ECUADOR RISING

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1932, Page 5

ECUADOR RISING

THE MUTINOUS NAVY REBEL LEADER FLEES.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

GUAYAQUIL (Equador), April 8. Ecuador Federal troops sent up on Thursday to Fort Punta Piedru, which it still in- tffe hands of rebels, were withdrawn on Friday and it appeared that the army was getting ready to blast the mutineers out with aeroplane bombs.

General Leonidas Plaza Gutierrez, tlie former President whose re-appear-ance in Ecuador is believed to have caused the rebellion, was on his way to Quito by ra,il on Friday. Meantime, the authorities ordered the port to be closed to all marine traffic in an effort to starve out the 'Mutinous Navy, which seized Ecuador’s two gunboats on Thursday, and steamed up the river in ’ front of the Forts. This was to prevent a repetition of the raid when one of the warships darted out and captured a British tanker, the “Buaro.” The tanker .reached the port of Salines on Friday. The oaptain explained that the rebels stated that all' tbey wanted was to have him tow the gunboat “Cotopaxi’ rt short distance because the gunbfiat’ji engines were not func-* 'tionir.g. The Government’s troop s recaptured the Fort at Punta Piedra from the rebels on Saturday driving out the rebels. Udefonzo Mendoza, the leader of the rebellion, is reported to have fled. ,