Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-31
us. FORCE Of
1000 ASHORE
IN NICARAGUA
Another Thousand Are on
Board Ships in Coastal
Waters; Force Thought
to be Sufficient.

washington, D. c., Aug. 30.-The
$50 marines who sailed from the
Philadelphia navy yard last week TOT
Nicaragua are due at Colon tomorrow
They will be transported across the
Isthmus Of Panama on special traln
and embarked on the big armored
cruiser California, due at Panama To-
night or tomorrow morning. The Cal-
fornia is to leave Panama Immediately,
perhaps touching at San Juan del Sur,
to reinforce small marine contingent
left at that place by the cruiser Den
yer. to make sure that the important
cable station is not closed by the
rebels All messages from the Amer
lean legation at Managua and the
American naval commander at Cor
into must come to San Juan del Sur
In order to reach the cable.
Force of 1900 Men on Shore.
The California should reach Cor1nto
Monday night If she covers the $50
miles at top speed. Rear Admiral
Switzerland has already announced
his purpose of sending to Managua at
least 500 of the marines she carries
and the remainder probably Will be
used to patrol the seventy-two miles
OF railroad connecting the capital with
the sea. These reinforcements VIII
bring the total American strength IN
Nicaragua up to more than 1000 men
ashore and about 1000 bluejackets on
ships in the coastal waters on botn
sides of the country. The naval COM
manders are satisfied that this force
will meet present needs, but should
the rebels offer more formidable re-
sistance than is expected to the execu-
ton of the policy Of protection TO
American lives and property, then the
Tenth infantry, held in light march
ing order on the isthmus since Presi-.
dent Taft revoked the order sending y
into Nicaragua, probably Will be
moved after all.
Fear For Americans at Mataga'pa. .
It Is believed that the rebels will
attempt to stop the movement OF
American forces along the wrecked
railroad The greatest obstruction is
expected to be at Leon, which seems
to be the seat of the rebel operation.
The dificulties expected to be en-
countered there probably will be re-
lieved by an American force from
Managua, working its way down the
railroad tracks toward Leon. This
will place the rebel headquarters be-
tween two American forces. One
cause Of great concern to the state
department is the condition Of about
1875 Americans at Matagalpa, in the
interior of the republic. Communities
ton to that part OF the republic IS ex-
Of tremely diflcult The last heard
of them is the extremely critical con-
ditions. The only way Of communica-
ton with the American planters is by
couriers.
Admiral Switzerland in Charge.
Rear Admiral w. II. H. Souther-
land COMMANDMENTS chief of the Pa
cifc fleet, is now in supreme command
of the situation in Nicaragua. Rear
Admiral Switzerland has developed
the forces along the railway line be-
tween Ccrinto and Managua and he
reported to the navy department that
he Intends to keep railway communica-
tion open between the capital and the
seaport.
Rebels Face United States Guns.
Reopening by the American marines
even in a temporary way, OF rail and
telegraphic communication between
Managua and the port Of Corinto was
followed by the receipt OF cablegrams
in the state and navy departments
from that hotbed Of trouble. One des-
cribed how Captain Terhune Of the
gunboat Annapolis persuaded the IN
surgents to keep out Of Corinto by
confronting them with two six-pound
cannon which he had mounted at the
end Of bridge which connects Cor
into with the mainland.
The national officer, finding no artil-
lery in the town, took two OF the guns
Of the secondary battery from the An
napolis and gave them the mobility
necessary for land operations by
mounting them on fiat cars. He
perched them on the Corinto side OF
the bridge and then cut the bridge,
which he said,s made it impossible for
the rebels to enter.
Captain Terhune also confirmed the
reports that he had to use threats
to clear the railroad for the 100 ma
rines that he sent back to Managua
last Monday
Food Scarce at Managua.
Managua, Nicaragua, Aug. 29.-(De.
layed in transmission) Food is be-
coming scarcer here daily and also in
several of the cities in the hands OF
the reyolutionaries. At Granda and
Masay. which are held by the rebels,
the populations are almost deprived
Of provisions.
Reports have come in of engage
ments in the vicinity of Granda be-
tween the government troops and the
Insurgents but no details of the fight
ing have been obtainable.
There is an entire lack of news
from Corinto and other coast towns
and it has been difficult to get out any
information but a courier was success
ful today in finding one outlying tele-
graphic wire ghich had not been des-
stroyed.