Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-05
Six Americans Are Also
Wounded in a Battle
at COyOtepa.
NOT ENGAGED IN A WAR
Rear Admiral Sutherland and
Forces Merely Protecting
Foreign Interests.

Washington, Oct. 5.-Four Ameri-
can marines were killed and six
wounded yesterday when American
forces took the town OF Coyotepa from
the Nicaraguan rebels, according to a
cablegram received early today by
Minister Castrillo. from Chamorro.
minister OF foreign affairs in Near
aqua. Early today neither the state
or navy department received any word
Of a fight at Masaya and Coyotepa or
OF the death Of American marines. Off
cials we're shocked at Castrillo's ca
blegram.
GENERAL ZELEDON KILLED.
The cablegram TO Castrillo, dated
Managua, Oct 4, follows:
"Masaya was taken today by as
sault. We had 100 dead and 200
wounded. The Americans carry uook
Coyotepa, with four dead and six
wounded. Correa simultaneously took
Barranca. Zeledon fed with his fol-
lowers, and was captured eight
leagues from Mayasa. wounded. and
died later. Today ! visited the Ame1-
lean legation to express deepest SYM
pathy for the marines death. The
Granada municipality requested the
marines bodies for burial in that city
] beg you 10 express TO the depart
.
Mfhister of Affairs Chamorro."
..-E1iss!~aeR, spoken Of in n-tRe-cabfegrTrf;-
is a rebel geneoal Houndurah, in the
employ Of Mena, the fallen dictator
recently opp,ured and taken to Pan
anna as an exile
STATUS IS FRIENDLY.
Though lives of American marines
have been lost and others wounded
in what appears 10 have been one
Of the most sanguinary battles fought
In Central America in many years. yet
technically the United States is not
engaged in war. AS defined by the
state department, the status OF rela-
tions between the Uniteu States ana
Nicaragua is one OF friendship. What
a
lacking Nicaraguan rebels is declared
TO have been purely in pursuance of
a duty imposed upon the navy many
times in the stormy history of Cen,
tral America-that OF forcibly pro
tecting American lives and property
as well as citizens OF European ma
tions
REFRAINS FROM INTERVENING.
The admiral strictly refrained from
intervening in any way between the
warning factions in Nicaragua, and
confined himself entirely to opening
railway communication and main
taing II free from interruption, tina
the large foreign element scattered
in Nicaragua towns might be able
10 receive food. For nearly a weel
after American naval forces had man
aged TO open the way from Managu'
10 Granada, where the conditions o
foreigners were pitiful. Zeledon's rebe
forces. entrenched on two hills a
Barranca, actually in command Of th'
line OF communication by rail. in
terfered with the free movement o
supplies and prevented the unfortun
ate sufferers OF famine making escap,
tot places OF safety. Zeledon deter
mined to retain the position he occu
pied threatening the railroad.
PROMISE Is KEPT.
The admiral was obliged to delive
an ultimatum. warning Zeledon tha
after "a hours the, American fore
would undertake TO drive him fror
the Barranca hills. The time limi
expired at S yesterday morning. bu
today's cab.egram indicates the Amel
lean marines did exactly as they ha
undertaken to do even at the cost c
few lives. State naval officials ar
anxious TO have it appear what ha
been done by the American force wa
in response to a formal request froI
the titular government OF Nicaragui
an important consideration in est
mating the result of this display {
force by American marines. 1t is b.
lieved the bodies OF the mel will
brought home.
MEITZEL HEARD FROM.
This governments first advice
came today from Minister Weitzel ;
Managua. The dispatch said II
Americans had driven Zeledon and II
rebels from Barranca hills in 81 mi
utes II said nothing Of Correa
participation in the battle. From Il
wording OF the dispatch officials thir
blLejackets from some warships und'
Sutherland were in the tight.
Dispatches said It was rumore
American marines had been killed al
Mnnnded hut cave nothing defnife