Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-21
No Uneasiness Felt.

No Uneasiness Felt.
Early dispatches to the State Depart
ment today contained no news of Rear
Admiral Switzerland and his marine
force, who were believed to have fought
a decisive battle with the revolutionists.
VINO sought to delay their march to the
releI of Granada. officials were puzz-ed
BY TIE difficulties of communication.
No l..easness was felt for the safety
oi t..g lied States force. Officials said
ii ..ore than equipped to deal wlth
aaJ :e1eI Iorce il might meet. The lack
III uSas was partially explained by the
.aet t..at admiral Switzerland must ne
iI.a4., miles from Mana qua, his base, with
no III. ans of sending messages except by
courier.
been coming to the State and Navy
Departments, probably on account OF
serious Interruptions in the workings
of the land wires, 1t appears that Ad-
miral Southerland's determination to
attack the rebels in force was reacheo
only after he had exhausted all peace
full means of carrying out his ORDERS
from Washington to open the railroad
south from Managua, and reileve the
terrible sufferings of the inhabitants OF
Granada. Many of these ar< OF Euro
pean extraction, and the Washington
government has felt 1t to be matter
of moral duty to protect these people
as it would American citizens. In order
to avoid any pretext for the Landing OF
European naval and military forces on
Central American soil.
Even as it Is. that contingency Is rap,
idly approaching. and the British consul
general at Managua and the BRITISH vice
consul at Matagalpa have reported fhat
two British subjects have been assaSsi,
mated by the rebels at a piaced called
Achuapa, while these rebels were march
ing from Leon. whence they had been
driven by the American marines to NueSa
Segoyia, In the north of the country,
where the adherents Of former former PRESIDENT
Zeiaya are threatening trouble.
II is expected, however. that In view
Of the great activity shown by the Ameri-
can naval forces. the British government
it's own account. awaiting the result of
the American campaign.
1t had been supposed that the Ameri-
can marines had reached Granada several
patches came to hand last night stating
that Maj. Mckelvey. with his marine
detachment, who had been sent ahead as
an advance guard. had been fired upon
near Barranca- Ihe major sent woru ~
Admiral Southerland at Managua ana
that officer started at once with
small force, the exact strength not
Icing known, for Barranca. At that
place he sent word to Gen. Zeledon. one
of the rebel leaders, that he proposed 70
open the railroad to Granada and keep II
uren. and that he would give the rebels
ust twenty-four hours to clear the front
Switzerland Is Defed.
While Zeledon hesitated, Gen. Mena, the
oriner secretary of war of Nicaragua,
ne principal leader in the revolution.
came northward from Granada with an
other large force of rebels and joined
h!m After consultation they sent a
formal defiance TO Admiral Switzerland.
announcing their purpose to oppose his
advance
II is not known exactly how many sail
ors or marines composed the admtrafs
force at that time, but II is believed that
ii did not exceed three Or four hundred
men At any rate. in view of the large
number of rebels in his front, and un-
willing to run the risk Of even temporary
defeat, the admiral called for reinforce
ments from Managua, where it Is be-
lieved there were about $50 sailors and
meeting any opposition that the rebels
might offer That was the situation when
the last cablegram was dispatched from
Nanagua three days ago.
Bombarding Towns.
\ telegram from American Minister
Weitzel. delayed two days in transmits
sion, was received at the State Depart
ment today stating that the Nicaraguan
revolutionists are again using lake steam
ers. the property OF company incor-
porated In the United States. and with
other towns on Lake Nicaragua in the
neighborhood of Rivas. 1t was further
reported that an attack on Rivas from
the north by Zeledon's column was COM
ptetely repulsed by the federals, with
considerable loss to both sides.
The official reports to the State De-
partment rarely include such severe lam
suage as that now used. dealing with the
conditions in Granada. which II Is said
"are worse than those which existed in
the Kongo and in Putumayo." 1t Is stated
that the rebels, with unparalleled ferocity,
have turned upon helpless non-combat-
ants even women and children, and that
their warfare is characterized by q re-
turn to absolute barbarism.
American Minister Weitzel has re-
ceived letter from Pedro Rafael Cuadra.
who was minister of finance under Presi-
dent Diaz, and from Carlos Cuadra. the
Nicaraguan member of the mixed claims
commission, in which, In the name of
humanity and civilization. they beg Min
lister Weitzel to do all he can to protect
their families, who are being "ferocious-
ly' prosecuted at Granada
They state that Gen. Mena and his
agents are prosecuting their relatives
because they themselves are members
OF the Diaz government Their broth
ers. private citizens, they declare, have
been inhumanly tortured, deprived OF
food and obliged to pay large sums OF
money ioI lew ctuIhDS, "hcH cAhdust-
ed from lack of nourishment. For an
uninterrupted period OF five days they
were confined in tiny, filthy closet, for
three days of which time they We're
allowed no food NAad water. so that when
let out they We're near death.
Moreover. Col Daniel Mena, in COM
mand of Fort San Francisco, overlook
ing the town, 1t is said. has threatened
TO shoot the Cuadra brothers IL the gov
ernment troops attack Granada. It Ia
said that Mrs. Cuadra, wife Of the min
lister OF finance. is being hunted in
Granada, in order that she may be tor