The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-10-09
TIL. TRAGEDY OF WAR
THE POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN MIC
sRaUGA ARE FEARFUL.
With the United States Forces Aug
mented By Marines Quiet is Again
of Hand

ID ddAOs
a dispatch says Americans in Man.
aqua, Mic, now know what sick
ening tragedy a Central America
revolution is. They have passed
through a month Of turmoil lAu-
gust), witnessed three battles and ex-
perienced the horrors Of lombard
uent. They have seen the people OF
the city panic stricken, women and
children killed; have borne the suf-
ferinss Of hunger in town be-
!eaguered and have had miraculous
escapes from exploding shells and
bullets. Daily they saw hundreds OF
recruits marching out blithely, with
yiyas and laughter to fight, perhaps
10 meet the death thousands OF their
fellows already had met.
The capital of Nicarauga in August
WAS the focal point of the revolution
OF which Gen. Luis Mena, the de-
posed secretary of war, was the head.
The two military heroes of the up
Using in 1909-10, which overthrew
Zelaya, were Emiliano Chamorro and
.uis Mena. Mena became minister OF
war and organized the assembly,
which in October, 1911, elected him
president Of the republic for the term
beginning January l, 1913.
Then the United States stepped in,
the American minister notifying Me-
na that his election was regarded as
premature and q violation Of the pact
made with the representative of the
United States. Mena was deposed
later as minister Of the war and Gen.
Chamorro was appointed commander
in-chiet OF the army. Nena eventual
iy fed and armed the Liberals. Thus
began the revolution which reached
its climax in the bombardment OF
non-combatants-a violation Of all
the morals even Of the republica CT
Central America, except in the case
OF Zelaya who bombarded Managua
in the revolution Of 1908.
1t was no part Of 'Mena's plan. how
ever, to take Managua by assault.
Gen. Zeledon, some time minister Of
war under Zelaya, was responsible
;er that when Mena lay helpless on a
sick bed. The bombardmeat was on
Monday although Zeledon had been
warned that thousands uf innocent
women and children were il; the city.
All the day the savage shelling con-
tirued, the shells exploding all over
the town. By a strange fatality wo-
nen and children were the victims.
In one house mother and her fo:lT
daughters were wounded. child
sitting on door step was cut in two.
woman with her babe at her breast.
running across the street, was struck
hy she'll and both were instantly
killed. One hundred and thirty-six
women and children were killed or
wounded. The escape Of hundreds of
others was miraculous.
The second evening Of the bom-
bsrdment shell hit the presidential
houses and exploded in room where
the president and his cabinet were in
conference with General Chomorro.
Strangely enough, no one was in
;rred. A shell exploded in the In
terror court of the house of an Amer
lean official. Four American officials
and three servants were on either
side Of the court but none was hurt.
Through Monday and Tuesday the
battle ragged, eliminating in sharp
attack in the afternoon. Chamorro
saved the day by lea!ing force
which routed the attackers momen-
;arily.
A battalion Of 400 American ma
rines under Maj. Butler reached Man
aqua from Panama the following day.
Their presence probably prevented
another attack. The attempt to take
The capital and thus>capture the gov
srnment having failed, the scene o.
var was shifted.