The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-28
SEND j. S. TROOPS
TO NICARAGUA
American Soldiers VIII Land on For
elsn Soil to ouell Rebellion
For First Time In
Years
1000 MEN ON HAND
President Taft Takes Steps to Put a
Stop to tho Massacres and
Damage Being
Done.

l
UNITED Press Leased Wire Service. /
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2S.-Presi-
dent Taft today ordered the Tenth in
fantry, which Is stationed at Panama
City, to sail for Corinto, Nicaragua,
Immediately. The presidents action
was taken on the direct request Of the
state department. 1t Is the first time
In many years that American soldiers
have been sent to Central America to
quell rebellion.
Over five hundred marines are in 4
Nicaragua and with the arrival of the
Tenth infantry, under Colonel Henry
r Greene, the United States Will have
force Of 1000 fighting men In the
revolution-ridden country. This will
be supplemented by large naval
force consisting of the cruisers DEN
yer and the California and several
/ iother smaller vessels.
The state departments action In re-
| questing the president to send more
troops to Nicaragua, although 1t does
not amount to a declaration OF war,
sets an important precedent in the re-
lations of this country with the Latin
American republics. AS far back as
the early part Of July the United
States was requested by Nicaragua to
aid In maintaining peace, protecting
American life and property. and help
4 ing otherwise to restore normal con-
ditions. The Nicaraguan government
i plainly confessed its inability to cope
!, with the Mena rebellion and on this
I, ,iaocount the invasion by United
States troops does not constitute an
4 unfriendly act in the opinion of state
| department officials
4 The presidents authority to order
American troops on foreign soil was
seriously questioned recently by Sen
lator Bacon, of Georgia, who introduced
a resolution requesting a decision on
the matter and at the time bitterly
} opposed the sending Of more troops
& to Nicaragua. 1t was then reported
that the administration would walt
q quietly for congress to adjourn before
! concentrating its armed forces on the
{ little republic, in order to avoid any
] clash on the matter with congress-
! The tenth infantry will sail late to
: day or early tomorrow by Pacific
7 mail steamer, there being no available
. army transport. Upon landing at Cor
) into the regiment will be placed al
. the disposal of American Minister
t Weitzel.
q The state department characterize!
9 the tactics of General Mena as bar
barous and cruel and Is determined
! to take every step to assist the Mic
s araguan government.
y The Tenth infantry has been sta
. toned in Panama for about year
). Previously 1t was at the Presidio a
!. San Francisco following its return
I. from the Philippines, where 1t say
i, several years of service. Its remova
p will strip the canal zone of all mill
tary and naval defenders.
If the services of the Tenth are re
ouired for any length of time in MIC
aragua, the Seventeenth infantry ma
j be sent to the canal to replace It,
L may be necessary also for the arm
to send more men to Nicaragua itsel'
. in which case the Seventeenth o
some Of the troops stationed along th
y Pacific coast will he used The wa
y department does not intend to us
q any of the soldiers stationed alon
:. the Atlantic coast.
i' The order for the dispatch of SO
diers to Nicaragua came SO suddenl
- that Major General Wood, chief
staff. had to postpone trip whic
he planned to make today to Waite
town Mass, to inspect the govern
n ment arsenal He was on his wa
when word reached him df the pres
dents order and he fastened back
1.-THE war department.
~ The army is being called upon Il
fe more service now than at any tim
.e In a number of years. The distur'
" ances along the Mexican border too
rs a turn for the worse today and II
N general staff fears that more soldier
n must be sent to guard the 1000 mile
n of border.
10 Rebels near Culberson, Texas. das
ed across the line stole 100 horse
m and engaged in running fght WI
It, United States cavalrymen. As far
IT. the dispatches indicate, no one WI
le wounded. General Wood has wired
s. General Steever, in command OF U
lie troops on the border, asking wheth'
he needs additional troops.