In my No. 367 I reported that Nicaragua had sent a detachment of some five
hundred men to La Union to aid the Government of Figueroa, Zaldivar’s
successor, and that another force would be sent from Corinto, either to the
same place or to Acajutla; the latter, to the number of six hundred men and
upwards, was landed at La Libertad on the 3d instant, to which place it was
transported from Corinto in the Pacific Mail Company’s steamer San Juan. It
is also reported that another detachment of five hundred Nicaraguans will
soon follow.
[Inclosure in No. 370.]
Mr. Mathé to Mr.
Hall.
United
States Consulate,
Sonsonate, May 26,
1885.
Sir: I have the honor to report that on the
14th of this month General Menendez took possession of Santa Ana, after
three day’s fighting, and he now holds that place with a force of some
three to four thousand men, having established there a revolutionary
government with himself as provisional President of the Republic.
On the 16th instant this place surrendered to a force sent by General
Menendez, which then proceeded to take possession of Armenia, on the
road to San Salvador; local authorities were appointed here, who held
the place until the 19th instant, when information having reached this
place, that the Government troops had completely defeated
[Page 128]
the revolutionists at Armenia,
and were marching upon this place, when the recently established
authorities suddenly left, taking with them all the troops here, with
the exception of eight men in charge of over a hundred prisoners, and
retired to Santa Ana, leaving this place without established authority
or any sufficient force to maintain order.
On the 21st instant Sonsonate was reoccupied by about 500 Government
troops, who had fought at Armenia, that place being left with a
sufficient force for its protection, and at the present moment 500 men,
under General Mianda with Generals Letona and Monterrosa, still remain
here, having fortified the place and occupied commanding positions in
the neighborhood in anticipation of an expected attack by the Menendez
party, who are said to be on the road from Santa Ana to this placewith
1,000 men.
Both parties are strong, and it is difficult to see when this state of
affairs will end. Of course, the Menendez party have always the
disadvantage of being confined to Santa Ana and the neighboring town of
Aliquizaya, while at the same time their resources in arms and other war
elements must be limited in comparison to those at the disposal of the
Government.
On the 16th instant I addressed a communication to the commander of the
troops then taking possession of this place, requesting the necessary
guarantees for the security of American citizens and their property, as
well as those other foreigners resident in the place who had no
immediate consular representation, and received a very attentive reply.
No one has in any way been molested.
In consequence of the peace arrangements after the war with Guatemala, a
discontented opinion arose against Dr, Zaldivar, and this, together with
the invasion by General Menendez, obliged him to leave on the 14th on
the steamer of the Kosmos line, which he engaged, as is supposed, to
take him to Panama. He had applied to the Legislative Assembly for
license to absent himself, and at the last moment had to abdicate. The
provisional President, General Figueroa, is the second “designado,” and
so far, with the exception of Santa Ana, has the rest of the Republic in
his favor.
I am, &c.,
P. S.—May 28. I have just seen in the
Salvador papers a telegram from the President of Honduras to General
Figueroa, offering the mediation of that Government in the present
difficulty, and General Figueroa’s reply accepting the same very
cordially.
A similar proposal was sent to General Menendez, and although his
reply had not been received there is little doubt but that he will
accept the offer, and it is said that a meeting and conferences were
to take place yesterday. I have every hope that it will result in
peace being declared.
Sir: I had the honor of addressing you on the
26th and 28th ultimo, with some details of the revolutionary movements
in this quarter, but that dispatch I was unable to forward at the time,
on account of the suspension of the overland mail from here to
Guatemala. Since that date, and as then stated, a commission from the
Government waited upon General Menendez, with the object of coming to
some arrangement for peace. He was offered prominent positions under
Government, but rejected all, holding out for nothing less than the
Presidency. The consular body in San Salvador have now arranged a
meeting with him, and it remains to be seen what will be the result. It
is also stated that he agrees to meet General Figueroa, the provisional
President, in conference, so that there is at present still some hope of
an arrangement. If General Menendez persists in his pretensions to the
Presidency, it will then be difficult to see the end of this movement.
Meanwhile all hostilities are suspended.
I am, &c.,
