While the Government continues to gain the upper hand, and the insurgent leaders are being defeated and obliged to flee the country, the condition of affairs is most distressing.
The rebel cause was so strong that none doubted that it would succeed. Numbers of the best people in the country sided with the rebels, and felt so sure of their ultimate success that they did not scruple to let it be known where their sympathies lay.
Now that the Government and Barrios have gained the victory, there is a panic throughout the country.
It is felt that the dictator will deal out a heavy punishment to all who have revolted against his rule, and in all parts of the country people are fleeing from his wrath, leaving their houses and plantations to go to rack and ruin.
Our Government fears that the lives and property of our citizens in Guatemala may be endangered in the general confusion, and therefore the cruiser Detroit has been sent down to the Gulf coast of Guatemala to protect the interests of our citizens.
We are sorry to tell you that the forest fires are still increasing in New York State.
Half of the people of the town of Huron have been engaged for three weeks in fighting the fires, but have made little or no headway.
Forest fires are also raging on the Alleghany Mountains, and word comes that the town of Altoona, Pa., is so shrouded in smoke from the fires that the sun at noonday is almost invisible.
Better news, however, comes from Nebraska. Rain has fallen there, and the terrible drought appears to be over. The farmers are using every moment of daylight to plough their fields and get them ready for the fall planting.