File No. 22372/8.

Consul Moffat to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram—Paraphrase.]

Mr. Moffat says that Cannon and Groce were regularly enlisted in the revolutionary movement under the command of Chamorro, Groce as colonel of engineers and Cannon as lieutenant colonel of engineers. States that he had an interview with Chamorro, who had arrived that day, and was informed by him that in line of duty Groce, with 10 men, was at an outpost beyond the Chamorro camp, and that Cannon had been sent with two men to make a survey of a new position; that upon his return to Groce outpost was surprised by Toledo forces and both of them captured. Mr. Moffat says that Chamorro further states that it was learned subsequently from an officer of Toledo that Zelaya had ordered both of the men shot, but that Toledo refused to obey the order, and instead took the men to Fort Castillo. Mr. Moffat adds that what happened subsequently is not known.