REVOLT IN HONDURAS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18309, 21 April 1931, Page 7

REVOLT IN HONDURAS.

SEVERE FIGHTING. MOVEMENT MAKES HEADWAY. AMERICANS IN DANGER. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. WASHINGTON* April 19A message from Tegucigalpa, Hie capital of Honduras, says the rebels, headed by General Roman Diaz, attacked Tela, a port on the northern coast, this afternoon. After severe fighting they were repelled by Government troops. The exact number of casualties is not known. Other troops attacked Sonaguera, but were repelled. At Saba and near Progreso, Government troops defeated the rebels. Later reports from Tegucigalpa say the outbreak is reported to be the most concerted revolutionary movement since 1924. It is said to be fast gaining headway with the revolutionaries. The Government troops have already engaged the rebels in heavy fighting, but the broken communications have prevented the receipt of details. It is known, however, that the insurgents have captured two of the north coast cities.

Three United States cruisers are rushing to remove the Americans, of whom 1000 are reported to be in the danger zone. Women and children are fleeing from the interior, in _ the hope of reaching safely on ships along the sea coast.

The New Orleans headquarters of the Standard Fruit and Steamship Company has received despatches from Honduras reporting that a wellorganised revolution has been started in the north, along the coast of Honduras.

The American Government ordered cruisers to go to Honduras and Nicaragua, after receiving reports of the outbreak of the revolution in Honduras.

The republic of Honduras is one of the small Central American States. It has an area of 46,300 square miles, and a population of about 760,000, who are mainly Illiterate. At the last census the number of British residents was 3977 and of Americans, 1757. It has a President, Dr. Vicente Colindres, and a single chamber Legislature called Congress. The chief export is the banana, also coffee, sugar and mahogany. The Tropical Radio Company, a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company, has a powerful station at Tegucigalpa.