The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-21
ULTIMATUM SENT
BY SWITZERLAND
Severe Fighting Between United
States Forces and Nicaraguan
Revolutionists Believed to
Have Occurred Following
Attempts to Go to Relief Of
Famine Threatened City.

Severe lighting between American
naval forces and Eicaraguan reVoIu-
t!onists is believed to have occurred
In the past few days near Barrencas'
although reports from the scene are
10 meagre that officials here have no
definite idea Of what has happened.
Rear-Adm!ral Switzerland is IN the
field, probably with upwards OF 2,ooO
men, and. IL plans have not miscarried.
BY this time he has cleared the route
Of the National Railway OF opposing
rebels and relieved the famine-threat'
ened city of Granada.
European attention to affairs in Mic
aragua at this time IL believed to be
one Of the possibilities of the situation.
The Washington government, In send
ing relief to the beleaguered city OF
Granada, populated by many foreign
ers, had hoped to avert any pretext for
landing European military or naval
forces on Central American SOIL The
British consul-general at Managua and
the British vice-consul at Mataga!pa
have reported two British subjects
murdered by the rebels at Achuapa-
It is expected, however, the British
before taking action upon
It's own account, will await the re-
suits Of the American campaign
Americans Fired Upon.
A delayed cablegram from Admiral
dated Managua. II o'clock
p. NJ. September II. and reporting
that American bluejackets and marines
were fred upon as they attempted to
open the railway. reached the Navy
to-day. Delayed reports
yesterday said the Granada relief
Ia
day. that the officer in command had
halted and sent to Managua for REIN
forcements, and that Admiral South
erland had gone to the rescue with
two companies OF marines and de-
tachment OF sailors.
Whether or not there WAS more ar.
ing from the rebels before the addi
tional American force arrived Is no
known. but it 10 possible that the
brush referred to In the dispatch re-
ceived to-day was the one that tool
place Sunday.
Upon his arrival at Barrancas. Adj
miral Switzerland sent word to Gen
eral Zeledon. one Of the. rebel leaders
that he proposed to open the railroad
he would give the rebels Just twenty
While Zeledon hesitated. General
Mena, the former Secretary OF War OF
the principal leader in the
came northward from
Granada with another large force OF
rebels and Joined him. After a con-
sultation they sent a formal defiance
to Admiral Switzerland. announcing
their purpose to oppose his advance
1t Ii not known exactly how many
sailors or marines composed the ad-
miravs force at that time. but 1t ID
believed that 1t did not exceed three
or four hundred men. At any rate, In
view Of the large number OF rebels In
his front. and unwilling to run the
risk Of even temporary defeat. the ad-
miral called for achievements from
Manaxua, where il is believed there
were still about 1,500 sailors and ma
rines available, so as to make sure OF
any opposition that the
rebels might of3er- That was the sit
uation when the last caolegram was
from 3Ianagua three days
ago.
Severe Language.
The omcial reports to the State De-
partmeut rarely include such severe
language as those which are now Is
sued. dealing with the conditions In
which. 1t 10 said. ARE worse
than those which existed In the Con-
60. and in the Putumayo."
The rebels with unparalleled feroc!ty
have turned upon helpless noncombat-
ants, even women and children. and
their warfare Is characterized by a re-
turn to absolute barbartsm-
American Minister Wei,zel has re-
ceived . letter from Pedro Rafael
Cuadra- the present Minister OF FL
nance of President Diaz. and from
Carlos Guadra- the Nicaraguan men,
Der Of the Mixed Claims Commission,
In which in the name Of humanity and
they beg Minister We!tzel
to do all he can to protect their fauli-
lies who are being ferociously perse-
cuted at Granada They have learned
that General Mena, and his agents. are
their relatives because
they themselves are members o: the
Dtax government Their brothers. pri-
yzte citizens. they declare. have been
tortured. deprived Of food
and Obliged TO pay large sums Of
money for few crumbs. when eN-
hsu.;ed from lack o: aourishment. For
an interrupted period Of Eve days they
were confined In a tiny. hithy closet
for three days OF which time they wer.
allowed no food and water. 80 that
when let out they were near desfh.
Moreover Colonel Daniel Mena in
81 Fort san Francisco. over
looking tho town. has threatened 70
shoe, the cusdra brothers {: the gov
ernmen, troops attack Granada. II Is
said the wife OF the Minister 81 TT
nance is being hunted IN Granada 10
order tina, she NAV be tortured
N~ss$s - 0ssA ss1esL
Dogeiss. Ariz. Sertember .a-Ihe
ofset,I reror, Of the hattie between
rebel. and FeSersis. twenty -seveu
miles south cs here Yesterday and to-
Jay gave the rebels loss as twenty
kt,Ies and thirty-hve wounded. TIE
Ri IL A.