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San Juan del Sur Expedition Nicaragua 07-08 Feb 1898

A rebellion broke out in Nicaragua during January, which threatened to become serious. During the year 1898 the American Marines were again land ed to protect the interests of the United States. Commander Eugene H. C. Leutze relieved Commander Hanford in command of the Alert, and arrived off San Juan del Sur in the early part of the year. In the first part of February the contending parties were engaged in open hostilities. Musketry firing was quite general, as well as artillery at intermittent intervals - some shells from the latter exploding in the water a short distance from the Alert, The American Consular Agent, Charles Holman, had acquainted Commander Leutze with the conditions ashore, and apparently had an understanding relative to the landing of Marines should their services be required.

The United States war vessel “Alert,” Captain Leutze, was obliged to take measures to protect foreign property at San Juan del Sur, while that place was being besieged and captured by the government troops. The United States was represented by Commander Frederick M. Symonds, in the Marietta. The British government was also represented by HMS Intrepid, These two vessels were at anchor at Bluefields, about the middle of February, when the foreign merchants or the city petitioned their commanding officers to despatch a landing party ashore to protect the lives and property of foreigners. The American Vice-Consul from Greytbwn, F.Percy Scott, was aboard the Marietta, and he together with Commander Symonds, went ashore on the morning of February l3, to obtain first-hand information relative to conditions, No landing was made, however, until late in the evening of the 24th, when Lieutenant Frederic B, Bassett. Jr., a detachment of Marines and sailors, numbering about l5 men, and a Colt's automatic gun, together with a like force from the British ship, were sent ashore to guard foreign interests. The American force re turned to the Marietta about 7 o'clock on the evening of the 28th.

On February 14, 1899, Mr. Donaldson, United States consul at Managua, telegraphed to Mr. Merry, United States minister to Nicaragua : “ The steamer San Jacinto, armed for war against the Government of Nicaragua, carries the flag of this Republic without authority, and in conseqeunce I have received an earnest intimation from the Government of Nicaragua that the American vessels of war should detain and disarm it as a vessel without a flag and a filibuster.” Mr. Merry replied:“ Entirely beyond my control. Naval officer under control Secretary of the Navy for orders.” In reporting the case to his Government, Mr. Merry stated that the San Jacinto belonged to the Nicaraguan Government, and was stationed at Bluefields, where she was seized by General Reyes' insurgents and taken to San Juan del Norte, where she lay in their possession.

Mr. Merry further said: “ The suggestion that I shall countenance intervention by the United States naval force in the domestic disturbances of Nicaragua (except as necessary for the protection of the lives or property of our citizens) is inconsistent with the repeated instructions he [the consul] has received in regard to our neutrality obligations. Precisely the same question arose during the prospect of hostilities between Nicaragua and Costa Rica early in 1898. The Government of Salvador, under General Gutierrez, . . . fitted out its steamer Cuscatlan with men and war munitions to aid Costa Rica, although Salvador was then a member of the Greater Republic of Central America, jointly with Nicaragua and Honduras. The Cuscatlan flew the flag of that 'political corporation,' now the flag of Nicaragua, President Zelaya requested Commander Leutze of the U.S.S. Alert to seize the Cuscatlan for the same alleged reasons and met with a refusal.”

The Department of State replied: “ There is not enough shown by your dispatch to justify the intervention of our naval forces. It does not appear that the San Jacinto is American property, unlawfully seized by the insurgents. If it were, it could be recaptured for the benefit of its lawful owners on the high seas by our naval force.""