98 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



strict neutrality must be observed toward the 

 Honduras Kailroad. On the other hand, Gen- 

 eral Xatruch, an ally of Duefias, invaded Hon- 

 duras, gained some successes over the Govern- 

 ment troops, and even proclaimed himself Pro- 

 visional President. On April 7th a decisive 

 battle, lasting three days, took place at San- 

 tana, in which the troops of San Salvador were 

 totally defeated. When the news reached the 

 capital, the populace rose and sacked the bar- 

 racks of the soldiers and the private house of 

 President Duenas. Assassinations were com- 

 mitted, and anarchy reigned supreme. This 

 state of aifairs resulted from the flight of all 

 the high officials, and the absence of both the 

 police and soldiers, who had all deserted. The 

 prisoners in the jails were released by the mob. 

 At length, however, the merchants and all the 

 foreign residents formed a vigilance committee, 

 and in two days tranquillized the city, captured 

 many of the escaped prisoners, and then re- 

 signed in favor of the new officers, who were 

 appointed immediately upon the entry into the 

 capital of the Provisional President, Gonza- 

 lez, accompanied by his army. Ex-President 

 Duefias and General Martinez fled to the Amer- 

 ican legation, whence they communicated 

 with the victors, asking certain guarantees for 

 their lives and property. The new Govern- 

 ment decreed that there should be full and com- 

 plete liberty of the press in San Salvador, and 

 abolished the use of the word "Excellency," 

 as applied to the President and ministers, as 

 incompatible with the principles of the true 

 republic. The victorious army was enthusi- 

 astically received on entering the capital. A 

 new ministry was appointed, composed as fol- 

 lows : Interior, Manuel Gallardo ; Treasury 

 and War, Maximo Aranjo ; and Foreign Af- 

 fairs, Gregorio Albizu. General Torbert, the 

 United States minister in San Salvador, recog- 

 nized the new Government. In Honduras, 

 the revolution continued until June, when it 

 was suppressed, and General Xatruch left the 

 country. The Government granted a general 

 amnesty, excepting General Xatruch and his 

 adherents. Ex-President Duefias and General 

 Martinez were, in June, liberated by the Gov- 

 ernment of San Salvador. In August com- 

 missioners were appointed by the Govern- 

 ments of San Salvador and Honduras to 

 consult upon the policy of adopting measures 

 for the establishment of a Central American 

 Federation. Minister of War and the Treasury 

 Don Maximo Aranjo disappeared on finding 

 that a conspiracy had been discovered to over- 

 throw President Gonzalez. The movement 

 was to have been supported by President Me- 

 dina, of Honduras, who handed over to Gon- 

 zalez the correspondence of Aranjo. Borgo 

 Bustamente succeeded Minister Aranjo as Sec- 

 retary of War, and was named brigndier-gen- 

 er'al. Owing to some warm debates a misun- 

 derstanding arose between Gonzalez and the 

 Ministers Ulloa and Gallardo, which ended by 

 those two ministers resigning their portfolios. 



Licentiate Figueroa received the place of Gal- 

 lardo as Minister of the Interior. 



Another revolution was attempted in Costa 

 Rica in May. It was discovered almost before 

 its initiation, and was promptly put down. The 

 leaders were arrested and banished. 



A serious revolution against President Cerna 

 of Guatemala broke out in May. General Rufino 

 Barrios, at the head of 600 rebels, defeated the 

 Government troops at Guezaltemango. Gen- 

 eral Vikeria, at the head of 200 men, joined 

 the insurgents. In the latter part of the month, 

 the revolutionists, under command of their 

 chief leader, Miguel Garcia Granados, attacked 

 and took possession of the town of Retalhulchu, 

 which was garrisoned by some 300 Government 

 troops under Colonel Cadenas, after a sharp 

 fight, in which the loss on each side was about 

 equal some 20 men each, among whom was 

 Colonel Peron, of the revolutionists, formerly 

 a general under Maximilian, in Mexico. The 

 Government forces retired, leaving the place 

 in possession of Granados, who, in revenge for 

 the obstinate resistance made by the inhabit- 

 ants of Retalhulchu, set fire to the town and de- 

 stroyed 400 of the Indian huts of which it was 

 composed. The revolutionists next marched 

 on Masaterango, another important town in 

 the Costa Grande, and surrounded by one of 

 the richest coffee-regions in the republic, and 

 occupied it without resistance. Then they 

 took up their line of march to the city of An- 

 tigua, the former capital, which they reached 

 without encountering any opposition. It was 

 their intention to enter and occupy this city 

 also, but finding the inhabitants less enthusi- 

 astic in his favor than he expected, and doubt- 

 ing his ability to cope successfully with the 

 force under Colonel Barrientos, which defend- 

 ed the place, Granados abandoned the idea 

 and continued with his command to the town 

 of San Martin, whence he might successfully 

 operate against Guatemala City, the capital of 

 the republic. For several days after the re- 

 ceipt of the news that the revolutionists had 

 intrenched themselves at San Martin, the most 

 intense excitement existed in the capital, and an 

 attack was hourly expected. The general feel- 

 ing was openly and decidedly expressed in favor 

 of the proposed new regime ; but the revolu- 

 tionary leader, apparently ignorant of the state 

 of aifairs at the seat of government, delayed, 

 awaiting reinforcements from San Salvador 

 and fire-arms from abroad, which he daily ex- 

 pected. In the mean time, Government troops 

 were called in from all available points, and 

 the city put in such a state of defence as to 

 render a successful attack on the part of Gra- 

 nados, with his limited force, impossible. The 

 critical moment being thus allowed to pass 

 without advantage having been taken of it, the 

 Government decided to act on the offensive. 

 A force was organized, under command of 

 Colonel Calogne, and sent out against the revo- 

 lutionists in San Martin. The latter, hearing 

 of this movement, and having been disappoint 



