Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-08
ECUADOR
TROUBLE:
SPREADS
Government Sends Loyal
Troops To Break Up
Revolution.
CHILE IN DISTRESS
Martial Law May Be Pro
claimed Following Res
ignation Of Cabinet.

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador, April 8.
U.P)-All ships coming to Guayaquil
were ordered detained today by
Commander Ildefonso Mendoza,
leader of a revolt which began on
the coast yesterday. The order was
designed to furnish the rebels with
money, food and fuel.
Authorities feared that if foreign
vessels were molested, international
complication would result.
Mendoza was proclaimed "su-
preme chief" today by the rebels.
The British, Swiss and Dutch con-
suls asked the government to guar
antee against the molestation of
foreign ships.
The government decided to send
battery of artilltry CPS mem and
battalion of chausseurs (268 mem
to Guayaquil. An airplane was sent
to reconnoiter.
The government also sent small
force of troops and police to Puerto
Libertad.
GUAYAoUIL, Ecuador, April s
| U.P1 = Revolutionists today at
tempted to blockade the port of
Guayauuil after seizing control OF
| two ships of the Ecuadoran navy
and firing on a Dutch passenger
ship passing the fort at Runta
! PiedraS.
The rebels held control of the
fort, which commands passage
along the Guayas river between
Quayaquil and the Gulf OF
Guayaquil.
The rebel leader, Commander
Ildefonso Mendoza, sailed north
aboard the cruiser Cotopaxi, only
cruiser in the Ecuadoran navy.
built in 1884 and equipped with
two ancient guns.
The council of ministers gave
President Alfredo Baquerizo Mo-
reno full powers to combat the up
rising, and he sent troops against
revolutionists operating on land.
Loyal forces were unable To
reach rebels aboard the gunboat
Cotopaxi, or to advance toward
Fort Punta Piedra, commanding
the entrance to Guayaquil harbor
They had no boat large enough to
transport important units and
lacked trucks for operation through
swamps, infested with mosquitoes
and pests.
The rebels fired on the Dutch
steamer Bodengraven in an at
tempt to capture Ex-Presdent Gen.
Leonidas Plaza and hold him as a
hostage. The skipper of the
Bodengraven disregarded the rebel
command to halt. Several rounds
were fired from the cruiser Coto-
paxi.
A customs guard aboard the
Dutch ship was wounded in pro-
tecting the 12-year-old daughter
If General Plaza. The general and
his family landed safely here
IldefonSo Mendoza, commanding
the Ecuadoran cruiser, was an un-
successful candidate in last years
presidential election.
SANTIAGO, Chile, April g. U.P>r-
! Proclamation of martial law
throughout Chile was expected
momentarily today after the coun-
trys economic plight and political
unrest had caused the resignation
Of the cabinet and the threat of
| revolution.
Congress gave President Juan
Fstaban Montero authority to de-
clare martial law at his discretion.
Troops were confined to barracks.
Machine guns were set up at
strategic positions.
A new cabinet was sworn IN
'hortly after midnight.
The crisis was precipitated by
the governments inability TO pass
| legislation for abandonment of the
gold standard, resulting in run
on banks and street demonstrations
against the government.
The government bill asking au-
thorization to declare martial law
was approved by the senate, II 70
l3, and by the chamber of depu
| lies, SO to %.
The new cabinet was headed by
Victor Robles, radical leader
Chile faced what many observers
called the most serious position In
the country's history. Exports were
at the lowest figure on record. The
| country must import many essen