The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-10-10
MARINES FALL IN 4
BLOODY ONSLAUGHT
americans Lost Four Dead and
Six Wounded In Battle With
Nicaraguan Rebels.

Washington, Oct. -Four American
marines were killed and six We're
wounded yesterday when the American
forces took the town of Coyotepe from
the Nicaraguan rebels, according to
a cablegram received early today by
Minister Castrtllo from Chamorro.
minister OF foreign affairs In Nicara-
qua. .
Early today neither the state depart
ment nor the navy department had re-
ceived any word Of the fight at Masaya
and Coyotepe or the death of the Amer
lean marines. Officials were shocked
at the news contained in Minister Cas-
trtllo's cablegram.
Text Of cableararn.
The cablegram to Minister Castrillo
dated Managua, October 4. was as fol-
lows:
"Masaya taken today by assault. We
had 100 dead, 200 wounded. Americans
early took Coyotepe with four dead and
six wounded. Correa simultaneously
took Barranca. Zeledon fed with fol-
lowers and was captured eight leagues
from Masaya, wounded n died later.
Today / visited the American legation
to express deepest sympathy fo- ma
rines' death. Granada municipality re-
QaVSNSo iAlAAA WIG tN
that city. I beg you express depart
ment of state my deep sympathy.
Minister of Affairs Chamorro."
Zeledon, spoken Of in the cablegram,
Is a rebel general, a IN the
employ of Mena, the fallen dictator.
recently captured and taken to Panama
for exile.
Not Engaged in War.
Though the lives Of American ma
rines have been lost and others have
been wounded in what appears to have
been one of the most sanguinary bat
ties fought in Central America in many
years, yet technically the United Statos
Is not engaged in war.
AS defined by the state department.
the status of the relations between tho
United States an Nicaragua is one Of
friendship. What Rear Admiral
Southland has done in attacking the
Nicaraguan rebels is declared to have
been purely in OF a duty i'm
posed upon the w many times In
the stormy history of Central America
that of forcibly protecting American
lives and property as we'll 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 1t free from interruption,
that the large foreign element scat
tered through the Nicaraguan towns
might be able to receive food.
Foreigners Hemmed In.
For nearly a week after the Ameri-
can naval forces managed to open the
way from Managua to Granada, where
the conditions of foreigners was pitt
full, General Zeledon's rebel forces, en-
trenched on W hills at Barranca, act
ually commanded the line of commune
1o%fOp NV ,as1 ,rl ~t~rfnr1l 1r;%l ~,
free movement of supplies and pre-
vented the unfortunate sufferers of
famine from making their escape to
places of safety.
Admiral Switzerland had several in
terviews with the rebel chieftain after
h surrender and deportation of Cen
eral Mena, the principal figure in their
revolution, but he found hat Zeledon
was not only determined to refuse any
offer of amnesty held out by President
Diaz, but was determined to retain
h position he occupied threatening
the railroad.
The admiral was finally obliged to
deliver an ultimatum, warning Zeledon
that after "a hours notice the American
naval force would undertake to drive
him from Barranca hills. h time
limit expired at 8 O'Clock yesterday
received by Minister Castrillo today
indicates, the American marines did
exactly as they had undertaken to do
even at the cost of q few liYes.
Position Ex., lained.
Both the state and naval officials
are anxious to have it appear that
what has been done by the American
naval force vas in response to a for
NAL request from the Titular govern
ment of Nicaragua, an important con
sideration in estimating the result of
this display of force by the American
marines.
Though keenly appreciative of the
sentiments inspiring the Nicaraguan
government in its 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 according
to the wishes of their surviving rela-
tives.