisma than
to that OF Recroo Yet Tisma was, in It's wa!
at a very sanguinary affair and the result
were decisive, at least for the time beinl
nal The defeat of the government forces q
has Recreo led to the retirement Of Zelsy
re- from the presidency. This accomplishe
red the program originally laid down b
the rebels. Why, then did not Estrada al
cept the overtures Of peace which wel
VI then made to him?
- Estradas friends make the following e,
ana planation Under the Nicsraguan const
an tuition Zelaya was at liberty to vacate n
presidency temporarily, in which h
might deposit the executive power in a.
member OF congress on whom his prefe
,ree ence rested. But in the event Of his E,
1927 signing the presidency permanently II
mn mn office fell to the first des gnate," or fir
me, vice president, who happens TO be a gentl,
me, man named Limo Oquel After ths RI
90 vice president the succession should fall
ith, the "Segundo Designado." RamigIo Virgi
ON, But zelaya did not choose congressma
81, , neither did he commit his office to eth,
Irs. Of the vice presidents. He went afie
&c. lighted MadTiz and forced congress
y ratify this selection. Esrada's theory
IRA that this was irregular and that he coul
uth not conscientiously submit TO such a vi,
lation of the plain letter OF the law. Thu
. was the reason-or SO his friends say