The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-30
Experience Horrors of BOm- bardment and Many
 Miraculous Escapes
MANAGUA THE FOCAL
 POINT OF REVOLUTION
Unrest Started When Mena Was De- posed, who Eventually Fled and Armed Liberals American
 Forces Improve Situation

Managua, September 14-(Associated Press Correspondence) )--Americans in Ma nagua now know what a sicSening trag- edy a Central American revolution is. They have passed through a month of turmoil August witnessed a three day battle and experienced the horrors of a bombardment. They have seen the peo- pie of the city panic stricken, women and children killed. have borne the suf- { ferings of hunger in town beleaguered and have had miraculous escapes from exploding shells and bullets. Daily they saw hundreds of recruits marching out blithely with vivas and laughter, to fight perhaps to meet the death thousands of their fellows already had met.
 The capital of Nicaragua in August was the focal point of the revolution of which General Luis Mena, the deposed minister of war was the head. The two military heroes of the rising of 1soe-1o which over threw Zelaya were Emiliano Chamorro and Luis Mena. Mena became minister of war and organized the assembly which in October. 1911. elected him President of Athe republic for the term beginning Jan uary l, 1913.
 
 Then the United States stepped in, the American minister notifying Mena that his election was regarded as premature and a violation of the pact made with the representative of the United States. General Mena was deposed later as minis ter of war ard General Chamorro was appointed commander in chief of the army. Mena eventually fled and armed the liberals.
 Thus began the revolution which reached it's climax in the bombardment of non combatants-a violation of all moral even of revolutions in Central America except in the case of Zelaya, who bombarded Managua in 1853 in the revolt that estab llshed him as dictator.
 It was no part of Menss plan, how ever. to take Managua by assault Gen eral Zeledon, for some time minister of war under Zelaya, was responsible for that, when Mena lay helpless on a sick he'd The bombafdment began on a Mon |. .tav ne-air& although zeleasaf -Naa. isiser< warned that thousands of women and children were in the city. All day the savage shelling continued. the shells ex ploding all over the town.
 Child Cut in Two
 In one house mother and her four daughters were wounded. A child sitting on a doorstep was cut in two. A woman with her babe at her breast, running across the street, was struck by shell and both were instantly killed. One hun dred and thirty-sx women and children were killed or wounded. The escape of hundreds of others was miraculous.
 The second evening of the lombard ment a shell hit the presidential house and exploded in room where the presi- dent and his cabinet were in confer ence with General Chamorro. Strangely enough no one was injured. A shell ex- ploded in the interior court of the house of an American official Four American officials and three servants were on either side of the court, but none was hit
 Chamarro Saves Day
 Throughout Monday and Tuesday the battle waged, eliminating in a sharp at- tack in the afternoon when many hsur- gents broke over the entrenchments. These were not supported in strength, however. and were killed with machetes. Twice again during the night attacks were made in force. Each time the gov ernment troops were thrust back. But Chamorro saved the day himself by lead ing endorsements which drove the in- surgents back
 All that night the bombardment was Sept up. Wednesday the people were ab- eolutely panic stricken. Thousands fled from the town-anywhere to get out to the opposite side of the city, toward Corinto and the north and through other avenues of escape.
 Another attack by the insurgents that day would have meant success, the gov ernment's ammunition was almost gone But the bolt was shot. Their failure to win after three days successive assaults with tremendous losses had disspirited the insurgents and they retired in dis order.
 And this revolutionary episode, one way of satisfying desire for office and getting presidency with absolutely no principle involved cost thousand soldiers, many women and children ard men who wanted peace more than war.
 A battalion of 100 American marines, under Major Butler, reached Managua from Panama the next day. Their pres ence probably prevented another attack Managua remained cut off from the world except by one telegraph wire at little station across the lake in the mountains ereached by boat and courier. Citizens there did not know what was happening until the railroad was operated by the Americans in September Though not in- vested, it was beleaguered. So, too, were Masaya and Granda.
 The attempt to assault the capital and thus capture the government having failed. the scene of war was shifted. The liberals sent arms and ammunition to the people of Leon. Two forces sent by the government to check the rising there met rebels numbering 5000. and after des- perate street fighting were killed almost 10 man Their bodies, piled in great heaps. were burned in the streets.
 A force of % American soldiers who had gone to Managua before the siege as part of the legation guard and were re- turning to Corinto by train were stopped at Leon. their officers insulted and per mitted to go further. Their train was seized and they returned to Managua, on foot
 Since the augmentation of the Ameri- can forces conditions have improved and the marines are spreading out 10 guard not only foreign lives and property. but to prevent the insurgents. inflamed by early victories and scenting loot, from ap- plying methods which were in vogue cen- turies ago.
 "Restricted District" No More