Evening star., 1924-03-23

The photo shows whist In left Of
damage In estimated Mt 100000.
length the struggle for the presidency
between three candidates. DIR. Bonilla.
DR.. Arias and Gen. Carias, first In an
election campaign and later before
Congress-)
Cariaa StHrted Revoluticn.
Gen. Carias left the capital on JAN
uary 80 with 800 armed men and.
under cover of the night, took to the
mountains to start the revolution
The diplomatic corps. headed by the
British charge d'affaires, George, Ly-
all on February I visited the presi-
dent and the congressman, saying
that in the interest Of peace ii would
be most desira BILE that the election
of 4 president be concluded some way
or other. But several deputies of the
Carias party. had already left the
capital with their chief and were in
the untains, preparing for war.
No quorum could be gathered. and con-
gress adjourned on January II without
having elected a president.
The dictatorship now began. The
issued Il decree declaring the cousti-
tuition suspended and assuming all
powers as dictator. The American
legation made pu bile q cablegram
from Washington saying the Ameri-
can government would recognize the
Dictatorship conditionaily, and this
naturally strengthened the position
of the dictator.
War Broke Ont February @.
War broke out February G. when
Col Anduray of the Carias party at
tackled and took the city Of Sigua-
tepeque, eighty-five miles west of
Tegucigalpa. At the same time at
sulting in many killed and wounded.
But the only towns taken by the
revolutionists were Marcala and
La Pa1
The government appointed a new
cabinet, formed exclusively from the
Bonilia party. But this cabinet re-
manned in power only four days. DR..
Bonilla told his leaders to keep aloof
from the dictatorship government
All agreed except Gen Ferrera.
Gen. Ferrera attacked and took
La Esperanza, Ocotepequa, Gracias,
Santa Rosa de Copan and Santa Bar
bara, all important cities of the west
section. In his proclamation be. did
not say for whom he fought. He
simply said he rose in arms against
the dictatorship.
American Envoy Sought Peace.
Gen. Carias. with an army of about
1000. proclaimed himself president
at Lamani February 3. sixty miles
from Tegucigalpa. The American
minister sought to bring about an
adjustment between Carias and the
existing government, but the latter
refused to follow his advice.
Gen. Carias was reported the next
day as marching on the capital. The
government became alarmed and at
once took the necessary measures to
defend the capital of the republic.
The diplomatic corps took no
steps toward preventing the expected
bloodshed. Fortunately, Gen. Carias
diverted his route TO the Nicaraguan
border. 1t is stated he did not have
enough ammunition to attack Teguci-
galpa.
On February IL It was learned Of
ficially that the United States had
ceased diplomatic relations with the
existing regime of Honduras. This
step, 1t was learned, had been taken
many days before, but Minister Mo-
lomatic and consular corps, the fact
ment and the American legation.
being known only to the govern
Guns Mounted In Cathedral.
After several battles, in which
learned that Gen. Ferrera with 1000
Intibuca full-blooded Indians was at
tacking Comayagua, the most i'm
portant town after Tegucigalpa, with
a population of $4,000. Fierce fighting
took place during two days. When
the government troops finally were
forced to the Cathedral towers, where
they mounted their machine guns,
the Intibuca Indians stormed it in a
terrible attack with the machete
knife.
On February % Comayagua fell
into the hands Of Gen. Ferrera and
his fierce fighting Indians. Part of
mountains before the attack and thus
saved many lives. The result of this
battle was about $50 killed and 250
wounded.
Gen. Ferrera sent emissaries to
the Dictatorship government on Feb
Of Tegucigalpa within forty eight
hours. The government held the
emissary and sent word to Ferrera
to take the capital il he could
TegucigalPa was panic stricken at
the prospective attack by those In
dians. The people appealed to the
diplomatic corps to prevent fighting
in the city.
The American minister said he had
no instructions and could do nothing
but let things follow their course.
Plague Ii Threatened.
At the time of sending this dis
patch the situation is unchanged.
The attack on the capital Is expect
ed any moment. The city Of CO.
mayagua is threatened with plague as
a result of the fighting, and the dead
bodies badly buried or not buried at
all.
In the city disorders are beginning
to break out Shooting Is heard
continuously through the streets.
The roof of the American consulate
was struck by shots the other night.
Several people already have been
killed in the streets.
Many millions Of dollars will be
lost by the banana planters and the
American Fruit Company Com
merce, which is carried on chiefly
with the United States. is perhaps the
heaviest sufferer. No drafts can be
paiu at present
The British, Italian, Spanish.
French and Chinese governments have
placed their interests in the interior
Of the country in the hands Of the
American legation for protection.
But as the United States government
is not carrying on relations with the
Honduras regime. nothing can be
done toward protection. according to
the view expressed by the American
minister, who is doing his utmost so
Ear as the situation permits. No
cables, no kilograms no mail. no
radiograms are allowed by the gov
ernment to be sent anywhere out
side. v ..s