Omaha daily bee., 1912-08-16
DIRECTED BY MINISTER wErrzEI
Rebels Bombard City, Using Infantry
and Rapid Fire Guns.
ATTACK UPON PENITENTIARY
Insurgents Repulsed When Attempt
to Liberate Prisoners.
TWELVE KILLED OR WOUNDED
Captain of United States Gunboat
Annapolis Has Been Given Full
Instructions to Deal with
the Situation,

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16-The collier
Justin. the State department learned to-
day' arrived at Connto yesterday with
500 marines under command of Major
Smedley Butler, who reported at once to
the senior officer Captain Terhune COM
manding the gunboat Annapolis, who has
been given full authority to deal with the
military situation in Nicaragua as it af-
fects American interests. 1t is believed
thatthis marine force was at once dis
patched to Managua, six-hour run over
the railroad from Corinto. Because of
delayed cable advices to the Navy and
State departments officials here can only
conjecture what happened after the ar
rival of the marines In the Nicaraguan
capital.
How this force has been used depends
entirely upon the will of American Min
lister Weitzel, but as he has already pro-
tested to, the rebels. against the bonn
bardment of Managua, filled as it is with
women and children and noncombatants,
1t Is believed he has driven the insurgents
away from their positions and stopped
the firing. If his force is not sufficient
for this purpose, officials feel assured
that he will hold the city until reinforce
ments from Panama or the bluejackets
OF the Denver, now en- route to Corinto,
can be placed at his disposal.
Uncle Sam Declares Himself.
The State department has let it be
understood that it does not propose to
tolerate this lawless shelling and killing
OF helpless women and children and en-
dangering American lives and Selling and
destroying American property. the Off
GERS are quite emphatic in pointing out
that General Mena, the head of the revo-
luton, has completely alienated the sym
pathiee OF this government by his con-
duct Of the rebellion.
= Belated cablegrams received at the
State department from American Minister
Weitzel give vivid picture OF the con-
flict at Mahagua, which began last Sun
day morning when General Zeledon in
command of the rebel forces around
Managua, opened fire on the city from
=
in the afternoon insurgent officers Gen
eral Muillo and Colonel Rostran, at
tackled the penitentiary with infantry
and rapid fire guns in an attempt to
liberate the, prisoners and at O'Clock
100 men, under cover. Of artillery fire,
attempted to enter the city from the
lake, but were repulsed and twenty-five
of them captured. Throughout the night
firing continued at intervals.
OF the rebels, Zeledon had 500; Thomas,
800 and Murillo, 500, while the govern
ment forces under General Emilio
Chamorra were about $780, The govern
ment firing line in the east under COM
mand of General Frutos Belanco faced
Zeiedon's division and received the
brunt of the firing.
At 6 o'clock Monday morning Zeledon
the attack firing shell and solid
shot from a three-inch rifle, called the
"Heraldo,' into the city at the rate of
twenty an hour. Only one projectiIe
reached the executive mansion and the
president and his cabinet continued to
perform their official duties The Chilian
consul and the house of Mr.. Hamm, the
general of customs, were hit
and the residence of the German consul
suffered severely. .. g.
80. Twelve Are Killed.
The American guard estimated that a
totalt of 200 shells fell in the city, result
Conttnued on Second Page