Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-10-05

Though the lives of American
marines have been lost and otherA
have been wounded in what appears
to have been one of the most SAN
culinary battles fought in Central
America in many years. yet techs
nically the United States is not en-
department the status of the relations
between the United States and Near
aqua is one of friendship.
Must Protect Americans
What Rear Admiral Southerland
has done in attacking the Nicar-
augan rebels is declared to have been
purely in pursuance of a duty i'm
posed upon the navy many times in
the stormy history of Central Amer
ioa-that of forcibly protecting Ameri-
can lives and property as well as OF
the citizens of European nations The
admiral has strictly refrained from
intervening in any way between the
warning factions in Nicaragua. and
has confined himself entirely to OPEN
ing up railway communication and
maintaining it free from Interruption
that the large foreign element scat
tered through the Nicaraguan towns
might be able to receive food
For nearly week after the Ameri.
can naval forces managed to open the
way from Managua to Granada, where
the condition of foreigners was pitt
ful. General Zeledon's rebel forces.
entrenched on two hills at Barranca,
actually commanded the line Of com
munication by rail and interfered
with the free movement of supplies
and prevented the unfortunate suf-
ferers of famine from making their
escape to places of safety
Delivers an Uitimatum.
Admiral Switzerland had several
interviews with the rebel chieftain
after the surrender and deportation
of General Mena, the principal figure.
in the revolution. but he found zeie-
don was not only determined to re-.
fuse any offer of amnesty held out
by President Diaz, but was deter-
mined to retain the position he oc-
cupied threatening the railroad. The
admiral was finally obliged to deliver
an ultimatum warning Zeledon that
after twenty-four hours notice the
American naval force would UNDER
! take to drive him from Barranca hills.
The time limit expired at 8 o'clock
yesterday morning. and as the official
cablegram received by Minister Cas-
trillo today indicates, the American
marines did exactly as they had
undertaken to do even at the cost of
few lives.
Both the State and naval officials
are anxious to have it appear that
what has been done by the American'
naval force was in response to a for
NAL request from the titular govern
ment of Nicaragua, an important
| consideration in estimating the result
| of this display of force by the Amer
| lean marines.
i Though keenly appreciative Of the
sentiments inspiring the Nicaraguan
| government in it's offer to bury the
| dead marines in state in the city OF
/ Granada. it is believed that the bodies
of the men will be brought home to
! the United States and buried accord-
! ing to the wishes of their surviving
relatives.
The regiment of marines was on
both sides of Barranca hills in COM
mand of Colonel John III. Pendleton.
| The first and second battalions were
between Managua and Masaya and
nearer Masaya. The third battalion
was between Masaya and Granada,
and also nearer Masaya. SO it is
impossible to judge in which bat
TALON the fatalities probably oc-
Cured, as all were close to the fight
| ing
The first battalion was under cons
mand of Major William n. Mckelby.
| and was composed of Companies A..
b. C and d, drawn from New York,
Norfolk, Boston. Portsmouth, Annap-
oils, Charleston and Washington
The second battalion, under COM
mand of Major George G. Reed. was
composed of Companies E. + and q,
from Philadelphia.
The third battalion. under COM
mand OF Major Smedley p. Butler.
was drawn from Panama.