The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-10-06
REBELS KILL
FOUR MARINES
In NICARAGUA


Continued from Page One.
the officers, marines. and 'bluejackets
who were engaged in this action"
In q previous dispatch the admiral
gives the official account Of the storming
Of Barranca as follows:
"Managua, p. m. Friday.
THE Barranca and second hill were
| taken by marines and bluejackets at
daybreak this morning. after a most
gallant assault lasting thirty-seven min
utes. Masaya was later taken by the
Nicaraguan government forces. and the
railroad between Managua and Granada
is now absolutely safe. and the starving
inhabitants Of Masaya will be relieved
The insurrectionists' casualties were very
heavy. 1t is with heartfelt sorrow that
1 have to announce the American cas-
ualties." (Given above.)
Reasons for Engagement.
The situation which brought on the as
sault upon the Barranca by the Ameri-
cans was this: After the surrender Of
Mena and his army at Granada. his ally,
Gen. Zeledon, continued to hold the Bar
ranca Notifications The Barranca is
situated on a high hill. opposite which is
another hill. which the rebels also held.
The railroad from Granada to Managua
don was in a position to interfere with
the operation OF the railroad which had
been opened by Admiral Switzerland.
and was effectively preventing the Amer
icans or the Nicaraguan forces from ex-
tending relief to the people of Masaya
and Jinotepe. which is beyond.
Numerous appeals had been made to
the American Legation by refugees OF
all nationalties, British. German. French.
Dutch. and Italian, for the relief of the
imprisoned Inhabitants. who. they said,
were on the verge of starvation. Ad-
miral Switzerland gave Zeledon until
o'clock Friday morning to evacuate
his position. though he did not demand
the surrender OF the rebel commander.
This demand followed first an offer Of
peace terms from President DIaz. and
then the bombardment of the Barranca
by the Ncaraguan government troops.
After the capture Of the Barranca
Friday morning. the Nicaraguan govern
ment troops, to the number Of more than
ZOO. took possession Of II. A part OF
the government force pursued the flying
rebels. The Americans, however. did
not join in the pursuit
STAFF Tried to Escape.
When the Barranca was captured, nei-
Their Gen. Zeledon nor any of his chief
officers were to be found. Quite by ac-
cident a body of government cavalry.
returning from Jinotepe, where they had
just defeated another rebel force, met
Zeledon and ht stan and other officers
to the number Of twenty-five, between
Jinotepe and Granada. Zeledon and his
party evidently had not waited for South
erland to attack the Barranca. but had
left their command to fight by them
selves, and were making toward the
Costa Rican border as fast as their
horses could carry them. In the Skin
mish that followed Gen. Zeledon was
wounded. and died within an hour. The
rest of his party were either shot or
taken prisoners by the government
troops.
The death Of Gen. ZeIedon and the
voluntary exile OF Gen. Mena, who
leaves only Juan Iriaz, a Costa Rican
exile and well known revolutionist still
in the field In Nicaragua Admiral
has already reported that a |
force of 100 men, consisting OF the |
first and second battalions OF marines. |
and the bluejacket companies from the |
California and the Colorado will ad-
Long Of the Marine Corps, will COM
mand.
At Leon Irias is practicing the same |
methods used by Mena and Zeledon. He |
is interfering with railroad communica-
ton between Managua and Corinto, has
the food supplies of the
town. imprisoning those favorable to the
and exercising the greatest
upon his prisoners. Appeals for
help and relief have been received at
the American legation from inhabitants
of Leon. including many residents Of
foreign citizenship. Irias will be called
upon to evacuate his position or be
driven out by the American force. It
is believed he will fee rather than face
the overwhelming force of Americans
which Col. Long will have.
End OF RevoIution Near.
The clearing of the way to Masaya for
relief measures, and the opening up OF
Leon. will finish the revolution. Irias'
force has already been defeated by the
troops and is reported TO
have dwindled to-a mere handful. All
lines Of communication in Nicaragua will
then be open. and the principal task OF
the Americans In Nicaragua will be
ended.
While the loss OF four marines is most
deeply regretted here. It is generally the
opinion that the storming of the Bar
salutary effect in all Central America.
The charge has been made repeatedly by
revolutionists that the Americans were
oluffing, and that they did not really
mean to make more than a show of main
aiming order and protecting the lives
and property of Americans and other
foreigners. Mena y himself was in
luced to start his rebellion by the
DR.. Castrillo, Nicaraguan Minister to
the United States. called at the State
Department yesterday afternoon upon
instructions from his govern
nent. to express the profound SYM
Dathy and sorrow of the Nicaraguan
nation because of the American losses
suffered at Masaya. In a dispatch
rom Managua, the Minister was in
formed that the government had,
through the minister of foreign affairs,
its sorrow to the American
in Managua. The municipal
ty of Granada, in order to show the
ieep appreciation of the Nicaraguan
people for the sacrifices that had been
made in behalf of free institutions on
soil, asked that the bodies
# the marines be brought to Granada
md inferred in the cemetery there with
rational honors.
DEMOCRATIC TICKET ENDORSED.