The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02
GENERAL ESTRADA
READY FOR BATTLE.
Two Mere Sharp { Engagements
Are Expected Soon :.
BOTH SHE'S. ARE BUSY
Twelve Thousand Men Are Expected
To Meet In Next Battle and Es-
trada Hopes To Garry Every
thing Before Him
BOTH SIDES. ARE BUSY

Bluehelds January 1-(Special. Gen
eral Estrada, leader of the revolutionary
army. is rushing preparations for the two
great battles he thinks will be fought and
which will decisively fix the status of
himself and his army n the affairs of
the country. One of these conflicts will
probably be fought at Acoyaps, approx
imately half way between Bluefields and
Managua- Here tho Estradaists will meet
the advance forces of the government.
Victory here for Estrada means an I'M
interrupted march to the very walls of
Managua- There the cause of the rev.
olutionists will emerge either flying the
colors OF victory or 1t will go down to
a bitter and hopeless defeat.
Both sides are mastering their forces
with all possible dispatch. Estrada In
10 days will receive rifles for 1000 men
now unarmed. This will bring his total
strength up to 5000 men. Madria will
probably have force as large. which
means that 1000 men will meet in a bat
tie which promises to surpass in carnage
any battle since the Russian-Japanese
war. Estrada Is supremacy confident of
the ultimate outcome. Horses, mules and
provisions are being collected here for
the long march to Managua.
Disappointment Is General.
Intense disappointment prevails be-
cause the United States did not rec
ognize Estrada as the head of the Mic
araguan government after the battle at
Rama. The United States seemingly has
lost all interest in the insurgent cause
feeding the prisoners captured at Ra-
ma. For this Estrada feels extremely
grateful.
A solemn pact has been signed by the
insurgent generals that no matter what
the outcome of the future battles they
Will stand by Estrada to the last ditch
victory or defeat or death.
At council of war this afternoon lead
ers of the provisional government of Mic
aragua determined to press their fight
against Zelaya, with the result that on
Monday a force under General Chamor-
no will leave Bluefields to engage the
Zelaya forces, numbering about 800, who
still remain In Greytown. where they
were bottled up at the beginning OF the
war.
This battle should not amount to much.
After the zelaya foxces have been dis
posed of at Greytown, leaving the way
clear, the march against Managua will
be begun. Estrada himself will head
his forces. His army will number at
least 1000 men. Nearly half of his force
comprises prisoners taken at the battle
of Rama, who are bitter against Ze-
laya. During the council this afternoon
each of Estrada's staff officers pledged
to fight until every last vestige of the
Belaya regime has been driven from the
country.
Estrada's Statement.
Estrada today gave out this statement:
II cannot accept the terms of peace
informally proposed by Judge Madriz,
Zelayas successor. 1t would simply mean
the continuance of the Zelaya powers to
accept Madrizs proposition. He is Ze-
laya's tool, heart and soul. To give up
now, after all that we have accomplished
would be foolish.
"Madriz is in no position to propose
peace terms. If he is SO anxious for
peace in Nicaragua, If he Is sincere, why
does he not step down from whatever
position he may t,44nk he possesses and
then the situation will be clarified to
the extent that an election may be held
Madriz is the real rebel now. The pro-
yisional government represents the real
force and power of Nicaragua today.
1t was the provisional government that
drove Zelaya from the country. 1t was
my men and / who fought and won. Ma
driz has done nothing but step into a
tyrants shoes. He can't remain. We
have been assured from Washington that
Madriz will not be recognized"