Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-21
American Lives and Prop
erty Said to be in
Grave Danger.
FIGHTING CONTINUES
43O Natives in City of Leon
Slaughtered by Rebels
After Surrender.


Minister Weitzel at Managua, Mica |
ragua, has asked for details of ma |
rines at Corinto and San Juan Del
Sur. 1t is necessary to hold these !
ports in order TO maintain communi-
cation with the cable station and Man
aqua. The gunDoat Denver with $50
bluejackets, under rush orders, should
arrive at Corlnto Sunday. This will
bring the total American force ashore
up TO 700.
Arrangements to throw 1000 blue
jackets and marines into Nicaragua in
10 days TO protect foreign lives and
property and keep railroad Commun-
ication open were made today by the
navy department The armored cruiser
/ California, at San Diego, has been or.
dered to Panama.
FIGHTING CONTINUOUS.
Corinto, Aug. 21.-Fighting between
tthe Nicaraguan government forces
and revolutionaries has been almost
continuous since Sunday at Chinande-
ga. The town was turned over to the
terday by the government. 1t is re-
ported the government is gaining
strength at Managua.
Managua, Nicaragua, Sunday, Aug.
18-(Delayed in transmission)-N
ly the entire detachment of 500 Mica
raguan troops, comprising the garri-
son of the City of Leon, TO the north
of Managua, was massacred by a force
of insurgents last night, according TO
reports which -Feaehed-the capital to-
day
Friday news was received by the
government that the liberals at Leon
had risen in revolt and General Cham
ORA dispatched troops to suppress the
movement and reinforce the garrison
of the city.
The government troops, on reaching
Leon, camped on the plaza in the cen
ter of the town. The insurgents, who
greatly outnumbered the government
force, attacked the city Saturday and,
after a fierce engagement, the garri-
son surrendered. Instead of holding
their Capives prisoners of war after
the submission, it is reported that the
troops were slaughtered by the rebels
Out of a force of 500 all were killed
except 20.
FIERCE ENGAGEMENT.
Following the repulse of the insur-
! gents last Wednesday night after a
fOur-day battle at Managua, in which
the American marines and bluejaCkets
from the gLuboat Annapolis and from
Panama played a prominent part as
e defenders of the capital, the insur-
gents retired ostensibly TO their head
quarters at Masaya, the capital of the
department Of the same name, lying to
the south of Managua.
1t was learned by the government
on Thursday, however, that the insur-
/, gents had sent large quantities of
arms and ammunition from Masaya to
. Leon through the mountain passes and
that the rebels were hurriedly cOncen-
trating their forces at the northern
, town II also became known that Gen
: eTal Mena, leader of the insurrection.
had gone TO Leon to direct the insur-
. rectiCn.
Lieutenant Edward H Conger OF the
SF1llOil-
, ed in Managua, returned TO the capital
+ this afternoon from Masaya, where he
I went TO confer with General Mena.
I MENA 4 SICK MAN.
= The lieutenant, after a consultation
e with the Nicaraguan officials, again re-
turned to the southern city. Lieuten-
ant COnger reports that General Mena
! Is very sick man and that the liberal
e generals, Rebit and Amend are in
: command OF the insurgents in the
south
, Communication between Managua
r and the outside world by way OF Cor.
-. into. on the Pacific side of Nicaragua,
=. either by wire or by railroad. has been
cut since Friday. The severance OF
=, communication was caused by the up
rising on that day at Leon.
Washington, Aug 21.-American
bluejackets from the United States
ship Tacoma. under command of Com
mander Edward H. Durell. have landed
2 at Bluefelds. Nicaragua, to put a stor
o TO incendiary attempts of rebels and
I TO protect Americans. Latest reports
/ indicate that the rebellion is spreading
: spasmodically.
!, General Zeledon, one of Mena's
:. chiefs, has promised his men that the
/ city OF Managua will be sacked and
= pillaged. American forces are needed
p at San Juan del Sur and Corinto. ac
e cording to cable advices from United
b States Minister George T. Weitzel Il
IS probable that the navy department