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22 July 1919. Martial Law
in Honduras.
SAN SALVADOR, Republic of
Salvador, July 21.—The
Government of Honduras has
declared a state of siege to
exist because of violence during
the elections in progress there,
… The Government, it was said,
declared political enemies were
disturbing public order and were
threatening a revolution.
NYT, 22 July 1919
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25 July 1919.
Prevent Honduras Revolt.
Government's Prompt Action Stops
Invasion by Gen. Leiva.
SAN SALVADOR, July 21.—Prompt
action by the Government of
Honduras has prevented a
threatened revolution … These
dispatches reported that
General Andres Leiva was
preparing an invasion of
Honduras through the Nicaraguan
frontier, in cooperation with
sympathizers in Honduras.
NYT, 25 July 1919
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29 July 1919.
Revolution Reported in Honduras.
SAN SALVADOR, July 28.—A
revolutionary movement headed by
General Lopez Gutierrez,
Presidential candidate, is
reported today by the Press to
have broken out in Honduras.
The
revolution was said to have been
proclaimed in the Department of
Pariso [El Paraíso]. Various
encounters between rebel forces
and the Government troops were
said to have occurred on the
Nicaraguan frontier.
NYT, 29 July 1919
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31 July 1919.
Fighting Reported in Honduras
Revolt. President Bertrand Said
to Have Filled the Jails with
Leaders, but Many Flee.
Guerrilla Warfare Raging.
More than 1,300 Hondurans Said
to Have Crossed the Border, into
Nicaragua.
SAN JUAN DEL SUR, Nicaragua,
July 30.—President Bertrand of
Honduras was reported today in
dispatches received here to have
imprisoned all the leaders of
the parties headed by Vice
President Membreno and General
Lopez Gutierrez, as a result of
a revolution proclaimed
recently.
Prisons throughout the Republic
of Honduras are full, according
to these dispatches. Many
prominent citizens are said to
have taken refuge in the
American Legation.
General Lopez Gutierrez,
accompanied by 200 persons, is
said to have escaped from
Tegucigalpa and to have
succeeded in repulsing
Government troops.
His
supporters in the departments of
Paraiso and Valle were reported
to be carrying on guerrilla
warfare.
Dr. Zuran, Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Honduras, is a
refugee in the American Legation
at Tegucigalpa, while Dr. Lopez
Padilla, former Honduras
Minister to Nicaragua, and Dr.
Saturnino Medal, once magistrate
of the Cartago Court and a
delegate to the Central American
Peace Conference in 1907, have
been imprisoned in Tegucigalpa
in connection with the
revolution.
Advices received over the only
telegraph wire working south
from Honduras today are to the
effect that there was a serious
encounter on Tuesday in the
Department of the Valle between
Government forces and rebels.
Another three hundred Honduran
refugees are reported to have
arrived in Nicaragua today and
joined the more than one
thousand citizens of that
country who previously fled
there.
The
town of Danli, close to the
Nicaraguan frontier, has been
captured by revolutionists in
Honduras, according to
dispatches published here today.
In the fighting Colonel Jacinto
Velasquez, a leader of the
Gutierrez party, was killed.
General Francisco Argenal, with
400 revolutionists, is reported
to be within a few miles of
Ocotepeque, in Western Honduras,
preparing to attack it.
Nicaragua Denies
Responsibility.
The Nicaraguan Legation today
received a cablegram from
President Chamorro of Nicaragua
denying categorically recent
reports in this country that the
Honduran revolution had been
started in Nicaragua.
The message stated that these
reports are "absolutely false"
and that the Government of
Honduras had no complaint to
make against the Nicaraguans.
This is vouched for, it was
stated, by the Honduran Charge
d'Affaires in Managua, Dr. Jesus
Ulloa.
Thousands of Honduras, according
to the message, are fleeing from
Honduras to Nicaragua, a
movement which, it is asserted,
the latter country cannot
prevent because of the extent of
the boundary and the smallness
of the Nicaraguan army. Many of
the fugitives, according to the
dispatch, have had encounters
with Honduras authorities, and
when they reach Nicaraguan
territory they are immediately
gathered into concentration
camps. The fugitives have up to
the present time given no
trouble to the Nicaraguan
authorities, it is said, but the
Government expresses the belief
that no good can be expected of
immigrants who not think of
working, but enter for political
reasons. As an example of the
attitude of Nicaraguans, the
arrest recently of the Honduran
General Paguaga and his
companions for having secretly
left the Nicaraguan capital was
cited.
NYT, 31 July 1919
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1
August 1919.
Honduras Factions in
Many Battles. Four Towns
Reported to Have Been Captured
by the Revolutionists. Gen.
Gutierrez Routed. Col. Carbona,
with Force of 800, Defeated by
Government Forces – Col.
Velasquez Killed.
SAN SALVADOR, July 21—Four towns
in Honduras have been captured
by the revolutionists, according
to dispatches received here
today, while Government troops
have scored successes at three
points.
General Lopez Gutierrez, one of
the leaders of the revolution,
was routed at Tupacenti,
according to the Honduran
Minister here, Señor Fortin.
General Gutierrez was said to
have sought refuge on El Bajuco
Mountain, but his exact location
is unknown.
Colonel Francisco Carbona, with
a force of 800 men, was reported
defeated yesterday by Government
forces at Caballitos and
Goascoran. At Goascoran Colonel
Juan Jacinto Velasquez was
killed.
The four towns taken by the
revolutionary forces, according
to advices here, were Comayagua,
Gracias, Camasca, and Marcaja.
In the Department of Atlantida,
Colonels Sefavino Delgado and
Eduardo Gillin were reported to
have taken up arms.
In
the fighting at Danli, which
dispatches yesterday reported
the revolutionists had taken,
there were a number of killed
and wounded. Much livestock and
material that was taken had to
be abandoned.
NYT, 1 August 1919
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1
August 1919. Why
They Fight Bertrand. Two Parties
Say He Is Trying to Hand Over
Office to Brother-in-Law.
Rafael Helidoro Valle, President
of the Honduras Patriotic Union,
representing the Honduras
opposition party in New Orleans,
explains the struggle in
Honduras in a letter to THE
TIMES, in which he says:
"Two strong parties are steadily
opposed to President Bertrand's
policy. He is trying with all
his power to win for his
brother-in-law, Nazario Soriano,
the nomination for the next
presidential term. The elections
will be held in October next. He
is opposed by the National
Democratic Party, led by the
Vice President, Dr. Alberto
Membreño, and the Constitutional
Democratic Party, headed by
General Rafael Lopez Gutierrez.
Bertrand, to assure his dynastic
rule, hurriedly cabled to his
brother-in-law, who was Consul
General at New Orleans, La., to
go back home, and to a
Salvadoran Colonel, who was in
charge of the Consulate at New
York City and was appointed
Minister of War.
"To work out his plans Bertrand
has maintained martial law up to
date, on the pretext that the
war with Germany is still on.
Bertrand has dismissed some high
officers of his Government
because they have not agreed
with his capricious policy and
he is systematically operating
upon military commanders, school
teachers, and newspapermen. The
censorship on the press has been
so strict that only the papers
printing Soriano propaganda did
not have to send page proofs to
the Government.
"Many times Dr. Valladares, the
leading public writer, has been
thrown in jail because of his
defiant attitude toward the
President. Other journalists,
like Juan A. Sotto-Mayor, Matias
Oviedo, Hernán Rosales, and
Confucio Montes de Oca, have
been expelled from the country;
and also many prominent
citizens, such as General Andres
Leiva, Dr. Manuel L. Aguilar,
Colonel Vicente Narvaez, Dr.
Eduardo Guillen, Dr. Cayetano
Bonilla and his son, and General
Fernando Diaz Zelaya. A very
smart Chief of Police, who
worked under Villa's regime,
Teofilo Castillo Corzo, has
organized a splendid secret
service which furnishes all
political information available.
All high-minded men of Honduras
are bitterly fighting Bertrand."
NYT, 1 August 1919
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2
August 1919.
Eastern Honduras in
Revolution. Various
Military Positions Said to Have
Been Captured by Anti-Bertrand
Partisans.
SAN SALVADOR, Aug. 1.—The
eastern part of Honduras has
risen in revolt against the
Government of President
Bertrand, according to a report
from General Ferrera at Marcala,
Honduras, received here today by
the Diario del Salvador. The
dispatch said various military
positions had fallen into the
hands of the revolutionists.
Official Honduran dispatches,
however, said there was no
confirmation of the capture of
Comayagua, Nacaome, Branecina,
Caridad, and Gracias by the
revolutionists, but it was
stated that an outbreak had
occurred at the artillery school
at Tegucigalpa and that La
Esperanza was captured and held
for a few days by Colonel Tota
[Tosta?].
The official reports from
Honduras asserted that
General Lopez Gutierrez, after
being defeated by Government
forces under Colonel Galindo,
had taken refuge on Nicaraguan
territory. La Esperanza
was reported to be surrounded by
a large Government force under
General Calixto Marin.
NYT, 2 August 1919
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5
August 1919. Revolt in
Honduras. Three
Departments and 3 Towns Break
Away From Government.
SAN SALVADOR, Republic of
Salvador, Aug. 3.—The
Departments of Gracias,
Comayagua, and
Choluteca, and the towns of
Ocotepeque, Santa Rosa, and
Yuscaran, in Honduras, were
reported today in dispatches
published here to have taken up
arms against the Government of
President Bertrand in the
revolutionary movement headed by
General Lopez Gutierrez.
The city of Intibuoa was said to
have declared Dr. Bertrand an
outlaw.
NYT, 5 August 1919
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13 August 1919. Honduras Rebels
Beaten. Reportedly Ready
to Surrender Town if Amnesty Is
Granted.
SAN SALVADOR, Aug. 12.—Honduras
revolutionists, according to
official reports received today
from Tegucigalpa, capital of
Honduras, after being defeated
by Government forces under
Colonel Santos Fortin at
Goascoran, were pursued and
routed at Mount Laringlera and
later driven out of Guarita. The
revolutionists were said to have
fled at the first shots, so that
it was difficult to capture any
of them. The rebels were said to
have looted the districts
through which they passed.
Proposed operations against La
Esperanza, which the rebels are
holding, were said to have been
delayed while the Government
completes preparations for an
enveloping movement.
The rebels at La Esperanza,
according to an offer made today
by a Bishop from Santa Rosa
Cepano to President Bertrand,
will lay down their arms if
guaranteed unconditional
amnesty.
A revolutionary dispatch
reported General Vicente Tosta
had defeated Government forces
at Toro and that the latter were
fleeing in disorder.
NYT, 13 August 1919
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15 August 1919. New
Costa Rica President.
Tinoco Escaped from
Limon--Bertrand Claims Success.
SAN SALVADOR, Aug. 14.—President
Bertrand of Honduras has
informed the Honduran Minister
in San Salvador that the
Honduran troops have inflicted a
defeat on the rebels at La
Esperanza and are following them
in retreat.
A dispatch received from
Managua, Nicaragua, announces
that President Tinoco of Costa
Rica, in leaving the country,
escaped the vigilance of
American ships and embarked at
the port of Limon.
The dispatch adds that the
revolution in Costa Rica is
spreading rapidly in the
interior of the republic. Julio
Acosta has been named
Provisional President of the
republic. He has designated
Francisco Aguilar Barquero to
arrange the holding of free
elections.
NYT, 15 August 1919
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27 August 1919. Amnesty
for Honduras Rebels.
SAN SALVADOR, Aug. 15.—The
revolution in Honduras has been
put down, according to advices
received here from official
sources in that country. The
Minister of Government of
Honduras has sent a circular to
the heads of the different
departmental governments
granting amnesty to all
revolutionists and permitting
them to return to their homes.
NYT, 27 August 1919
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11 September 1919.
President Forced to Quit
Honduras. Revolution Overthrows
Bertrand, Who Takes Ship for
United States. American Warships
Sent. State Department Expresses
Hope That Candidates Will Now
Provide for a Free Election.
Special to The New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.—President
Bertrand of Honduras has
resigned and is en route to the
United States after having
deposited the executive power in
the hands of a Council of
Ministers.
His resignation followed the
arrival of the revolutionists at
the gates of the capital and the
receipt of a message by
President Bertrand from the
United States Government
demanding that all the
constitutional guarantees of the
Government should be respected.
President Bertrand protested to
the State Department against the
action of this Government, but
his position was such that there
was no other course for him but
to resign.
Five days ago the Honduran
rebels were reported to be
within five miles of the
capital, Tegucigalpa, in
sufficient force to capture the
city, after having already taken
the towns of La Ceiba, Tela,
Omoa, and Puerto Cortez,
important places on the North or
Atlantic Coast.
American citizens at La Ceiba
recently appealed for protection
and the United States Government
sent the cruiser Cleveland to
that port to protect them.
Instead of depositing the
executive power with the
officials designated by the
Honduras Constitution, President
Bertrand gave it over to members
of the Cabinet which is made up
of adherents of Nazario Soriano,
brother-in-law of Bertrand and
the latter's candidate for the
Presidency. The Constitution
required that the power be
assigned to First Designado
Bogran or to Second Designado
Cordova.
In announcing the departure of
President Bertrand the State
Department expressed the hope
that "the various candidates for
the presidency will be able to
hold a conference and to arrange
mutually satisfying safeguards
for the freedom of the coming
elections."
The announcement issued by
Acting Secretary of State
Phillips was as follows:
"The Department has been
informed by the American
Legation at Tegucigalpa that on
the night of Sept. 8 President
Bertrand deposited the executive
power in the hands of a council
of Ministers and left for
Amapala, under the escort of
members of the Diplomatic Corps
and of a United States naval
officer, to take passage for the
United States on the steamer San
José.
"The legation at the same time
informed the department that the
Honduran Ministers of War, of
Foreign Affairs, of Public
Instruction, and of Public Works
had resigned and that the
Governor of Tegucigalpa,
Santiago Meza Calix, has been
appointed Minister of War; Jesus
Bendana, Minister of Foreign
Affairs; Federico Smith,
Minister of Public Instruction,
and Hector Valenzuela, Minister
of Public Works.
"It is understood that it has
been agreed to arrange an
immediate truce with General
Lopez Gutierrez and other
revolutionary leaders. It is
stated that General Lopez
Gutierrez will be asked to take
command of all the troops in
Tegucigalpa.
"The revolutionary movement
which has culminated in the
above mentioned facts was
started by General Lopez
Gutierrez, who was one of the
candidates for the Presidency at
the elections to be held next
month. He asserted that the
measures taken by President
Bertrand made it impossible to
hold a free election. The
candidate favored by President
Bertrand was his brother-in-law,
Soriano. A third candidate for
the President of Honduras is
Membreno, who, it is understood,
is now in Guatemala.
"It is to be hoped that the
various candidates for the
Presidency will be able to hold
a conference and to arrange
mutually satisfying safeguards
for the freedom of the coming
elections. If this were to be
done revolutionary activities
would come to an end and an
opportunity be given to the
people of Honduras to express
their will in the coming
elections."
While in Washington Membreno
told State Department officials
that the opposition element in
Honduras, composed of those
hostile to President Bertrand,
was working for strict adherence
to the constitution and laws of
the country.
NYT, 11 September 1919
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12 September 1919.
American Marines Land In
Honduras. Preserving Order
and Protecting Lives and
Property of Foreigners at Puerto
Cortez. Bertrand Safe on
Ship. Great Changes in Central
America Expected to Follow
President's Retirement.
Special to The New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.—The change
of government in Honduras has
resulted in unsettled conditions
in that republic, according to
today's advices to the State
Department, accompanied by
looting and rioting, with the
result that a small American
naval force was landed from the
cruiser Cleveland at Puerto
Cortez to preserve order and
protect the lives and property
of foreigners there.
"This action," the State
Department announced, "was taken
as a result of a conference
between the American, British,
Danish, Italian, and Spanish
Consuls with the local Honduran
military commanders. Minister
Jones reports from Tegucigalpa
that efforts are being made to
bring about a truce between the
contending forces, and it would
seem that normal and orderly
conditions will soon be
restored. The landing party from
the Cleveland will return to the
ship as soon as the local
authorities are able to resume
control."
An unofficial report reached the
State Department that a British
warship was expected at
Trujillo, Honduras, this
morning. The department has also
been advised that President
Bertrand of Honduras and Nazario
Soriano, his brother-in-law, who
is a Presidential candidate, and
their party, embracing members
of their families, who left
Tegucigalpa under diplomatic and
naval escort as a result of the
revolutionary activities in
Honduras, arrived at San Lorenzo
safely at 5 o'clock yesterday
morning and immediately embarked
for Amapala, to take passage for
the United States on the steamer
San Jose. President Bertrand, as
announced yesterday, deposited
the executive power in the hands
of the Council of Ministers on
Sept. 8.
The retirement of President
Bertrand will have a
far-reaching effect upon the
Central American and Mexican
situations, according to
officials here, and
representative men from all
parts of Central America. Three
important results specifically
cited as probably immediate
developments are:
1. The "de-Mexicanization" of
Latin America.
2. The collapse of the movement
to unite Honduras and Salvador.
3. A serious situation in
Salvador that may result in a
state of unrest borderin upon
revolution, unless President
Jorge Melendez exhibits prompt
and effective control of the
country, which has not yet
manifested. . . .
NYT, 12 September 1919
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14 September 1919.
Honduras Generally Quiet.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18.—Advices to
the State Department today from
Tegucigalpa reported the general
situation in Honduras quiet,
although some revolutionary
disorders were continuing on the
north coast.
NYT, 14 September 1919
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16 September 1919.
Honduran Rebels' Victor.
Occupy La Esperanza, Pursuing
the Ex-President's Forces.
SAN SALVADOR, Republic of
Salvdor, Sept. 14.—Revolutionary
forces under Generals Diaz and
Ferrera have occupied La
Esperanza, capital of the
Intibuca Department, Honduras,
after a fight with troops loyal
to former President Francisco
Bertrand, according to advices
received here from Honduras. The
Bertrandista troops, under
command of General Theofilo
Carcamo, were pursued by the
revolutionaries, the advices
stated.
Dr. Francisco Bogran has been
named Provisional President of
Honduras, pending the
Presidential election.
T. Sambola Jones, United States
Minister at Tegucigalpa, is
reported to have sent a rather
strong note to the revolutionary
leaders of Honduras, asking them
to concentrate their forces in
Tegucigalpa under the leadership
of General Lopez Gutierrez and
calling upon the "patriotic
citizens of Honduras" to unite
in support of the Government.
NYT, 16 September 1919
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23 September 1919. Oppose
Gutierrez's Rule.
Dictatorship Is Said to Violate
Compact with Diplomatic Corps.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Sept. 22.—In
establishing a military
dictatorship at Tegucigalpa,
General Rafael Gutierrez, it is
declared in Honduran advices
received here, is said to have
violated a compact he had made
with the Diplomatic Corps in the
Honduran capital.
Many important towns in
Honduras, including Amapala and
Choluteca, the reports state,
have refused to recognize the
Gutierrez dictatorship.
So far the Council of Ministers,
to whom Dr. Francisco Bertrand
handed over the Presidency when
he left Honduras some time ago,
has failed to deliver the reins
of government to Dr. Francisco
Bogran, the President-designate.
NYT, 23 September 1919
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27 September 1919. Rebel
Gains in Honduras. General
Leiva Is Reported in Control of
the Southern Districts.
SAN SALVADOR, Sept. 25.—Dr.
Alberto Membreno, Vice President
of Honduras, who left Guatemala
City some time ago for
Tegucigalpa, preparatory to
claiming the office of President
of Honduras, has reached San
Juan, a short distance north of
the Salvadorean border, and has
established headquarters there.
Dispatches received here from
different sources in Honduras
say that
General Andres Leiva, the rebel
leader, has captured important
towns of Choluteca from the
Gutierrez forces and now has
complete control of the southern
sections of Honduras.
NYT, 27 September 1919
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30 September 1919.
Seeks Peace in Honduras.
New Ministry Urges Membreno's
Forces to Quit Hopeless
Rebellion.
SAN SALVADOR, Sept.
29.—(Associated Press)—Don
Melecio Alvarado, Minister of
Foreign Affairs in the new
Government of Honduras, has sent
a dispatch to Dr. Alberto
Membreno, Vice President of
Honduras, and candidate for the
Presidency of that country,
calling upon Dr. Membreno to
disavow the action of his
adherents in taking up arms
against the actual Government.
The dispatch is addressed to Dr.
Membreno as residing in
Guatemala, although a recent
dispatch said that he had
reached San Juan, a short
distance north of the border of
Salvador, on his way to
Tegucigalpa, capital of
Honduras.
Don Alvarado appeals to Dr.
Membreno not to prolong an
unprofitable fight which will
continue to stain the country
with blood, because guarantees
have been given to secure equal
treatment for all candidates in
future elections. Should the
partisans of Membreno not lay
down their arms, Don Alvarado
declares that they and their
leader will be held responsible
for all misfortunes which may
happen in Honduras.
General Tosta, at the head of
5,000 men, has arrived at
Seguatepeque, fifty miles
northwest of Tegucigalpa, on his
way to the capital.
NYT, 30 September 1919
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8
October 1919. Tosta Backs
Gutierrez. Nominates Him
for President of Honduras.
SAN SALVADOR, Salvador, Oct.
6.—General Vicente Tosta, former
revolutionary leader, and now
Minister of War in Honduras, has
further complicated the
political situation by
nominating General Rafael Lopez
Gutierrez as a candidate for the
Presidency of Honduras,
according to advices received
today.
General Gutierrez, according to
a Nicaraguan dispatch Sept. 18,
had entered the Honduran
capital, but considerable
opposition to him developed
following the charge that he was
attempting the establishment of
a dictatorship, and this fact
was given by the followers of
Dr. Alberto Membreno, Vice
President of Honduras and
candidate for the Presidency,
for refusal to lay down their
arms.
Dr. Membreno was imprisoned by
President Bertrand in July last,
but later left the country, and
on Sept. 19 announced that he
was returning to Honduras to be
a candidate for the Presidency.
General Gutierrez was one of the
revolutionary leaders whose
success caused the then
President Bertrand to flee the
country, leaving control of
Honduras to the Council of
Ministers pending the arrival of
Dr. Francisco Bogran to assume
the Presidency.
NYT, 8 October 1919
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14 January 1920. US Sec.
Navy Telegrams.
I have the honor to inform you
that there is considerable
uneasiness in the minds of the
Government officials of Honduras
concerning
a
revolution which is reported to
be fomented on Nicaraguan
territory . . .
R. Lansing to Sec. State, 14
Jan. 1920, USDS 815.00.2145
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
February 1920. From
USS Cleveland via radio to
OpNav.
The inauguration of General
Gutierrez as President of
Honduras will take place
February 1. The country is
generally quiet . . .
In
the vicinity of disputed
territory along Nicaraguan
border Honduras malcontents have
caused some disturbance . . .
would cease if Nicaragua took
decided stand against trouble
makers who operate against the
border from Nicaragua. . . .
USS Cleveland via radio to
Opnav, RG80, Box 335, 2 Feb.
1920
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4
February 1920. Start
Revolt in Honduras. Rivals
of Gutierrez Head Rising as He
Becomes President.
MANAGUA, Feb. 3.—There
has been a fresh revolutionary
outbreak in Honduras, according
to advices received today.
The revolutionists, who are
headed by Don Alberto Membreno,
former Vice President of
Honduras, and Dr. Nazario
Soriano,
have suffered a heavy defeat at
the hands of the Government
forces and are retiring toward
the Nicaraguan frontier.
The last revolutionary outbreak
in Honduras was started by
General Gutierrez, who has just
been inaugurated as President,
and resulted in the overthrow of
President Bertrand on Sept. 8
last. Bertrand fled from the
country, together with his
brother-in-law, Dr. Nazario
Soriano, who has been supported
by Bertrand as his successor to
the Presidency.
Don Alberto Membreno, who with
Soriano is mentioned as leading
the present revolution, was a
candidate against General
Gutierrez in the election last
October, but received only a
small vote. Membreno was Vice
President during Bertrand's
tenure of office, and was
imprisoned by the latter in July
last. Later he left the country,
returning to become a candidate
for the Presidency.
NYT, 4 February 1920
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25 February 1920.
Sec. State to Sec. Navy.
I have the honor to inform you
that I am in receipt of
information which leads me to
believe that
revolutionary activities against
the present government of
Honduras are being conducted in
the territory of Nicaragua
adjacent to the international
boundary . . . such reports are
being constantly received.
Acting Sec. State to Sec. Navy,
25 Feb. 1920, RG80, Box 335,
715.1715/130
TOP OF INVENTORY
26 February 1920.
USS Tacoma to Opnav on
Nicaragua-Honduras Border
Troubles, 26 February 1920.
From: USS TACOMA.
To: Opnav
1021
Honduras aroused by recent raids
by rebels from Nicaraguan
territory. Government
requested our acting Minister to
inform the United States that it
now learns that
the
rebels invading Honduras have
been armed by Nicaragua
and to inquire attitude our
State Department in case
revolution in Nicaragua concurs
with war declared by Honduras.
Telephone communications with
TEGUCIGALPA temporarily
interrupted however interviewed
General Christmas, an American
citizen, February 20th who had
left Tegucigalpa February 20th
and martial law declared
Tegucigalpa February 19
presumably in order to mobilized
forces.
Reported Honduran rebels from
Nicaragua had captured three
towns and Government put
Municipal authorities in which
located under martial law.
Troops being mobilized but no
disorder Tegucigalpa but some
unrest. About twenty persons
imprisoned February 20th at
Amapala apparently because of
political views including former
United States consular Agent
Zelaya. Christmas thinks present
revolution is not formidable but
regards the Nicaraguan menace
serious.
USS TACOMA
2-26-20
USS Tacoma to Opnav, 26 February
1920, RG45, Box 753, File 7
TOP OF INVENTORY
27 February 1920.
Honduran Rebels Beaten. Formed
in Nicaragua, It Is Said,
Despite President's Promise.
SAN SALVADOR, Feb. 25.—An
official despatch from
Tegucigalpa says that the
Honduran Government, relying on
the promises of
President Chamorro of Nicaragua
that he would not permit the
enemies of the present
government of Honduras to obtain
arms on Nicaraguan territory,
disbanded its troops, leaving
only small garrisons in the
departmental capitals.
Notwithstanding President
Chamorro's assurances, the
despatch adds, rebels crossed
the boundary between Nicaragua
and Honduras and captured Danli,
seventeen miles north of the
Nicaraguan frontier line. They
were driven out of the town by a
strong, well-armed force sent to
Danli by the Honduran
Government, according to
the despatch.
NYT, 27 February 1920
TOP OF INVENTORY
29 February 1920. Sack
Honduran Towns. Rebels
Have Obtained War Supplies By
This Method.
SAN SALVADOR, Feb. 28.—The
revolutionary forces in Honduras
have the rebels were taken from
these towns [sic], according to
an official dispatch, from
Tegucigalpa, the Honduran
capital, and the war supplies
now in the hands of the Rebels
were taken from these towns.
The revolutionists have not
announced any program, nor have
they proclaimed any candidate
for the Presidency of the
Republic, the dispatch says.
NYT, 29 February 1920
TOP OF INVENTORY
9
March 1920. Rebels
Near Nicaragua.
MEXICO CITY, March 8.— . . .
REBELS NEAR NICARAGUA. It is
stated that
rebels have taken refuge near
the Nicaraguan border.
The recipient of the news,
whose name is not given by El
Universal [Tegucigalpa], is said
to be a former Honduran
journalist in close touch with
conditions in that country.
SAN SALVADOR (Republic of
Salvador) March 8.—A dispatch
from Tegucigalpa says as
the Honduran revolutionary
forces have been dispersed and
have fled into Nicaragua,
the government of Honduras has
set at liberty all political
prisoners.
Los Angeles Times, 9
March 1920
TOP OF INVENTORY
26 August 1920. Navy
Sends Gunboat to Watch Honduras;
Central American Unrest Causes
Concern.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Associated
Press).—Announcement today that
the gunboat Sacramento had been
ordered to La Ceiba, Honduras,
to assure protection of American
interests if necessary revealed
that officials here have been
watching with growing concern
developing revolutionary
movements in several Central
American countries.
While the situation in each
republic is local, political
unrest in Guatemala as well as
Honduras is known to be viewed
here as serious, interwoven as
it seems to be in each country
with the so-called unionist
movement in all Central American
republics. This movement is said
to have had its origin in Mexico
during the Carranza regime. It
contemplates a federation of all
Latin-American republics.
Advices of official and private
character from Central American
cities have indicated this
unrest for some weeks. No
comment was made by State
Department officials, however,
beyond the explanation that the
Sacramento . . .
NYT, 26 August 1920
TOP OF INVENTORY
11 December 1920. Violent
Earth Shocks. Southern
Honduras and Western Nicaragua
Severely Shaken.
SAN SALVADOR, Republic of
Salvador, Dec. 10.—Terrific
earthquakes have occurred in
Choluteca, Southern Honduras,
according to reports received
here today, but details are
lacking.
Very violent shocks were also
felt on Wednesday in Chinandega
and Corinto, Western Nicaragua,
twenty-five earth tremors
shaking Corinto.
The loss of life and extent of
the damage caused by the
earthquake is not known.
NYT, 11 December 1920
TOP OF INVENTORY
24 August 1921.
Emiliano Chamorro to US Sec.
State, Requesting Arms.
24 de Agosto de 1921
Excelentísimo Señor Secretario
de Estado.
Don Charles E. Hughes,
Departamento de Estado
Washington, D.C.
Excelentísimo Señor:
Con
motivo de una invasión del
territorio nicaraguense, por el
lado de la frontera con la
República de Honduras, compuesta
en su mayor parte de hondureños
y de algunos nicaraguenses,
fomentada por el Gobierno de
Honduras y por algunos de los
otros Gobiernos de las
repúblicas de Centro América,
según tengo aviso de mi
Gobierno, paso a manifestar a V.
E. lo siguiente: . . .
. . . mi Gobierno desea que el
Gobierno de V. E. le provea, de
sus almacenes de guerra
sobrantes de la guera mundial,
para pagarlos conforme al
arreglo que se convenga, del
armamento que ya no tenga en
uso, lo que a continuación se
expresa:
Cinco mil rifles
Tres milliones de cartuchos para
rifles
25 ametralladoras
250 mil tiras para
ametralladoras
2 aeroplanos militares con sus
correspondientes dotación de
parque y sus partes de repuestos
indispensables. . . .
/s/ Emiliano Chamorro
Emiliano Chamorro, Managua, to
Charles Evans Hughes, US Sec.
State, Washington, 24 August
1921, USDS 817.24/8
TOP OF INVENTORY
24 August 1921.
Revolutionary force invaded
Nicaragua from Honduras.
Secretary of State C. E. Hughes
to Secretary of the Navy E.
Denby.
The Department today received a
cable . . . stating that
a
revolutionary force of between
400 and 600 men has invaded
Nicaragua from Honduras
and that an attempt is
apparently going to be made by a
small band of Nicaraguan
revolutionists in Costa Rica to
invade Nicaragua from that
Republic.
US Sec. State Hughes to Sec.
Navy Denby, 24 August 1921,
RG80, Box 335
TOP OF INVENTORY
27 August 1921. Bands
Invade Nicaragua. Troops
Sent to Repel Them -- A Protest
Made to Honduras.
SAN SALVADOR, Aug. 26.—Armed
bands have invaded Nicaraguan
territory from across the
Honduran frontier and have taken
control of the villages of Limay
and Somoto, not far from
the Pacific coast, says an
official dispatch from Managua.
Nicaraguan forces have been sent
to repel the invaders,
and a protest has been sent to
Honduras, it is said.
NYT, 27 August 1921
TOP OF INVENTORY
8
September 1921. Quell
Nicaraguan Rising. Government
Forces Drive Rebels Into
Honduras -- 1,311 Captured.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Sept. 7.—Prompt
action by the Nicaraguan
Government in sending 3,000
well-equipped troops to the
Honduran frontier has completely
quelled a revolutionary uprising
there. The revolutionists had
captured several small villages,
but were forced to flee into
Honduras, where General
Cardona of the Honduran army has
captured 5 Generals, 17
Colonels, 36 Captains, 45
Lieutenants and 1,208 soldiers.
It is declared that if the
revolution had not been promptly
suppressed it would eventually
have involved several Central
American republics.
NYT, 8 September 1921
TOP OF INVENTORY
11 September 1921.
Nicaragua Demobilizes.Troops
That Quelled Rebellion Are
Quietly Returning Home.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Sept. 10
(Associated Press).—The
demobilization of the Nicaraguan
troops which recently quelled
the revolutionary uprising on
the Honduran frontier has been
rapid. The troops have
been paid and are returning
quietly to peaceful occupations.
Nicaragua and Honduras will form
a mixed commission, composed
probably of two prominent
military men from each country,
with ample power to ascertain
the responsibility for and
causes of
the
recent disturbances near the
boundary line, which, if
not promptly quelled, it is
believed, would have resulted in
a disastrous war involving
several of the Central American
republics.
NYT, 11 September 1921
TOP OF INVENTORY
11 September 1921.
Revolution in Honduras
Suppressed.
Commander, Special Service
Squadron Atlantic to Opnav: CO
USS Cleveland reports as follows
Sept. 9:
The
revolution in Honduras has been
wholly suppressed and the
Honduran army has been withdrawn
from the Nicaraguan boundary.
The Nicaraguan forces have been
disbanded and everything is
quiet in Nicaragua.
Cmdr. Spec. Svc. Squadron to
Opnav, 11 September 1921, RG80,
Box 335
TOP OF INVENTORY
24 October 1921. State of
War In Nicaragua. Government
Proclaims It on Border --
Extends Martial Law Period.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Oct. 23.—The
Government yesterday issued a
proclamation declaring martial
law to continue through the
entire country for another sixty
days and proclaiming the
existence of a state of war in
five northwestern departments,
three of which border on
Honduras.
Government officials have
information that after the
present small attacks across the
Honduran boundary have harassed
Nicaragua a large and serious
revolutionary movement is
planned for November. Financial
measures to meet the military
situation are being arranged,
and 1,500 troops are now in the
field, mostly along the Honduran
border, to repel the movements.
NYT, 24 October 1921
TOP OF INVENTORY
13 November 1921. Attack
Nicaraguan Town.
Revolutionists Beaten Off by
Troops Guarding Somotillo.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Nov. 12.—Another
outbreak by revolutionaries took
place at 3 o'clock yesterday
morning, when the town of
Somotillo, on the Honduran
frontier, was assaulted by an
armed force. After an hour of
fighting the attack was repelled
by Nicaraguan military units
stationed there.
Several revolutionary uprisings
in Nicaragua have occurred in
the last three months. The
latest one took place on Oct.
14, in the department of Neuva
[Nueva] Segovia, near the
Honduran frontier. Government
forces, after a five-hour
engagement with the
revolutionists, succeeded in
dispersing them.
This led to the Government
renewing the state of martial
law throughout the country for
another sixty days and
proclaiming the existence of a
state of war in five
northwestern departments, three
of which border on Honduras.
NYT, 13 November 1921
TOP OF INVENTORY
5
December 1921.
Request for Investigation of
Nicaragua-Honduras Frontier
Conditions.
Headquarters, USMC, Washington,
to CO Marine Detachment,
Managua, via American Legation,
Managua. December 5, 1921.
State Department . . . desires
an investigation of political
situation in northwestern
Nicaragua particularly the
district along the frontier
between Nicaraguan and Honduras,
where recent disturbances have
occurred. Detail officer and
suitable escort for purpose.
Return trip through southern
portion of Honduras. Both
Governments have given
permission for such an
investigation and will extend
every facility . . . will
ascertain the causes and
seriousness of outbreaks . . .
Information especially desired
tending to show participation of
persons outside of Nicaragua in
the organization of armed force,
side arms only to be worn. On
return trip through Honduran
territory note activities
prejudicial to peace of
Nicaragua which may be evident
in Honduran towns along border.
Believed
military authorities of Honduras
in this border district were
acting under instructions from
Minister of War fomenting these
outbreaks in Nicaragua. .
. .
RG80, Box 335, File 7418 (80) to
(80-27:5), 5 Dec. 1921
TOP OF INVENTORY
17 March 1922.
Disturbances on the
Nicaragua-Honduras border in the
last eight months.
Message from Lt. Tracy's
Confidential Report on Political
Conditions in Nicaragua and
Honduras.
American personnel and property
have been respected by
governmental forces during
disturbances on Nicaraguan and
Honduran Border in the last
eight months. In Honduras
foreign property has been either
taken or destroyed in most part
by government forces and claims
are unadjusted. In affair of
August 22 and 29, 1921 at La
Grecia Mines, Nicaragua, most
Nicaraguans who are still in
Limay, Nicaragua, have been
brought to justice. One of the
leaders of this affair,
Concepcion Peralta, Honduras, is
now an officer in the
Presidential Guards at
Tegucigalpa. This is typical of
inaction of both governments in
regard to border raids.
Nicaraguan forces on border are
only partially paid and act like
an armed mob. They wear no
uniform or insignia. Honduran
Government forces wear uniform
in most cases, but are drunken
and undisciplined. General
Mendoza, who commands at San
Marcos, Honduras, is insulted
alike by men and officers and
under conditions no action is
taken or possible.
Revolutionary movement is liable
to assume serious proportion at
any time and it is popular . . .
C.O. Mardet, Managua, to
Marcorps, RG80, Box 336/7418
TOP OF INVENTORY
19 February 1922.
Noticias de bandoleros en Cinco
Pinos.
Por
los pueblos de Cinco Pinos y San
Francisco de Cuajiniquilapa
dicese que han aparecido unas
cuadrillas de bandoleros.
El Centroamericano, León,
19 February 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
22 March 1922.
Letter from American Legation,
Managua, to Cole.
My dear Cole:
I am enclosing a letter on
conditions here which seem a bit
out of my line, but which has
been inspired by what seems to
be the need of informing the
Department of conditions here. .
. .
The country is poor as Job's
turkey. A number of travelling
men I have spoken to say that in
other countries of Central
America they can collect their
debts, in Managua there is
nothing doing.
Every now and then a number of
poor devils are arrested in the
night and made soldiers,
"recruiting" it is called, sent
to the Honduran border and come
back clamoring for pay when
there is no pay. . . .
American Legation, Managua, to
Cole, 7 March 1922, RG80, Box
335, 7418
(Note: author not recorded when
document copied)
TOP OF INVENTORY
7
April 1922. Noticias
sobre la revolución de Honduras.
Los
revolucionarios hondureños han
vuelto a invadir el territorio
de la hermana república, después
del fracaso de El Triunfo, en
donde fueron derrotados por el
Gral. Carona, dejando los
revolucionarios entre otros
muertos al Gral. Ramón Turcios.
Mas, volvieron a reorganizarse
en San Francisco de
Quajiniquilapa, que queda a poca
distancia de la frontera, en
número como de 500, todos ellos
armados y disponiendo de una
ametralladora y se preparaban,
cuando nuestro informante salió
del pueblo mencionado para
volver a invadir al mando de los
cabecillas Cajina, Manzanares y
otros más.
Dios salve a Honduras!
El Centroamericano,
León, 7 April 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
17 April 1922. Revolt
Stirs Honduras. Serious
Outbreak Reported Along the
Nicaraguan Frontier.
SAN SALVADOR, April
16.—Unofficial advices from
Honduras are that
a
revolution of serious
proportions is in progress at
various points in Honduras
territory, along the Nicaraguan
frontier.
NYT, 17 April 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
22 April 1922. La
verdadera situación de Honduras.
En la mañana de ayer tuvimos el
gusto de saludar en la estación
del ferrocarril a nuestro amigo
Salomón Sánchez Herrera, quien
regresa de la vecina república
del Norte, habiendo salido de
Tegucigalpa el martes de la
presente semana.
A nuestras preguntas sobre la
situación de aquel país nos dio
los siguientes datos:
El movimiento revolucionario
estalló en el Departamento de La
Esperanza a las 3 am. del 4 del
corriente, en número como de 300
hombres, acaudillados por el
Gral. Gerónimo Ferrera, no
pudiento tomar los cuarteles y
sufriendo como 25 bajas. Las
fuerzas del Gobierno tuvieron 3
bajas entre éllas la de un
Teniente Cisnernos, hermano del
Gral Cisneros defensor d'
aquella plaza. Con tal motivo el
Congreso decreto el estado de
sitio en la República. En
Lauterinque, lugar fronterizo a
El Salvador, hubo un combate el
lunes próximo pasado, en el que
las fuerzas del Gobierno al
mando de los jefes Dr. Vicente
Mejía Colindres, Gral, Francisco
Cardona y el Gral. Tosta,
batieron completamente a los
revolucionarios, haciéndolos
refugiarse en El Salvador. En La
Esperanza se batió a favor del
Gobierno el conocido Gran
nicaragüense dn. Pascasio
Bermúdez.
El Dr. Carlos Lagos, Ministro de
la Guerra de aquel país, hizo
movilizar 5 000 hombres,
inmediatamente que estalló el
movimiento, haciendo salir las
fuerzas y los elementos bélicos
de la Capital, al lugar de los
sucessos en autos y
autocamiones.
La situación económica en
Honduras no es nada halagüeña,
pues si bien los salarios son
altos, el precio de los
artículos de primera necesidad
es muy subido y no están al
alcance del pueblo en general.
Sólo en la Costa Norte la vida
es ventajosa, más empieza ésta a
verse atestada por miles de
nicaragüenses y salvadoreños,
que han hecho bajar los salarios
y abarrotarse los brazos.
El Gral. López Gutiérrez, ya
ocupa la nueva mansion
presidencial, frente al río, que
divide la capital de
Comayagüela.
Su regreso de Nicaragua lo hizo
Sánchez en la gasolina "El
Cisne", y cuando salió de
Tegucigalpa hacía tres días que
había regresado de Guatemala el
Gral. Felipe Neri Fernández.
Hasta aquí nuestra corta
entrevista con el estimable
compatriota a quien agradecemos
los informes anteriores que nos
suministro, deseándole toda
clase de felicidad en el suelo
nativo.
El Centroamericano,
León, 22 April 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
12 May 1922. Martines
Funes Vuelve A Las Armadas.
Tuvimos ayer informes fidedignos
que
el Gral. Martínez Funes a la
cabeza de 200 hombres, más o
menos armados, salió del pueblo
de San Pedro, que queda sobre la
guardaraya y como a 6 leguas de
Somotillo, rumbo a Las Manos,
población hondureña cercana al
Ocotal, con el intento de
tomarla, cosa que hasta la hora
no sabemos si lo haya dejado
hacerlo el Gral. Cardona que con
numerosas fuerzas, tiene su
cuartel general en San Marcos de
Colón.
Los
revolucionarios parece que
tienen orden de no prestar
acción, poniéndose a buen
recaudo en territorio
nicaragüense cuando se ven en
peligro de ser destruidos.
¿Haran esto siempre o consentirá
el Gobierno de Honduras en que
siga este juego que tanto daño
le hace?
Quien sabe; todo depende de
medida de su paciencia.
El Centroamericano,
León, 12 May 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
19 May 1922. Información
verídica sobre lo que pasa en
Honduras.
Persona que acaba de venir de
nuestra vecina del Norte nos ha
dado los siguientes informes:
que
Choluteca está actualmente bajo
el mando directo del General
Ramos; que reina relativa
tranquilidad y que el movimiento
revolucionario no es tomado casi
en cuenta, pues o presenta
acción y sólo se dedica al
merodeo en los débiles pueblos
fronterizos con Nicaragua, de
donde se escabuyen cada vez que
temen ser exterminados; y por
último nos dijo, que actualmente
persigue a los revolucionarios
la Escuela Militar, al mando del
General Palma (mexicano).
Por otro lado sabemos que el
aquella ciudad fué expuslado el
Cnel. Alejandro Pacheco, por
consierarlo las autoridades non
grata, debido a que se expresaba
en términos desfavorables contra
el Gbno. del General López
Gutiérrez.
El Centroamericano,
León, 19 May 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
8
July 1922. Movimientos en
la frontera.
Por
telégrama llegado a Somotillo se
sabe que en los pueblos de El
Triunfo y Concepción de María y
en el valle de San José,
fronterizos a Nicaragua, se han
desarrollado movimientos
revolucionarios que están
ocupando la atención del
Gobierno de Nicaragua por
suponerse que tienen conexiones
con descontentos nicaragüenses
residentes en Honduras.
Esto último, según el decir
oficial.
Como consecuencia de estos
sucesos inesperados, se ha
hablado de que el gobierno
dictará medidas para asegurar la
paz.
El Centroamericano,
León, 8 July 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
14 August 1922.
Nicaraguan Troops Nip a
Revolution Started by Liberal
Exiles in Two Cities.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Aug. 12
(Associated Press).—Chinandega,
a city of 15,000 population,
about ten miles from Corinto, a
Pacific seaport, was attacked
twice last night by members of
the lower elements of the
Liberal Party in Nicaragua, who
were reinforced by refugees from
Honduras and Salvador. Two
revolutionists were killed and
eight refugees wounded by the
Government forces. Among those
wounded was Antonio Tijerino,
former Governor of the
Department of Chinandega, and
brother of the present
Nicaraguan consul in New York.
Communications were cut during
the engagement, but later
restored. The rebels were
completely scattered, and the
Government now controls the
situation.
Later on the same night a
similar attack was made on Leon,
the largest city in Nicaragua.
Governor Gustavo Arguello of the
Department of Chinandega was
wounded, and two policemen were
killed in the course of the
disorder; many revolutionists
were wounded.
One thousand volunteers and
well-equipped troops were sent
from Managua and Granada to
reinforce the garrison at Leon
and Chinandega, and the United
States Collector of Customs
advises that there is no more
trouble. At Corinto the United
States Minister declared that
the Government had complete
control of the situation.
At Managua everything was quiet.
Dr. Salvador Castrillo, former
Nicaraguan Minister to
Washington, with two followers,
has been deported because of an
alleged plot against the
Government. The public and press
are said to have approved the
order for deportation.
Because of the revolutionary
disturbances in the Departments
of Leon and Chinandega, martial
law has been declared in the
republic for sixty days.
The
rebels are reported to have
evacuated to El Viejo,
near Chinandega, and to have
scattered into the surrounding
country.
The leaders of the revolution
are believed to be men who were
banished last April and who
returned recently under a
general amnesty.
NYT, 14 August 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
18 August 1922. Confer on
Border Raids. Presidents
of Three Central American
Republics to Meet on Cruiser.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Aug. 17.
(Associated Press.)—Using
the borders of Nicaragua,
Honduras and Salvador as a base,
bands of robbers, revolutionists
and refugees have been harassing
the three republics by robberies
depredations and attacks,
keeping them in a constant state
of turmoil and unrest.
To do away with this menace and
obviate the constant expenditure
of public moneys in separate
fights against the marauders, a
conference has been arranged in
which the Presidents of the
three republics and the American
Ministers accredited to their
Governments will take part.
The plan originated with
President Chamorro and John E.
Ramer, the American Minister to
Nicaragua. The latter referred
the matter to Washington, and
the American Government
authorized the use of the United
States cruiser Tacoma as a
second meeting place. The
warship will proceed from
Corinto tomorrow with President
Chamorro, Mr. Ramer and others,
to Arapala [Amapala], Honduras,
where President Gutierrez and
American Minister Morales will
be taken aboard.
President Melendez and American
Minister Schuyler will be picked
up at the nearest Salvadorean
port, and the vessel will sail
for neutral waters, where
the
vexatious frontier question
will be discussed and a
settlement attempted.
A similar meeting of the
Nicaraguan and Honduran
Presidents, held in the Gulf of
Fonseca two years ago, had
beneficial results.
NYT, 18 August 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
23 August 1922.
Pledge Peace Anew in Central
America. Heads of Three
Republics Meet on American
Warship and Reaffirm Treaty.
American Ministers There.
Nicaragua, Honduras and Salvador
Agree to Enforce Measures to
Check Rebel Invasions.
CORINTO, Nicaragua, Aug. 22
(Associated Press).—An unusual
event occurred on board the
United States cruiser Tacoma
Sunday night, three miles off
the shore in the neutral waters
of the Gulf of Fonseca, when the
Presidents of the Republics of
Nicaragua, Honduras and
Salvador, with the members of
their Cabinets and in the
presence of the American
Ministers to those republics,
signed a treaty in which the
three republics renewed and
extended the general treaty of
peace and friendship made in
Washington in 1907, the validity
of which had until now been open
to dispute. . . .
The
presidents promise that they
will not permit political
emigrants from any one of the
republics to organize or foment
armed invasion of any other, or
tolerate any act which will
disturb or threaten peace. Each
republic undertakes to guard its
frontiers and vigorously
enforce the former agreement
made at Washington.
Will Keep Agitators From
Frontiers.
It
is also provided that leaders of
agitation, political emigrants
or their agents shall not be
permitted to live near
frontiers. Such leaders now
living near frontiers will be
placed under immediate
surveillance and removed if this
is thought necessary. In case of
an invasion, the Government in
whose territory it was organized
is obligated to send forces to
capture and disarm the guilty
parties, who will be taken to
the capital of that Government
and punished in accordance with
the law. The Presidents are also
obligated to expel leaders of an
invasion provided the threatened
republic requests the expulsion.
This provision is to apply to
invasions already started, which
was one of the reasons which
occasioned the conference.
. . .
[List of delegates from
Nicaragua, Honduras, Salvador,
US]
NYT, 23 August 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
3
September 1922. Border
Rebels Captured. Central
American States Have Armies Out
Against Them.
SAN SALVADOR, Republic of
Salvador, Sept. 2 (Associated
Press)—The
military forces of the Central
American republics are engaged
in an active campaign against
the rebels who have conducted a
series of raids upon the
settlements along the borders.
A
dispatch from Tegucigalpa says
the Nicaraguan authorities
captured several rebel leaders
and a number of their followers
who attempted to cross the
Nicaraguan frontier, and that
troops are keeping a sharp
lookout for other undesirables.
Complete order has been restored
throughout Guatemala, say
advices received here. The
Government is reinforcing the
garrisons in all the town and
villages where the participants
in the recent revolutionary
movement were active.
Troops are in pursuit of the
rebel leader Ferrera and
remnants of his band,
recently defeated by a
Government force under General
Tosta. Ferrera is believed
to have crossed into Salvador.
NYT, 3 September 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
10 September 1922. New
Fight on Nicaraguan Frontier.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Sept. 9.—Reinforcements
are being sent toward the
Nicaraguan frontier, where new
fighting has broken out between
the troops and forces of the
rebels. The rebels are said to
have been defeated, and are now
being pursued.
NYT, 10 September 1922
TOP OF INVENTORY
3 February 1923.
Pan Americans Not Arming.
Only Two Nations Spend Nearly
Half of Budget on Military.
Special to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.—Only two of
the twenty-one American nations
are spending more than 40 per
cent. of their budgets for
military and naval purposes, it
was revealed today in a set of
figures which will be submitted
to the Fifth Pan-American
Congress to meet in Santiago,
Chile, next month.
The congress will discuss the
limitation of armament for
Latin-American republics, along
the line of the agreements
reached at the Washington
conference last Winter between
this country and other nations.
The agreement just reached by
the five Central American
nations now in conference here
will be used as a model.
[Washington Treaty of Peace and
Amity signed 7 Feb. 1923 by El
Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua.]
Latest estimates, in most cases
for the year 1921, show that the
two nations now spending above
40 per cent. on armament are
Mexico, with 40.8 per cent., and
Honduras, with 44.5 per cent.
Of the other nations in this
hemisphere the report shows that
one of them, Chile, is spending
between 30 and 40 per cent. of
its appropriations for army and
navy; five of them between 20
and 30 per cent.; nine between
10 and 20 per cent., and one
less than 10 per cent. Two of
the American nations, Haiti and
the Dominican Republic, are not
making any appropriation at
present, either for army or
navy, due to the American
occupation, and Panama's only
appropriation is for military
police.
NYT, 3 February 1923
TOP OF INVENTORY
28 December 1923.
Washington Repeats Warning to
Honduras. Tells It the
United States 'Regards With
Disfavor' Any Attempt to Control
Elections.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.—The
American Minister at Tegucigalpa
has been instructed to inform
the President of Honduras and
responsible officials of that
Government that the United
States regards with disfavor any
attempt of a Government to
perpetuate itself in power
except by accepted
constitutional processes. The
communication was sent by the
State Department as a result of
the disturbed situation in
Honduras incident to the
Presidential election. . . .
According to these advices, some
of which have come to private
persons having interests in
Honduras,
Honduran troops not only put to
death certain adherents to the
cause of General Carias, the
Opposition candidate for
President, but crossed into
Nicaragua and committed
depredations against the
citizens of that country. The
Nicaraguan Government has
protested, and the belief
in Latin American quarters here
is that a serious international
situation may be developing
behind the screen of secrecy
interposed several days ago by
censorship.
NYT, 28 December 1923
TOP OF INVENTORY
30 December 1923. No
Title. [Reports of Border
Troubles Unfounded, Officials
Say.]
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Dec. 29
(Associated Press).—Reports
of a raid by Honduran troops
into Nicaragua are without
foundation, it is
authoritatively stated. There
are some internal disorders,
owing to the Presidential
situation, but there has been
nothing in the form of a raid
over the frontier.
The
U. S. S. Rochester, with Rear
Admiral J. H. Dayton aboard,
arrived this morning at Amapala,
on the Pacific Coast, and is
understood to be ready to land
marines if needed. In Honduran
circles it was declared that
Nicaraguan sympathizers with the
insurrectionists may cause
serious trouble near the border,
but they are confident that the
presence of the American warship
will prevent any actual
hostilities. . . .
NYT, 30 December 1923
TOP OF INVENTORY
6
January 1924. Tropas
hondureñas cerca de Somoto.
Personal llegada ayer de Somoto
nos informa que en aquella
población y sus alrededores
andan no menos de trescientos
hondureños y que en el camino
encontró al Gral. Francisco
Martínez Funes, a la cabeza de
cinco carrettas, cargadas al
parecer de frijoles y arroz, lo
que no le fué posible comprobar
a nuestro informante por ír las
carretas cubiertas, de una
manera sospechosa. . . .
Ayer celebraron una conferencia
muy privada en la capital el Sr.
Presidente de la República, Mr.
Ramer y el Canciller Urtecho.
Se
rumora que para tratar del
embrollo hondureño y de las
manifestaciones bélicas llevadas
a cabo por aquel Gbno. en el
Triunfo, que está fronterizo a
Nicaragua.
El Centroamericano,
León, 6 January 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
5
February 1924. Honduran
Rebels to Fight Dictator.
Carias Opposes Gutierrez for
Holding Presidency After
National Elections Fail.
Notes By Hughes Ignored.
Other Governments Are Said to
Have Urged in Vain That New
Elections Be Held.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.—General
Tubercio Carias has assumed the
Presidency of the Revolutionary
faction in Honduras, it was
announced officially today at
the State Department. Despite
the large American interests in
Honduras, the United States is
carrying out its policy of
watchful waiting, and unless
American lives are endangered,
it is believed that no action
will be taken by this Government
in the situation now existing
there.
Word was received here today in
official quarters that Lopez
Gutierrez, whose term as
President expired at midnight
Jan. 31, and who has since
assumed the role of Dictator,
has called a special session of
the de facto Congress to alter
the Constitution of Honduras. It
was intimated that Señor
Gutierrez hopes to have the
Constitution changed in order to
continue in office as the
Constitutional President of
Honduras.
General Carias, described as the
most popular of the three
candidates for the Presidency
who failed at the polls,
has
reached the Nicaraguan border,
according to reports received
here and will begin his march on
Tegucigalpa, the capital of
Honduras, today. A large number
of citizens who left the country
some time ago are rallying to
the support of General Carias,
and
it is believed that he will be
able to muster 5,000 men for his
march on the capital. The
revolutionaries, ordinarily,
would reach Tegucigalpa by
Thursday, as it would not take
more than three days to complete
the march to the capital, but it
is understood that President
Gutierrez's forces are prepared
to meet General Carias's troops
in battle at a point half way
between the Nicaraguan border
and the capital.
Movements have been started in
other parts of Honduras in
support of General Carias, and
it is said that within a week he
will have more than 20,000 men
under his command. . . .
NYT, 5 February 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
8
February 1924.
Emigrados en Ocotal.
De
fuente didedigna se sabe que los
emigrados que se llaban en El
Ocotal, salieron antier
miércoles a medio día para Las
Manos, en donde permaneceren en
situación desesperante, porque
no disponen ni de dinero ni de
provisiones, habiendo pedido
urgente auxilio a los altos
emigrados que permanecen en esta
capital. La bola de que estaba
tamado en El Paraíso, resultó
falsa, pues de ser cierta, los
emigrados de referencia
habríanse internado a Honduras,
y no pasarían hambres en Las
Manos.
El Centroamericano,
León, 8 February 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
13 February 1924.
Revolución en Honduras.
De
Managua nos dijeron á medio día
de ayer, que en el combate de
Jacaliapa, lugar próximo á Las
Manos, entre Danlí y Yuscarán,
fueron batidos los
revolucionarios, en número como
de dos mil hombres mal armados,
por mil soldados del ejército
del gobierno, comandados por el
general Teófilo Cárcamo,
habiendo sufrido los carístas
una gran derrota, que los hizo
huir en todas direcciones,
entrando muchos de ellos á
territorio nicaragüense,
conduciendo á heridos de
importancia, entre otros á los
coroneles Ricardo Lozano Díaz,
herido de dos balazos en uno de
los brazos, y Armando Reina, en
otra parte del cuerpo, muy
conocidos en la buena sociedad
de Tegucigalpa, quienes
actualmente se encuentran en El
Ocotal. Creese que la
derrota sufrida dará en breve
término á la revolución.
Alfredo Reina, bonillista,
hermano del cariísta derrotado,
que está en Managua, ha
trasladado fondos para hacer
llegar á su hermano á la capital
y prodigarle allí sus
atenciones.
El Centroamericano,
León, 13 February 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
14 February 1924. De
Chinandega.
12 de Febrero.
Por una vindicación
Don Arturo Tijerino Morales,
empleado de la Jefatura Política
de este Departamento, sincera al
señor Jefe Político Dn. Donoso
Gasteazoro, correcto empleado y
atento caballero, de un cargo
que nadie le ha lanzado, por ser
bien conocido el empleado que
cometió el hecho que por la
prensa se denunció; por lo que
creemos que no había necesidad
de tal vindicación. Después de
confesar que
Luis B. Blandón, quien cometió
el salvaje atendado de mandar á
hacer tres descargas de
fusilerla sobre el administrador
de la hacienda La Flor, en la
frontera hondureña, es empleado
del gobierno, niega que los
cariístas residentes en
Somotillo estén armados y bien
organizados en tres cuarteles.
Decimos á Dn. Arturo que los
cariístas hasta hace tres días
ocupaban en aquel pueblo las
casas de Eugenia Martínez Funes
é Iliginio Ortiz, y que en cada
una de esas casas había un
pelotón con sus jefes
respectivos, quienes los
entregaban sueldo y mandaban
destazar reces. Todos desde su
llegada han permanecido armados
de pistolas Colt 44, machetes y
bastantes cartuchos, y en
actitud bélica, que no han
tratado de ocultar. Por último,
el señor Francisco Matute,
cariísta que desde su llegada á
esta ciudad ha permanecido
vigilando á todo aquel que llega
de Honduras y no es de su bando,
hace pocos días fue á Choluteca
de incógnito, y á su regreso
presenció las descargas que
Blandón mandó á hacer sobre
Cano. Al mismo Matute se le vió
pasar el domingo 10 del
corriente en pleno día por El
Maniadero, La Virgen y El Puente
Real con dirección á Somotillo,
armado de un rifle maüser, y ese
mismo día empezaron á
movilizarse los cariístas con
dirección á Las Manos. Según se
nos asegura, la orden de
quitarse de Somotillo les fue
comunicada á los cariístas por
una comisión de americanos, y
actualmente si se han quedado
algunos en aquel pueblo son muy
pocos, pero antes de esta
reconcentración había más de
quinientos. Que conteste
quien quiera sobre los
anteriores datos, que aseguramos
son absolutamente verídicos.
CORRESPONSAL II
El Centroamericano,
León, 14 February 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
15 February 1924.
Atacó la plaza de San Marcos
Antier miércoles á las cinco y
media de la tarde atacó la plaza
de San Marcos el general
Francisco Martínez Funes,
llevando de segundo al coronel
Ramón Alvarado con una columna
compuesta de 1.300 hombres,
habiendo sido derrotado
completamente por las fuerzas
del gobierno del general López
Gutiérrez.
Defendían la plaza de San Marcos
los coroneles Concepción Peralta
y Pilar Osegueda, militares
valerosos y de toda la confianza
del General López Gutiérrez. . .
.
El
coronel Rafael William, de
Choluteca, importante cariísta,
que se encuentra en Somotillo,
se ha dirigido con fecha 10 del
corriente á un paisano residente
en Managua, rogánole gestionar
ante el Ministro Ramer ó el
Encargado de Negocios de
Honduras, Dr. Luis H. Debayle,
para que soliciten del general
López Gutiérrez garantías para
él y tres hijos, que desean
regresar a sus hogares, por no
poder soportar ya las penurías
que están pasando en la
emigración. . . .
El Centroamericano,
León, 15 February 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
18 February 1924. Report
of Visit to Honduran Frontier.
Note: This report on the first
leg of the first extended foray
of US troops into the
Segovian-Honduran borderlands
was probably typed up in
Somotillo. The expedition
explored both sides of the
Somotillo-Las Manos border
region for another month, as
described in the document that
follows this one. This was not
an invasion. It was, in
hindsight, an early advance
guard of the invasion that came
3½ years later, though the five
men in the patrol could not have
known it at the time. No one
could have. This was a
fact-finding mission.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
THE AMERICAN DETACHMENT,
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA,
18 FEBRUARY, 1924.
From: Captain Thomas E. Bourke,
U.S. Marine Corps.
To: The Secretary of the Navy.
Via: The Major General
Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps.
Subject: Report of Visit to the
Honduran frontier.
1. A party consisting of
four enlisted men and myself
with side arms left Managua at
1:15 p.m. February 6th, 1924,
and arrived at Chinandega at
5:00 p.m. the same date. We were
delayed at Chinandega until 9:00
a.m. February 7th due to the
fact that all animals available
had been taken over by the
Nicaraguan Government forces.
Left Chinandega at 9:00 a.m.
February 7th and arrived
Somotillo at 2:00 p.m. February
8th.
2. The Honduran rebels had
been informed the night before
of our probable arrival by the
Nicaraguan Government. About
five hundred rebels were on the
outside of the town to meet us.
They conducted us to their
headquarters where a conference
was held with the leaders of
their party. They informed us
that there were about fifteen
thousand Hondurans assembled in
Salvador, Guatemala and
Nicaragua ready to join in the
revolution. They reported that
vicious outrages had been
perpetrated by the Honduran
Government on followers of
Carias. It was reported that the
Government forces fired into
crowds of Conservatives who were
trying to vote on election day.
In Tegucigalpa sixty-two were
killed in this manner. They also
stated that convicts all over
Honduras have been released and
armed to protect the present
Government. These convicts have
had no regard for the lives and
property of the Conservatives.
3. In Somotillo it is
estimated that there were about
fifteen hundred Honduran rebels
gathered. Few arms except
pistols and machettes were in
evidence, but it is thought that
rifles were put out of sight
when they learned of our
proposed arrival, due to the
fact that small parties of armed
men with rifles were met making
their way to the border over the
trail followed by our party. [
p. 2 ]
4. The leaders of the
rebels appear to be men of
education and ability and seem
to be animated by patriotic
motives. They seemed to be very
pleased of the interest that we
showed in their affairs. In fact
when the marine party left
Somotillo they all gathered on
the outside of the town and
yelled, "Long Live America."
5. There was no evidence
in Somotillo of any arms or
supplies having been shipped by
the Nicaraguan government to the
Honduras revolutionists.
/s/ THOMAS E. BOURKE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Copy to Major General
Commandant.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Capt. Thomas E. Bourke, USMC to
Secretary of the Navy; RG80, Box
336
TOP OF INVENTORY
24 March 1924. Marines in
Nicaragua, 1924. Letter from an
Ex-Sergeant, USMC.
Note: This account of a
month-long US Marine expedition
through the war-torn
Segovian-Honduran borderlands in
February-March 1924 offers a
fuller account of the expedition
described in Lt. Bourke's
official report of 18 Feb. 1924,
above. This is not an official
report. It takes the form of a
long descriptive letter from
USMC Sergeant F. F. Birnbaumer
to his "sidekick" describing his
just-completed 500-mile journey.
It was published four years
later in the semi-official
Marine Corps magazine The
Leatherneck (March 1928, pp.
7-8, with two photos). The
article offers a fascinating
portrait of political and social
conditions in the borderlands
from the perspective of a
plainspoken Marine sergeant and
his fellow grunts.
Marines in Nicaragua, 1924
By F. F. Birnbaumer, Ex.-Sgt.,
U.S.M.C.
The Leatherneck
March 1928
In the belief that some
Leathernecks now serving in
Nicaragua will be relieved to
learn that Nicaragua jungle
ticks and other insects may
nibble gleefully, and yet leave
but little scars to stamp their
memory on passing years, an
incident of yesteryear is
recalled.
Managua, Nicaragua,
March 24, 1924.
Dear Sidekick,
Hooray! Just finished scrubbing
the last of the cooties off of
myself.
You have doubtless heard
something of the revolution
which has been going on in
Honduras in a half-hearted
fashion since last November. I'm
still getting quite a kick out
of the thought of Central
American "Generals." We were
informed, while in Honduras, by
a "general" himself that there
are thirty-six of them today in
that country.
Four other marines and myself,
together with an interpreter,
have been following on the trail
of that revolution in both
Honduras and Nicaragua for the
past month. A radio from the
State Department started it all
off; that is, our end of the
deal. Quite a number of Marines
here volunteered for the trip,
as it promised to be quite a
novelty for the local
detachment. Most of the Marines
in camp would have been glad to
have gone, even though everyone
knew it meant hard riding,
miserable food, not a great
amount of even bad water, and
sometimes very little sleep, but
then look at the fun we'd have,
to which some other member of
the party would answer, "Oh,
yes."
Break out your little map of
Central America and follow the
"rosebud" trail that we covered
on burros. Leon, Chinandega,
Punte Real, Somotillo., St.
Thomas, San Pedro, San
Francisco, Cacamuya gold mines,
San Marcos de Colon, Oyote, El
Tamarindo, Somoto Grande,
Macuelizo, Las Limas, Los Manos,
Ocotal, back to Cacamuya mines
by way of Somoto Grande and San
Marcos, back over the same run
in the order above named,
finally back to Cacamuya and
then home again through
Chinandega and Leon, a total
distance of five hundred or more
miles covered, over the roughest
trails imaginable.
At two p.m. the five of us set
out under orders on a handcar to
Chinandega, a station between
Nicaragua and Corinto on the
Ferrocarril del Pacifico de
Nicaragua. Chinandega was
reached that night and we had to
lay over until the following
evening getting horses and a
guide. After much difficulty we
secured both mounts and an
Indian guide and set out that
evening for Somotillo, near the
Honduran-Nicaraguan border. All
night was spent in the saddle in
the worst dust I had ever
experienced. In many places it
was several feet deep in the
sunken trail, a soft, white
pulverized dust. The air in the
vicinity of the road was so
filled with this dust that sight
was difficult. We tied
handkerchiefs over our noses to
keep from suffocating and even
then the fine dust sifted
through and caused nose-bleed.
Morning found us at Puente Real
(Royal Bridge). He was indeed a
euphemist who gave that bridge
its name; a rickety bamboo span
over a syrupy little stream,
bordered on either side with mud
flats. To add insult to injury a
toll of 15 cents per person and
five cents per animal is
charged. Here we left the dust
behind and all hands felt like
shouting for glee. We soon
passed into a cactus and thorn
forest, quite a novelty, and all
day we rode through a blazing
sun, stopping only for a few
minutes to rest the horses. We
had had no food, water or sleep
since leaving Chinandega the
night before and some of us were
beginning to get a "little
hungry." About five miles out of
Somotillo my horse fell over and
proceeded to die, and I had the
pleasure of hiking the remaining
miles, feeling none too
pugnacious. My saddle and
equipment was taken care of by
another of our party. Two other
members of the party soon had to
dismount and lead, or rather
drag their horses, the remainder
of the way.
Somotillo was finally reached;
how nice. We chased the nearly
naked wash-women out of the only
waterhole and drank deep. We
still had four or five cans of
"willie" and beans and that was
reinforced with tortillas
(pronounced tor-tee-as). All
this went down as if by magic
and everyone admitted we felt
better. Back we went and chased
the dusky maidens out of the
waterhole again and went
swimming.
The next day three of us made a
side trip to the border at St.
Thomas, which was garrisoned by
Nicaraguan troops. We were
received with friendly
demonstration and treated to our
first real native dinner of
tortillas, stale meat and very
old eggs. Food here in these
foothills is not especially
appetizing, and particularly now
during this revolution.
U. S. Marines with
Nicaraguan Soldiers at St.
Thomas, Nicaragua, February 1924
There is very little revolution,
but lots of plundering. The
tortillas here are made from the
poor, stale, worm earthen corn,
ground wet and baked into a thin
leathery pancake, without any
seasoning whatever. Meat is hung
up in the sun, but doesn't dry,
for the flies get to it first
and the maggots next. That
little fact doesn't bother the
natives though. They
nonchalantly knock the worms off
with a stick, throw the meat on
a hot coal, and presto, you have
a nice juicy barbecue. The eggs,
they're good though! It
sometimes takes several days to
find the nest, and then the eggs
are buried in straw for a couple
of weeks or months maybe. They
come out rather peculiar
looking--maybe they are a little
"rotten." The most prized food
here is the birdlike, tough,
fighting stock chicken. Once
captured, it is sort of cleaned
and boiled for about fifteen or
twenty minutes. This culinary
process sets the flesh and makes
it a little less palatable. Then
it is served in its entirety on
a palm leaf. These people use
palm leaves for plates when they
aren't too lazy to cut them.
Knives, forks, spoons, cups and
saucers are unheard of. The good
old human hand fulfills all
those purposes and gourds make
ideal cups. Of course, the
menfolk do use knives, the kind
they carry around with them and
use to chop down trees, kill
wild beasts, and other men. They
are about four feet long, with a
five-inch blade, weigh about
three pounds, and bear the label
"Collins" if they are the
fashionable kind. These make
fairly good table knives. I
noticed one fellow use one to
put a bit of whey on a small
cornmeal cake. In the States the
farmers call these things corn
knives, but here they are
machettes.
We stayed in St. Thomas only a
few hours and returned to
Somotillo, having covered about
forty miles, a big day's work
with poor horses, and our horses
were always poor.
Another day was spent in
hustling horses again. In the
afternoon we set out for San
Pedro, still higher in the hills
and toward the Northeast. We
finished the last of our camp
provisions and dropped all
equipment except a blanket and a
saddle bag. We could not carry
either food or more equipment on
account of the poor horses and
the increasingly bad trails. We
camped in the hills that night
and enjoyed a little coffee and
also the ticks, fleas,
mosquitoes and such little
inconveniences. San Pedro,
garrisoned by Nicaraguan troops,
was reached by noon of the
following day, and another
native dinner of tortillas and
eggs was enjoyed by us. In fact,
we lived entirely on native grub
for over twenty days and none of
us died, although the MO. did
treat me to a lot of emetin on
my return to camp. Somotillo,
St. Thomas and San Pedro were
barracks towns with only a few
miserable huts, greatly
overcrowded. At San Pedro we
obtained burros instead of
horses, better fitted for hill
work and tougher than horses,
even on the rider. Every time I
see a burro now I want to walk
up to him and punch him on the
nose and pull his ears. We
camped on a ledge that night and
by noon next day reached the
Cacamuya Gold Mines, managed by
an American by the name of
Samuelson. We got real food
there and how we made his Mex
cook put out the chow, and we
got a bath, too, and everyone
took his first shave in a week.
We all appeared much less
ferocious with the hair off. We
hated to leave Cacamuya a day
and a half later, but had to go
on to San Marcos de Colon, the
headquarters of the Honduran
Government troops. There had
been a young battle there a week
before and the houses were
pretty well sprayed with bullet
holes. We stayed no longer than
it was necessary at San Marcos,
and proceeded on to El Tamarindo
where we met General Funez with
his wing of the revolutionary
army.
Gunnery Sgt. Bruce, Rene
Wallace, Black Chief and Small
Detachment, 1924
The soldiers here on both sides
were mostly Indians, barefooted,
with no uniforms except a ribbon
for the hat to designate their
politics. All the troops wore
large straw sombreros, trousers,
but no shirts or shoes, and all
looked like ancient pirates.
They were armed with machettes,
old 1884 single-shot Remingtons
and old 7 and 11-mm Austrian
Mauser rifles, useful as clubs
but nothing else.
All of the troops were almost
starved and have killed off all
the live stock in the country.
While we were in the general's
hut a bunch of soldiers chased a
young heifer right up in front
of the hut and hacked its head
off with a machette. They did
not trouble to skin it, but just
laid it open and each man fought
to get a chunk of meat. Then
each man ran off to himself and
built a tiny fire to cook his
piece. Some of the meat was
eaten raw. We were glad to get
away from the filth of this
place.
Our guide led us astray during
the night and lost us in a dry
river bed where we were forced
to camp until morning, and
finally got on the right trail
to Somoto Grande. It will be
noted that we were traveling in
Northeastward, part of the time
in Honduras and part of the time
in Nicaragua. Somoto was reached
without further event and three
of us left the following day for
Honduras again.
We were again led astray by a
poor guide, who led us off the
right trail and into a jungle of
underbrush and bull nettles.
Macuelizo was reached late that
night after a long, hot,
tiresome ride on the mules.
Macuelizo is a tiny village
hidden away in a bowl shaped
valley well up in the mountain
ridge. The inhabitants are
simple, religious folk who
seldom venture more than twenty
miles from their homes.
Las Limas, the highest mountain,
most inaccessible, and just
inside Honduras, was reached by
noon of the next day. Here
General Carias, the big chief of
the revolutinoist cause, and the
would-be president of Honduras,
had established his
headquarters.
Carias proved to be a man of
good education and was
surrounded by staff officers of
good mentality. We also met
several Americans here, officers
in the revolutionist army and
soldiers of fortune. The food
here was even worse than
previously experienced on
account of the large number of
soldiers here and all supplies
are obtained locally, there
being no such thing as a base of
supplies. The next day we
reached Las Manos and spent the
night. We nearly froze that
night as we were high up and the
air was very cold. It was so
cold that we were able to see
our breath until about nine
o'clock the next morning, before
the sun came out bright and warm
enough to thaw us out.
Our southward trip from here to
Ocotal and then back to Somoto
Grande was made through a
beautiful country, pierced by
many mountain streams of clear,
cold water, and covered with
dense pine forests which filled
the air with heavy pine
fragrance as is sometimes
experienced in passing through
our own southern pine belt. One
man was left behind in Ocotal
and the other two joined us at
Somoto Grande, but departed the
following day for Managua by way
of the high road to Leon, and
the remaining three of us
returned to San Marcos, where it
was rumored another battle was
soon to take place. We stayed
here three days awaiting
developments and then returned
to Cacamuya Mines.
I remained behind at Cacamuya
and the remaining Marine and the
interpreter shoved off the next
morning for San Marcos again,
then to Somoto Grande and return
to Cacamuya, which trip was made
in three days of hard traveling.
It was while at Cacamuya that
news leaked through of the
landing of about two hundred
sailors and Marines on the North
Coast of Honduras and their
occupation of Tegucigalpa.
Orders were received to return
to Managua, and we journeyed
homeward through San Pedro,
Somotillo, Puente Real,
Chinandega, and then by train to
Managua. The return trip from
Somotillo to Chinandega, a
distance of about sixty miles,
was again made at night to avoid
the heat. We rode for about an
hour out of Puente Real through
the thick dust, and then, it
started to rain, the first of
the season, and how it did rain!
It came down in waves and
blasts. The trail turned into a
churned sea of mud and water and
the dust on the horses and
ourselves turned to muddy
streaks, giving us a desperate
appearance. Several of the party
had purchased native
undergarments, which come in
bright blues, reds and stripes.
These garments usually bleach
white after a couple of
washings, so when the soaking
rain hit us they lost color so
rapidly that one Marine, dressed
in a bright red garment,
presented some appearances of
being wounded, and the color did
not fade nearly so quickly from
the skin as from the garment.
The horses became frightened at
the unusual amount of swirling
water in the sunken trail, which
was three feet deep in places,
and stumbled and wallowed about
throwing one man and covering
all of us with mud.
We presented a most sorry
spectacle upon our arrival at
Chinandega the next day, but the
following afternoon, when we
arrived in Managua once more, we
were quite ourselves again, and
then after the first big chow
someone said, "Just look at the
fun we had," to which all hands
answered, "Uh Huh."
The Leatherneck, March
1928, pp. 7-8
TOP OF INVENTORY
22 February 1924.
Noticias de la frontera norte y
de la guerra de Honduras.
Noticias de la Frontera
Norte
Persona que llegó antier de
Somotillo nos da los siguientes
informes:
Son falsas todas las noticias de
Somotillo que ha estado
publicando la prensa. En "El
Diario Moderno" hemos visto
noticias que han sido todas
inventadas por los mismos
hondureños, pues tres
telegrafístas de los
revolucionarios no salían de la
oficina telegráficas de aquel
pueblo, y éllos mismos daban
esas noticias, pues al público
en general le consta q'
perennemente estaban los
mencionados hondureños con la
mano sobre los aparatos, como si
hubieran sido empleados de este
gobierno.
La
derrota que sufrieron las
fuerzas que de allá salieron al
mando de Martínez Fúnez y el
General Velásquez, fué
desastrosa. Algunos de éllos,
los más francos, dicen que los
hicieron paste. A Somotillo han
llegado ya bastantes de los que
fueron derrotados en San Marcos,
y que habían salido de Somotillo
en son de guerra. Otros dicen
que han quedado por los
pueblitos más fronterizos, como
San Pedro, Santo Tomás, Cinco
Pinos, San Francisco y los demás
aseguran q' buscaron el camino
de su casa, fuera de los q'
tomaron la ruta de las Segovias,
porque toda la gente que en la
frontera nicaragüense se reunió
fué a la que hicieron paste en
Las Manos y en San Marcos.
No se crea la prensa de noticias
que de aquel pueblo les llegue,
porque ya hay otra vez
telegrafístas de los derrotados,
y se mantienen en los aparatos
de la oficina nacional.
El auxiliar de la oficina, un
fulano López, que es cantador,
le ha sacado canción a los
valientes hondureños que pelean
con valor por su libertad, según
reza la letra de la canción,
pues es él gran partidario de
las huestes hondureñas, y es así
que de los aparatos y de todo
disponen aquéllos en su oficina.
NOTICIAS DE LA GUERRA DE
HONDURAS
El combate de Jacaleapa
— Varios muertos y heridos
De "Patria" diario de
Tegucigalpa del 13 de Febrero.
Los
revolucionarios encabezados por
Juan Pablo Urrutia, Juan B.
Pagüaga [Paguaga], Pio Fálope,
Inocente Tuminio, Mariano
Sanabria y Manuel Zúniga Medal,
venían el sábado nueve del
presente mes a atacar la plaza
de Yuscarán, encontrándose en
Jacaleapa, departamento de El
Paraíso, de sorpresa con las
fuerzas del gobierno, con las
que combatieron rudamente
durante cinco horas en las
cuales fueron derrotados los
primeros quedando dueños del
campo los generales Francisco
Cardona, José Antonio Sánchez,
José María Fonseca, Célso Cambar
y el Coronel Julio Mejía.
El
Gobierno tuvo cuatro muertos
entre los cuales se cuenta al
valiente Coronel Cleto Martínez
y diez heridos. Los
revolucionarios tuvieron muchos
muertos y heridos. Entre los
muertos de estos se pudo
identificar al Coronel Miguel
Flores Carías y al Coronel Tomás
Mejía M. quien cayo avanzado
herido.
Los
jefes del gobierno una vez que
derrotaron al enemigo, se
dedicaron a su persecución y por
eso no pudieron dar parte
circunstanciado de muertos y
heridos.
Combate de San Marcos
Atacante, Francisco Martínez
Fúnez. Defensor de la plaza
Coronel Concepción Peralta con
ciento cincuenta hombres.
Bajas por parte del enemigo
cinco personas y seis heridos;
por parte del gobierno cuatro
muertos y cinco heridos. El
combate principió a las cuatro
de la mañana de hoy, y terminó a
las nueve am. Se avanzó a los
revolucionarios toda la
correspondencia, dos oficiales,
bestias y fusiles remington y
maüsser.
Otras noticias oficiales
de última hora
De la Ceiba, Departamento de
Atlántida, avisan que en Esparta
fue derrotado el enemigo que
ascendía a 200 individuos.
Aviasan del Departamento de
Choluteca, que en San Marcos de
Colón fue derrotado el enemigo,
habiendo salido rumbo a
Nicaragua.
Dentro de pocos días reinará la
paz en el seno de la República
Mañana ampliaremos estos
informes.
Chispazo prisionero
. . .
La
retaguardia del enemigo había
quedado en Danlí, donde
saquearon a varias familias
entre éllas la de Gamero, y al
ver que las fuerzas del Gobierno
iniciaban, después de haber
tomado posiciones, el combate,
se retiraron en el desbarajuste,
continuándose entonces su
persecución.
El
Comandante de Danlí acaba de dar
el siguiente parte: "Danlí, 12
de Febrero de 1924, 9 y 30
am.—Sr. Presidente:—Los últimos
datos que he obtenido de los
revolucionarios es que la mayor
parte traspasaron la frontera,
habiendo sido reconcentrados por
parte de Nicaragua. También me
permito manifestarle que en el
trayecto por donde pasaron se
han encontrado varios muertos y
muchos sepulturas de ellos. Sólo
se identificó al Coronel Miguel
Flores Carías de esta ciudad.
Seguiré informándole de los
demás datos que obtenga.—A.
GOMEZ CARIAS".
También avisa que ha sido
organizada en Danlí la Cruz
Roja, bajo la presidencia de
doña Lucila Gamero de Medina,
para asistir los heridos
encontrándose en el hospital de
sangre 14 heridos del Gobierno y
del enemigo, a los que se les ha
estado dando una buena
asistencia.
Entre los revolucionarios andaba
el Lic. don Rafael Valenzuela
Fonseca.
De Camasca, departamento de
Intibucá se ofrecen al gobierno
trescientos voluntarios para
combatir la revolución.
El Coronel Salomón Sorto Z.
comunica hoy de La Paz, que
después de un ligero tiroteo
entró a dicha plaza.
El Centroamericano,
León, 22 February 1924
Summary:
Sat. Feb. 9.
Battle of Jacaleapa.
2,000 revolutionists
(led by Urrutia, Paguaga,
Fálope, Tuminio, Sanabria,
Zúniga Medal) en route to attack
plaza of Yuscarán, attacked by
government troops (Cardona,
Sánchez, Fonseca, Cambar,
Mejía). After five hour
battle, revolutionists defeated
and dispersed.
Tues Feb 12?
Sacking of Danlí.
Dispersed revolutionists sack
enemies' homes in Danlí;
government troops arrive,
attack; rebels dispersed into
Nicaragua.
Wed Feb. 13.
Battle of San Marcos.
1,300 revolutionists
(led by Martínez Funes,
Alvarado) mobilize in and march
from Somotillo, attack San
Marcos plaza defended by 500
government troops (Peralta).
Revolutionists badly defeated,
dispersed; many deaths reported;
government forces 4 killed, 14
wounded; defeated rebels
reportedly filter back into
Nicaraguan border towns.
TOP OF INVENTORY
28 February 1924.
Noticias de la revolución
cariísta.
Las
fuerzas revolucionarias al mando
del propio general Tiburcio
Carías (a) La Buchona, que
estaban vivaqueando en El
Pedregalito, Sabana Redonda y
Monte de León, fueron derrotadas
por las del gobierno al mando de
los generales Julio Peralta,
Francisco Cardona, José A.
Sánchez y otros.
El
Gral Carías tení a su mando más
de mil hombres, todos armados de
rifles nacionales 7 m/m. rifles
remington, pistolas y machetes y
unas pocas ametralladoras marca
Thompson. Según informes
oficiales, de Vado Grande
(Nicaragua) ingresaron a
reforzar a los revolucionarios
los derrotados en Jacaleapa, en
número como de ciento y pico en
espera de la llegada de otros
grupos q' se encontraban en El
Gavilán y El Oyote.
Durante el combate, los
cariístas armados de machetes
llegaron hasta una de las
ametralladoras del general Julio
Peralta, la que destruyeron
completamente. Del parte oficial
de la batalla tomamos los
siguientes datos: "El
Pedregalito, via Yuscarán, 21 de
Febrero de 1924.—A las seis y
media atacamos las posiciones
del enemigo que se encontraba
entre El Pedregalito, Sabana
Redonda y cerca de Chilampa, y
después de cuatro horas de
combate, reñido, huyo
vergonzosamente, internándose al
pueblo de Santa María en
territorio de Nicaragua. El
enemigo estaba encabezado, según
informes del avanzado Hipólito
Rosales Pavón, chaufeur de don
Santos Soto, por el propio
general Carías, Faustino P.
Calix, Juan B. Pagüaga
[Paguaga], Inocente Triminio,
Mariano Sanabria, Simón López, y
un Pérez, con un número de
combatientes de más de mil
hombres, de éstos armados como
en número de quinientos. Han
dejado gran cantidad de muertos
y entre los jefes que se han
podido identificar aparece el
general Pio S. Fálope. Se les
avanzó gran número de rifles 7
m/m y 11, gran cantidad de
parque Thompson y Hotckis—Affmos
Generales Francisco Cardona,
José A. Sánchez, Cámbar, Peralta
y Fonseca."
De
otro parte oficial tomamos el
dato que sigue, por tratarse de
ése país:—"Incontinenti dispuso
la defensa del tren y ambulancia
el mismo General (se refiere a
Julio Peralta) quien no sólo la
defendió sino que tomó los
primeros atrincheramientos del
enemigo. El General José María
Fonseca, atacaba al enemigo con
un fuego intermitente, el que
sirvió para la defensa de las
posiciones que ocupaba el Gral
Peralta. A continuación tomé el
mando de la columna que comanda
el Coronel Jacobo Mejía, la que
desplegamos sobre las alturas de
Chilampa; el combate se
instensificó: no se oían gritos
ni lamentos de heridos, ni
vivas; los remington reventaban
haciendo retumbar los cerros; el
fuego era general por las
alturas de Nicaragua, sobre
"Oroca" destacaban una columna
para atacar nuestra retaguardia,
pero ya fue tarde—." Entre otras
cosas el mismo parte dice:
"—Allí me llamaron la atención
de que podíamos violar el
territorio de nuestra hermana y
me costó trabajo hacer regresar
a esas fuerzas [se refiere el
parte a 200 tegucigalpas!] que
ebrios de entusiasmo, no querían
retroceder de allí. Tomamos El
Pedregalito sin resistencia. Si
aparecen muertos ALLA, EN LA
FRONTERA, ES POR QUE MUCHOS LOS
LLEVABAN PARA ENTERRARLOS, sin
perjuicio de los que dejaron en
el campo.—Affo. Subalterno, C.
Cámbar G"
Otro dato oficial dice:
"Yuscarán, Feb. 21 de
1924.—Después de derrotar al
enemigo en Jacaleapa, ayer al
combatirlo por seguunda vez,
huyó combardemente a territorio
nicaragüense, dejando en el
campo de El Pedregalito, gran
número de muertos, heridos y
pertrechos de guerra. (f) Juan
R. Fonseca, Jefe de la Plaza
Mayor."
Con esta derrota al propio
general Tiburcio Carías (a) La
Buchona, verán los numerosos
lectores de "El
Centroamericano", que la idea de
atrapar el Poder, le ha costado
muy caro, con todo y que ciertas
personas de Managua, están
interesadas en que el
conservatismo hondureño llegue a
la Presidencia.
Noticias de la
revolución del ferrerísmo
E. Gral Gregorio Ferrera, que
también se ha levantado en armas
por su propia cuenta y con ideas
de derrocar al liberalismo para
llegar al poder, atacó la ciudad
de Comayagua, donde después de 6
horas de combate reñido, fue
derrotado.
Las fuerzas del revolucionario
Ferrera, entraron hasta la
Escuela Normal de Señoritas y
pelearon bravamente en las
calles de la ciudad. . . .
Esta derrota del ferrerismo ha
venido a desmoralizar las
fuerzas indígenas en su
totalidad, las que se han visto
obligadas a salir despavoridas
de dicho lugar. . . .
"Du Lamercier", Tegucigalpa, 23
de Febrero de 1924.
El Centromericano,
León, 28 February 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
March 1924. Another
Warship Sent To Honduras.
Admiral Doubles Marine Guard at
Ceiba, Where American Citizen
Has Been Killed. Rebels
Besiege Capital. But
Meanwhile Other Central American
Countries Start a Move for
Peace.
Special to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, March
1.—Simultaneously with the
receipt of news of more fighting
in Honduras, the State
Department announced today that
another warship had been
dispatched to Honduran waters
and that Admiral Dayton, whose
flagship is the Denver, had
landed an additional detachment
of thirty-five marines at Ceiba
where the American consulate was
fired upon in recent fighting. .
. .
A
detachment of American marines,
dispatched, from Managua,
Nicaragua, is operating on the
border between the two countries
to prevent the smuggling of
arms.
NYT, 2 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
6
March 1924. La
candidatura Sacasa-Carazo
Hurtado en los pueblos del Norte
de Chinandega.
La gira de propaganda que merecí
el honor de desempeñar por
encargo especial del Honorable
Comité Departamental pro-Sacasa
carazo-Hurtado, en los pueblos
de Somotillo, Villanueva y
otros, tuvos más lisongero
resultado.
El 20 de Febrero retropróximo
salí con rumbo á Somotillo, en
unión de los coroneles Emigdio
Mayorga y Juan Meléndez Oconor y
dos compañeros más.
Antes de llegar á la población
de nuestro destino, en un paraje
pintoresco denominado Los
Espinos, nos esperaban sesenta
amigos liberales montados en
buenas cabalgaduras; serían las
seis y media de la tarde, cuando
fuimos divisados por nuestros
atentos y cariñosos
correligionarios de Somotillo.
El encuentro fue cordial y lleno
del más vivo entusiasmo . . .
[long involved description of
the campaign in the area;
transcription in progress]
El Centroamericano,
León, 6 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
8
March 1924. Lo que pasa en
nuestra frontera norte.
Chinandega, 6 de marzo de 1924.
Tenemos informes de que la
comisión americana que recorre
la fronter Norte fue muy bien
atendida en San Marcos de Colón
por las fuerzas del General
López Gutiérrez, que pernoctan
en aquella pintoresca ciudad. La
comisión quedó bien impresionada
de la disciplina y del orden que
reinan entre los jefes,
officials y soldados, y
convencida de que los
revolucionarios permanecen en
territorio nicaragüense, pues
aunque se les ha ordenado la
reconcentración al interior del
país, ellos aparentemente
obedecen, pero en seguida
vuelven a sus incursiones
armadas. Así hemos sabido que
sin retirarse todavía de San
Marcos la comisión americana,
vino un grupo de cincuenta
revoltosos al puerto de La Flor,
en el Estero Real, á cuatro
leguas de Somotillo y en
jurisdicción de Chinandega, á
llevar en carretas una parte de
300 rifles y 40 cajas de parque
que allí habían el martes 3 del
corriente; y hoy deben haber
vuelto á llevar el resto de
tales elementos que fueron
embarcados para La Flor en el
puerto El Nacascolo. De La Flor
fueron llevados á unas quebradas
que quedan cerca de San
Francisco de Cuajiniquilapa por
los carreteros Juan P. Castillo,
Zacarías Andino, Juan José
Canales y Simeón Marenco, este
último se nos asegura que hacía
de jefe de todos. Reunidos esos
elementos con los que les
llegarán por San Francisco del
Carnicero y Chontales, los
revolucionarios cariístas harán
un nuevo ataque á San Marcos de
Colón y Choluteca, y como esta
última plaza no es fácil de
tomar, piensan comprarla.
Hay
gran espectación y se hacen
grandes conjeturas con la salida
de tantos elementos de guerra y
se comenta cómo puede ser
posible que el Presidente
Martínez con todo ésto piense en
la pacificación de nuestra
hermana del Norte.
Los
quince números de tropa del
Gobierno de Nicaragua que
permanecen en Cinco Pinos
vigilando la frontera, mejor
sería que les dieran de baja,
pues no llenan los fines para
que han sido dados de alta y
cuestan muy caro á la nación;
sólo sirven ellos para que á su
sombra los cariístas hagan sus
evoluciones, que redundan en
perjuicio de la paz de Centro
América. Actualmente el jefe
está obligando á los vecinos de
aquel pueblo á que se inscriban
en el censo conservador,
amenzándolos con multas si no lo
hacen, sin hacer caso de las
circulares presidenciales.
Pedimos que se investiguen tales
irregularidades y se ponga
remedio al mal.
Corresponsal II.
El Centroamericano,
León, 8 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
19 March 1924. La
intervención americana en
Honduras para poner fin á la
anarquía que allá reina.
Avisó ayer Choluteca á
Somotillo, que las conferencias
de Amapala fracasaron por no
haber concurrido Guatemala y El
Salvador, y que con tal motivo,
viendo que la anarquía cada vez
toma más cuerpo, desembarcaron
en el Golfo de Fonseca tropas
americanas que van en dirección
de Tegucigalpa, habiendo pasado
por Pespire á las 3 de la mañana
de ayer un cuerpo de ejército de
500 chaquetas azules rumbo á la
capital, llevando ameralladoras
y suficiente tren de guerra.
Antier aún se podia comunicar
Choluteca con Tegucigalpa, pero
la línea fue rota por unos
camiones entre Sabana Grande y
El Sauce.
De
Somotillo avisaron á Chinandega
ayer, que hace 5 días salieron
de San Marcos 48 individuos del
gobierno de Honduras, armados de
rifles y pistolas Colt que se
volvieron á internar por el lado
de San Francisco de
Cuajiniquilapa.
Avisaron igualmente de Somotillo
que antier llegó al lugar
llamado Vado Ancho, á las 11 de
la mañana, una persona que
afirma que por el plan de
Corpus, en dirección á las
Sierras venían cien hombres
armados del Gobierno de
Honduras, no se sabe para dónde.
El
Jefe Político de Nueva Segovia
comunicó al Ministerio de
Gobernación haber recibido
informes del vigía que tiene en
la frontera, llamado Jesús
Paguaga, que de fuente cariísta
sabe que tomada antier la placa
de Yuscarán por el general Juan
B. Paguaga, saliendo desbandadas
las fuerzas del gobierno rumbo á
Güinope.
Por inalámbrico que recibió ayer
la Legación Americana se sabe
que las fuerzas cariístas que
insistentemente han atacado
Tegucigalpa, han sido
rechazadas. El mensaje no dice
nada si las fuerzas de Ferrera
que estaban en Toncontin se han
unido á las del Gbno., por ser
ambas liberales.
El Centroamericano,
León, 19 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
21 March 1924.
Falsos informes, echados a
rodar.
Ayer, á la una de la tarde
ingresaron á esta ciudad,
procedentes de la Nueva Segovia,
los caballeros don Marcial López
y dn. César Peñalba; y
conversando con ellos sobre los
informes enviados de aquella
región
sobre la supuesta invasión de
emigrados nicargüenses, en la
región fronteriza con Honduras,
mostraron su extrañeza por lo
descabellado de tales informes.
No
hay una sola palabra de verdad
en todo eso, nos dijo el señor
López: Ayer, (miércoles 19)
salimos de Limay. Peñalba viene
directamente desde Murra. Toda
aquella región está
perfectamente tranquila, y ni la
más leve señal de perturbación
se nota por allá; en Somoto
permanecen uno ó dos vigilantes
americanos, que inmediatamente
sabrían de cualquier disturbio.
En cuanto á emigrados
nicaragüenses, no han dejado de
estar salvando la frontera,
huyendo de la persecución que
Honduras se ha desatado contra
ellos. Pero los que regresan no
son emigrados políticos, sino
obreros y jornaleros que allá
habían ido en busca de trabajo.
Lo seguro es que, tales falsos
informes hayan sido echados á
rodar con el fin de cometer
fraudes, arbitrariedades, abusos
en las inscripciones y hasta
quizá queriendo aguar el
magnifico recibimiento que León,
sede del liberalismo, hizo al
Presidente Martínez; cordialidad
que ha hecho creer al
emilianismo en una inteligencia
entre el Gobierno y este
partido, que de ser cierta,
daría no hay duda en tierra con
todos los proyectos que contra
la libertad tiene listos, para
ponerlos en juego, en el momento
preciso. . . .
El Centroamericano,
León, 21 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
25 March 1924. Honduran
Capital Expects A Battle.
American Marines Patrol Neutral
Zone Established In Tegucigalpa.
Act At Ferrera's Request.
This Rebel Commander Agrees Not
to Fight in Streets Adjacent to
American Legation.
Special to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, March 24.—A neutral
zone comprising areas near the
American Legation and consulate
in Tegucigalpa, capital of
Honduras, has been established
in anticipation of the battle
between rebel and so-called de
facto forces for possession of
the capital, according to
official advices received by the
Navy Department this afternoon.
The area is being patrolled by
American marines and
bluejackets, under instructions
to protect the legation and
consulate and the American
citizens and other foreigners
who have taken refuge there.
Whether the battle, set for
daybreak today, actually began
is not known definitively, as
naval officers say reports of it
could not reach here before late
tonight or tomorrow morning. It
was declared to be certain,
however, that if a battle had
not already taken place, one was
imminent, as the city was
surrounded by rebel forces of
Generals Carias and Ferrera.
Official advices here indicate
they will probably be able to
capture the capital from the
so-called de facto, or Arias,
forces.
A dispatch to the State
Department, under date of March
22, said that since the arrival
of the American landing forces
up to that time the capital had
been quiet, though Navy
Department advices spoke of
desultory fighting in the
streets. Numerous protests have
been circulated against the
presence of the American forces,
though it is stated that all
these protests have been signed
by the same person. . . .
General Ferrera, commanding one
of the rebel troops, notified
the American Minister on March
21 that an attack would be made,
and that fighting would probably
occur in the streets, and asked
that the neutral zone be
established. He promised that
this zone would be respected.
There was an attack on the city
by rebels under Carias on March
21, but it was repulsed.
The commandant of the Honduran
forces at Amapala, a seaport on
the Pacific coast, has declared
in support of General Ferrera.
This important point was
formerly regarded as in favor of
Carias.
The American cruiser Milwaukee,
stationed at Amapala, is keeping
a close lookout for attempts to
smuggle arms into Honduras in
defiance of the proclamation by
President Coolidge declaring an
embargo on such shipments. It is
reported semi-officially that a
cargo of arms intended for
Honduras has left New Orleans
secretly, but it is not know
whether the attempt to smuggle
them will be made through
Atlantic or Pacific ports.
Naval advices indicate that arms
are being carried across the
Nicaraguan border, despite the
patrol maintained there by
American marines sent from
Managua, the capital of
Nicaragua. . . .
NYT, 25 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
27 March 1924.
Noticias de la frontera
hondureña.
Un correo llegado de San Pedro
Sula á Somotillo á las 5 am. de
ayer, informa que
Isidro Mendoza aseguraba haber
visto á Concho Peralta con
doscientos hombres camino de la
frontera nicaragüense, vía de
San Francisco de Cuaniniquilapa.
El Centroamericano,
León, 27 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
29 March 1924. La
actitud del pueblo de chinandega
ante los asesinatos de nuestros
hermanos en honduras.
En la ciudad de Chinandega a
veincinco días del mes de marzo
de mil novecientos
veinticuantro. Reunidos los
suscritos, con motivo de las
alarmantes noticias recibidas de
particulares recientemente
venidos de la hermana República
de Honduras, y publicadas
algunas por la prensa de hoy,
respecto al fusilamiento de
nicaragüenses, por jefes
revolucionarios hondureños, por
el sólo hecho de ser
nicaragüenses; y siendo ésto un
verdadero atentado al derecho, a
la civilización y a la amplia
fraternidad con acogidos los
centroamericanos,
ACORDAMOS:
[ Four part protest against
action of Hondurans: 1)
energetic protest, 2) demand
that Nicaraguan government
undertake prompt action to bring
the Honduran perpetrators to
justice, 3) national press
should pay attention to this
"transcendent issue", and 4) a
commission led by Porfirio Pérez
N. and Dr. Salvador Buitrago
Díaz will submit this protest to
Minister of Gobernación to "put
in the hands" of the President
of the Republic, Bartolomé
Martínez ]
[ signatures: ]
Santiago Callejas
Juan Prieto
F. Rafael Paniagua
I. Mayorga
Juan Rivas C.
J. Zepeda H.
Augusto J. Caldera
and 150 others [ 157 total;
probably the cream of León's
Liberals ]
El Centroamericano,
León, 29 March 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
30 March 1924.
Rockefeller Foundation Trip of
Inspection to the Honduran
Border.
Dr. Daniel M. Malloy,
Rockefeller Foundation, to Col.
Russell, USMC.
March 30, 1924
Explanatory note: This
letter from Dr. Daniel M.
Malloy, Director of the
Rockefeller Foundation's program
in Nicaragua, to Col. Russell of
the US Marine detachment in
Managua, describes his team's
500-mile trip through Las
Segovias in March 1924.
The Rockefeller Foundation began
its hookworm and yellow fever
control work in Nicaragua in
1918. This was its first
substantive foray into the
northern regions. The
journey took place in the same
month as the Marines' first
intelligence-gathering mission
into the Segovian borderlands,
as seen above. Of special
note are Dr. Malloy's
descriptions of the region's
political unrest; of its abject
poverty and high disease rates;
and of the reaction of the local
populace to its program. I
thank the Rockefeller Foundation
Archives for its financial
support in providing access to
this and related documents.
International Health Board ofThe
Rockefeller Foundation
61 Broadway, New York
Hookworm and Yellow Fever
Control
D. M. Malloy, M.D.
Director For Nicaragua
Paraphrase of Letter to Col.
Russell
dated Managua, March 30, 1924
Subject is trip of inspection to
Honduran border.
He and his team just returned
from 500-mile trip through Las
Segovias, about 225 in a Ford
car and the rest on mules.
Foundation work in the area
began in latter part of December
1923. Bad timing to begin the
work, because of the
revolutionary activities in
Honduras and the unsettled
conditions. One staff member in
charge of hookworm post in
Macuelizo barely escaped with
his life when a band of
marauders swooped down on the
town from Honduras. Disturbed
conditions along the border
interferes with the Foundation's
work. Hopes for more normal
times soon.
Descriptions of woeful social
conditions throughout much of
Nueva Segovia; abject misery and
suffering in certain parts.
Hookworm and malaria causing
very high mortality rates,
especially among the young. Of
120 people examined in Jalapa,
80% infected. Quinine a real
problem. Too expensive, trying
to figure out ways to get
quinine to people at a
reasonable cost -- says he will
work with the Hijas de Maria, a
woman's religious organization,
if other plans fail at getting
quinine to people.
Overall a feeling of
disappointment at the hookworm
program in Nueva Segovia. People
very ignorant and superstitious,
would take to the hills when
approached by Foundation staff.
Mass treatments impracticable --
people not trusting enough. No
local authority to appeal to for
help. Only three priests in the
whole department, they help but
not enough. Vast majority of the
people live in the valles that
can't be reached. Feels stumped.
Discouraged. Hopes for mass
treatment shattered.
Signed by D. M. Malloy
[ TRANSCRIPTION OF LETTER
WITHHELD PENDING AUTHORIZATION
BY ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
ARCHIVES TO REPRODUCE TEXT HERE
]
International Health Board,
Record Group 5, Series 1.2,
Sub-Series 325, Box 194, Folder
2478, D. M. Malloy to Col.
Russel, March 30, 1924,
Rockefeller Foundation Archives,
New York
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
April 1924.
Contrabandistas en Murry y
Jalapa.
El Comandante de hacienda de la
frontera capturó a Pastor
Molinares, Santos Murillo,
Emilio Cabrera, Rodolfo Herrera
y Luis Rodríguez, quienes fueron
encontrados infraganti,
destilando cususa en los puntos
llamados Santa Rosa, en
jurisdición de Mura y en Jalapa.
El Centroamericano,
León, 2 April 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
23 April 1924.
Espleluzantes informes sobre la
suerte de nuestros compatriotas
en Honduras.
Don Camilio López Irías, persona
ventajosamente conocida en
Nicaragua, especialmente en las
Segovias, de donde es
originario, lo mismo que en León
y Chinandega, acaba de regresar
á su patria, procedente de
Honduras, vía Guatemala y El
Salvador.
El señor López Irías residia en
San Pedro Sula y trabajaba como
empleado en una compañía
americana. La revolución, como
se ha dado en llar á éso,
encontró al señor López Irías en
aquella antes floreciente ciudad
de la costa. El presenció las
escenas de incendio, de pillaje
y de sangre, llevadas á cabo por
las bandas de foragidos,
comandados por Tosta y demás
jefes, émulos de aquellos otros
hombres que se llamaron
Guardiola, Vásquez y Durón.
El señor López pudo escapar de
la ferocidad de los
libertadores, refugiándose en la
casa Hubert, americana, de la
cual era Gerente de aquellos
días el Tenedor de Libros de la
misma, Dn. Juan Barbieri,
nicaragüense, quien tuvo para el
señor López y otros compatriotas
noble comportamiento.
Por fin, el 22 de Marzo,
venciendo innúmeras
dificultades, pudo escapar á
Puerto Barrios, en una
embarcación de gasolina.
Es nuestro amigo López uno de
los pocos nicaragüenses que
después de la toma de San Pedro
Sula pudieron escapar con vida.
Es absolutamente falso que
solamente á los nicaragüenses
cogidos con las armas en la mano
ó que se hubieran mezclado en
asuntos políticos, hayan sido
asesinados.
En la Lima, dice el señor López
Irías, fueron asesinados por las
hordas de Tosta los
nicaragüenses Francisco Solís,
carpintero; Alberto Mejía,
compañero de Solís; un jovencito
José Pérez, de Chinandega;
Virgilio Vega, de Masaya, á
quien obligaron á cavar su
propia sepultura; José de la
Cruz, Pedro Herrera, de Estelí,
y Simeón Urbina, de Managua, los
cuales nunca se mezclaron en
asuntos políticos ni militares,
pues vivieron dedicados al
trabajo. A. Miguel Bolaños M.,
de Masaya, lo tuvieron
enterrando muertos y poco
después lo sacaron de la cárcel
con guardias, sin que se conozca
su paradero.
La Cuyamel Company le pidió
garantías á Tosta para los
operarios nicaragüenses de la
Lima; pero aquel facineroso, se
las negó, por lo cual la
Compañía tuvo que embarcar por
su cuenta á los que pudo y
enviarlos á Bluefields.
Cómo será de ciega la ferocidad
de los libertadores hondureños,
que al capturar á todos los
operarios de un campo llamado
Guanchía, en el mismo San Pedro
Sula, el jefe hondureño mandó
formarlos en fila y ordenó:
—¡Un paso al frente los
pinoleros!
Diecisiete jornaleros y
artesanos nicaragüenses
avanzaron, y acto continuo
cayeron acribillados á balazos.
Los cadáveres quedaron tirados,
sin que se permitiera al Dr.
Masís,, nicaragüense, darles
sepultura. Los americanos de La
Lima tuvieron que enterrarlos.
El Comandante de La Ceiba ordenó
que nicaragüenses y salvadoreños
tení 48 horas para salir de
aquella población, donde no
podían encontrar en esos
momentos medio alguno de salir.
Per el que ha dado la nota más
alta de humanidad y dado la
medida de la cultura y
civilización de las tribus de
allende el Guassaule, es el
Comandante de Trujillo bañando
en petróleo á los nicaragüenses
que capturaba y pegándoles
fuego........para divertirse.
Estas últmas noticias circulan
en la prensa de El Salvador,
enviadas en canje á la prensa de
Guatemala, como pueden leerse en
otro lugar de la presente
edición.
Hasta allí los informes que nos
ha suministrado un testigo
presencial y digno de crédito
como el Sr. López Irías.
¿Comentarios? Para qué! Somos
tan desgraciados, ha descendido
tanto Nicaragua, estamos tan
envilecidos, que hasta las
hordas de salvajes que siempre
han temblado ante el orgullo
pinolero; hasta aquellos que han
besado el caite de nuestros
soldados victoriosos, hasta los
cobardones que han mordido el
polvo cada vez que han intendato
ofendernos,.......hasta esa
canalla nos insulta hoy
impunemente. Naturalmente:
tienen de su parte la
complicidad de un partido que no
para en medios para alcanzar el
predominio en Centroamérica.
Están seguros de que no habrá un
gobierno que reclame contra esos
hechos de barbarie. Más todavía:
las armas que tienen y con las
que han sacrificado y continúan
asesinado á los nicaragüenses,
las han recibido aquí en
Nicaragua, entregadas por el
chamorrismo y por quién sabe
quiénes más y seguirán
obteniéndolas, á vista y
paciencia del pueblo que nada
hace para impedirlo.
Y mientras los emigrados
cariístas en Nicaragua se mueven
libremente y reciben toda clase
de auxilios del chamorrismo y de
las autoridades chamorristas que
simulan obedecer las órdenes del
Gobierno, se detiene y encarcela
en Somotillo y Chinandega á los
nicaragüenses que vienen huyendo
de la feroz persecución de los
salvajes de allende el Río
Negro.
Lo único que falta es que las
autoridades obliguen á nuestros
compatriotas fugitivos á repasar
la frontera para darle gusto á
los Paulino Vallardes, Vincente
Tosta, Tiburcio Carías, y demás
glorias del bandolerismo
político de Honduras. . . .
El Centroamericano,
León, 23 April 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
23 April 1924. Lo
que nos dijo un joven hondureño.
En la estación del ferrocarril
ayer a la hora del tren que va
para oriente, saludamos al
apreciable joven hondureño don
Miguel A. Rosales, hijo del
general Máximo B. Rosales, bien
conocido por estas latitudes.
El joven Rosales nos informa que
fue de los que por largo tiempo
mantuvieron en Choluteca el
prestigio de las fuerzas
lopezgutierristas, plaza que no
ha mucho desocuparon, sin
disparar un tiro y conservando
el ejército todo sus pertrechos
de guerra en atención a lo
difícil que se presentaba la
lucha en aquella plaza, por su
situación topográfica.
Nuestro informante nos dice que
él optó por venirse a Nicaragua,
figurándose que las garantías de
que aquí gozaban los
revolucionarios se hacía
extensiva a todos los
hondureños; pero que al llegar a
Chinandega, había sido
encarcelado y remitido, bajo su
palabra de honor a la capital.
Sorprendente a todas luces es
tal proceder de las autoridades
chinandeganas, las cuales, como
se desprende de lo anterior,
notoriamente favorecen a los
revolucionarios hondureños; a
aquellos mismos que asesinan y
martirizan a nuestros
compatriotas que caen en sus
garras.
Damos en traslado este informe
al señor Presidente Martínez,
quien estamos seguro es extraño
a tales procedimientos.
El Centroamericano,
León, 23 April 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
May 1924. El Dr.
Corea y el asunto de las armas a
Honduras.
El señor Ministro de la Guerra
general Camilo Barberena
Anzóategui estuvo en estos días
en esta ciudad investigando el
peliagudo asunto de las armas y
parque que los conservadores
chamorristas enviaron a sus
hermanos en Honduras.
Nos informan que cuando el
general barberena preguntaba a
cierto sujeto de esta ciudad,
inquieriendo sobre tales armas,
el interrogado contestaba
abriéndose las mangas de las
casaca: "por aquí no han
pasado." Y mientras el general
Barberena se devanaba los sesos
haciendo investigaciones, los
revolucionarios hondureños se
tomaban Tegucigalpa con los
pertrechos de guerra que por
aquí se fueron......
Francisco Baca.
El Centroamericano,
León, 2 May 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
8
May 1924. Horrible
asesinato en Cinco Pinos.
Avisan de Somotillo que a las
cinco pm. del domingo cuatro del
corriente, en el pueblo de Cinco
Pinos, de aquella jurisdicción,
y en casa de Zenon Izaguirre, se
consumó un atroz asesinato en la
persona del propio señor
Izaguirre, de su señora esposa
Petrona Rivera, de su hermano
Pablo J. Izaguirre y de un
chiquito hija de los primeros.
Este asesinato fue por defender
al Alcalde, a quien José Antonio
Galin, uno de los complices de
hecho trato de ultimar, motivo
por el cual se introdujeron a
casa de las victimas Moisés
Ochoa y el mencionado Galin,
consumando el atroz crimen que
tiene hororizado a aquel
vecindario.
El Centroamericano,
León, 8 May 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
15 May 1924. Como
fue tomado el picacho.
Las guerras internacionales y
civiles que se han desarrollado
en Honduras, han sentado este
curioso apotegma militar, que la
experiencia confirma con
irrevocable exactitud: "Quien
toma el Picacho, duerme en el
Palacio."
Al NE., más bien casi al E. de
Tegucigalpa, se yergue a gran
altura, imponente, abrupto,
amenzador, de un aspecto
salvajemente bello, el histórico
espolon de Picacho, a cuyo pie,
'bella, indolente, garrida," se
recuesta la pequeña y preciosa
capital hondureña. . . .
El jefe revolucionario que ocupó
el Picacho fue el General
Martínez Fúnez al mando de 600
hombres. El 27, a las seis de la
mañana se presentó frente a las
posiciones del Picacho, pero sin
atacarlas. El jefe del día de la
fortaleza, Mayor José Esteban
Armijo dió cuenta con la novedad
al jefe del campamento General
Román Díaz, y éste al Consejo de
Ministros, Martínez Fúnez se
limitó a observar y vigilar
haciendo disparos graneados, y
ordenó cortar el agua a los
defensores. A las dos de la
tarde del mismo día 27, unos
pocos númerosos salieron de la
fortaleza a atacar a las tropas
de Martínez Fúnez, y habiendo
sido reforzados, tuvieron al fin
que reconcentrarse ante la
fuerza numérica de los
revolucionarios, reconcentración
que pudieron efectuar bajo la
protección de la artillería
manejada por el Teniente Raúl
Castro, hijo del General y Dr.
Ignacio Castro. . . .
El señor Mayor Armijo nos
manifestó en nombre de sus
compañeros la vergüensa que
septran al venir a Nicaragua y
saber los horrores que las
tropas de Tosta cometieron en
sus correligionarios
nicaragüenses en la Costa Norte;
siendo responsables de estos
hechos el propio Tosta y las
fuerzas de su mando.
En esta ciudad está el Sr. Mayor
Armijo con cinco compañeros más,
y en las Segovias los generales
Moreno y Díaz con muchos de sus
infortunados compañeros.
Por nuestra parte, creemos
interpretar el sentimiento
nacional manifestando a los
emigrados liberales hondureños
que en Nicaragua deben sentirse
á cubierto de toda mala
voluntad, pues el espíritu
hospitalario de esta tierra en
nada pueden amenguarlo los
brutales atentados de lesa
humanidad cometidos por una
horda de bandidos, que nada
tiene de común con los hermanos
hondureños que ahora llegan a
nuestras puertas en demanda de
amparo y de trabajo.
El Centroamericano,
León, 15 May 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
21 May 1924. Amagos
revolucionarios en la frontera
norte.
El Jefe Político de Nueva
Segovia comunica con fecha 19
del corriente, que de
Somoto le avisa el Agente de
Policía haber habido un
encuentro armado entre fuerzas
del Gobierno de Tosta y los
emigrados que han estado en el
Oyote, corriéndose los últimos.
El Centroamericano,
León, 21 May 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
1
June 1924. Honduras
al día.
Tegucigalpa, 30 de mayo, Á "El
Centroamericano," León
Grupos de texiguas, al mando de
Cnel. José de la Paz Cáceres,
que huyeron cuando revolución
tomó esta ciudad, vinieron &
entregar sus armas y se le ha
dado garantías. . .
El
Gbno. nicaragüense ha ordenado
la reconcentración de jefes y
oficiales hondureños adversos al
Gobierno de Honduras que estaban
en Somoto. Los que han
abandonado hostilidad armada han
regresado ya al país. . .
.
Llegaron del Ocotal el Dr.
Miguel Sánchez y don Calixto
Carías: éste fué amputado de un
brazo por las heridas sufridas
en el combate de El Pedregalito.
El Centroamericano,
León, 1 June 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
3
August 1924. Honduran
Revolt Plot Reported.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Aug. 2.—It
is reported from the Nicaraguan
frontier that the Honduran
general, Julio Peralta of
revolutionary fame, is
recruiting to foment a new
revolution in Honduras.
NYT, 3 August 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
5
August 1924. Captures
Honduran Town. Fonseca,
Rebel, Is Operating Near
Nicaraguan Frontier.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.—Advices
regarding a new revolution in
Honduras were received at the
State Department today, Franklin
E. Morales, American Minister,
reporting that
General Fonseca was operating
near the Nicaraguan frontier,
and that he captured San Marcos
in the State of Choluteca on
July 31. A three-cornered
revolt in Honduras was recently
ended through the mediation of
the United States.
The dispatch said that
General Fonseca is now
proceeding with his forces,
which are not believed to be
large, toward Choluteca.
General Demas Alvarado and his
forces were operating near the
Nicaraguan frontier, and
Mr. Morales said he has been
informed that these movements
have no connection with the
political situation in
Nicaragua, where preparations
are being made for Presidential
election, and that
Fonseca and Alvarado are in
accord with General Ferrera, who
took a prominent part in the
recent revolution. General Julio
Peralta, State Department
dispatches said, has been
permitted to leave Nicaragua,
and is now with Fonseca.
The whole situation, officials
of the State Department said, is
rather obscure, as the meagre
reports received give no general
view of the whole affair. Little
is known of General Fonseca,
reported as heading the new
revolution, except that previous
to the last revolution he had
been imprisoned and was released
by the late President Gutierrez.
NYT, 5 August 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
8
August 1924. Two
Americans Slain in Honduras
Revolt; War Minister Flees,
Cabinet Reorganized.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Aug. 7
(Associated Press).—Two
Americans are reported to have
been killed in San Marcos de
Colon, Honduras, when General
Peralta, the revolutionary
leader, attacked the village.
Government forces have been sent
from here to guard the frontier.
It
is also reported that the
American Marines in Honduras
have been sent to the border to
repel the revolutionists.
NYT, 8 August 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
10 September 1924. March
On Tegucigalpa. Honduran
Rebels Prepare to Attack
Government Forces.
SAN JUAN DEL SUR, Nicaragua,
Sept. 9 (Associated
Press).—General Gregorio
Ferrera, leader of the Honduran
revolutionary forces, is
marching on Tegucigalpa, where
the Government is preparing to
hold the city against attack.
A message from Tegucigalpa on
Saturday declared that
hostilities between the
Government forces and the rebels
had ceased. The United States
and the Central American
Governments had intervened for
the restoration of peace in
Honduras by invoking the peace
treaty signed at Amapala and
negotiations were in progress.
NYT, 10 September 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
9
October 1924. Rebel
Leader Wounded. Honduras
Government Forces Claim
Victories Over Ferrera.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Oct.
8.—General Gregorio Ferrera, the
rebel leader, was gravely
wounded in the battle with the
Government forces on the heights
of Comayagua, according to an
announcement made today. He was
dragged out of the fighting line
by Indians. The Government
forces were in personal command
of Provisional President Tosta.
They routed the rebels from the
heights.
The rebels are declared to have
lost 230 men killed in the
fighting at San Isidro, where
they were also defeated by
Government forces. The defeated
rebels fled across the
Guatemalan border and fired upon
Honduran Government forces
guarding the frontier, killing
several of them. It is asserted
that the Honduran troops did not
reply to the fire of the rebels,
because of the fact they were on
Guatemalan soil.
NYT, 9 October 1924
TOP OF INVENTORY
15 April 1925. New Revolt
in Honduras. General
Ferrera Raises 300 Men--Martial
Law Ordered.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, April 14.—Reports
have been received here from
Honduras that General Gregorio
Ferrera, with 300 followers, has
started a revolutionary movement
and that the Government has
declared martial law.
NYT, 15 April 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
17 April 1925. Nicaragua
Acts to Quell Banditry.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, April 16
(Associated Press).—Nicaraguan
authorities are cooperating with
those of Honduras in an active
campaign to rid the frontier of
revolutionists, bandits and
assassins, it was announced
today. A new revolutionary
movement began recently and
yesterday Nicaraguan officials
detained revolutionists
attempting to cross from this
country into Honduras.
NYT, 17 April 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
21 April 1925. No Title.
[Honduran revolutionists march
toward Comayagua]
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, April 20
(Associated Press).—Honduran
revolutionists are reported to
have captured Ocotepec,
Honduras, a village fifty miles
from San Salvador, and are
marching toward Comayagua, which
is thirty-seven miles northwest
of Tegucigalpa, the capital,
where the situation is declared
critical.
NYT, 21 April 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
21 April 1925. Navy
Lands 165 Men at Ceiba,
Honduras, To Protect Americans
as Revolt Spreads.
WASHINGTON, April 20.—A
detachment of 165 officers and
men from the United States
cruiser Denver landed today at
Ceiba, Honduras, to protect
foreign lives and property. . .
.
The revolutionary movement in
Honduras, reported to be headed
again by General Gregorio
Ferrera, defeated candidate for
the Presidency of that country
and leader of several
revolutionary juntas in the
past, already has been marked by
fighting in the vicinity of
Ceiba and disorders along the
Salvadoran border. . . .
The situation in which the
Tegucigalpa authorities find
themselves at present is said to
verge on the critical. They have
been in office less than three
months and despite progress made
in stabilizing government and
restoring peace, broken for the
past several years by domestic
violence and civil war, it is
felt here that the Government is
still unprepared for another
armed struggle with
revolutionists.
NYT, 21 April 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
22 April 1925.
Honduras Uprising Hits Two
Sections. North Coast and
Guatemalan Frontier
Involved--Expect Government to
Put Down Disorders.
Special to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, April 21.—The
present disturbances in
Honduras, as a result of which
165 marines from the United
States warship Denver were
landed yesterday at La Ceiba for
the protection of American lives
and property, is apparently more
in the nature of an insurrection
than a revolution, it was
explained at the State
Department today. . . .
Since early in March the
Honduran military commandants
along the Guatemalan frontier
have reported almost daily
movements of small armed bands
in the departments along the
frontier.
There were also certain
movements along the Nicaraguan
frontier early this month. The
Nicaraguan forces cooperated
with the Honduras in pursuit of
the raiders.
It is reported that the
movements along the Guatemalan
frontier have been fomented by
Hondurans opposed to their
present Government. There are
two parties in Honduras, one
called the Reds and the other
the Blues. The Reds are
anti-Government.
NYT, 22 April 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
23 April 1925. Navy
Unit Quits Honduras.
Cruiser Denver Remains Off Shore
After Withdrawing Landing Party.
WASHINGTON, April 22.—The
landing detachment of 165
officers and men from the light
cruiser Denver was withdrawn
yesterday from Ceiba, Honduras,
following the arrival of
Honduran Government troops to
reinforce the units at the port.
. . .
NYT, 23 April 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
25 June 1925. New
Army In Honduras. But it
is Unknown Which Side War
Minister's Force Favors.
MANAGUA, June 24 (AP).—Reports
from Honduras say that General
Vicente Tosta, Minister of War
and Marine of Honduras, has
assembled an army at Intibuca,
but that it is not known whether
he intends attacking or aiding
the revolutionists in his
country.
Nicaragua has declared martial
law in her provinces which
border Honduras because of the
revolutionary movements in the
latter country. . . .
Intibuca is a town of 20,000
population in the southern part
of Honduras, eighty miles from
Tegucigalpa, the capital.
Two
distinct anti-Government
movements have been under way in
Honduras, since April, one in
the north and the other in the
south. . . .
NYT, 25 June 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
30 June 1925.
Honduran Rebels Routed.
Government Wins Battle Near
Intibuca--Nicaragua Guards
Frontier.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, June 29
(AP).—Dispatches from Honduras
today said Government forces
have repulsed Honduran rebels
near Intibuca, a town in the
southern part of Honduras eighty
miles from Tegucigalpa, the
capital.
Nicaragua is sending additional
troops to the frontier. .
. .
NYT, 30 June 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
12 August 1925.
Honduran Army Reduced.
Minister of War Reports Rebels
Dispersed--Commerce Gains.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Aug. 11
(AP).—Peace having been
completely restored in Honduras,
according to official reports,
it is stated that the army has
been reduced to a minimum.
General Vicente Tosta, Minister
of War and Marine, has returned
to Tegucigalpa after
a
campaign against insurgents in
Western Honduras in which, it is
said, he cleared that section of
trouble makers.
Government reports say the
economic situation is improving
and trade returns show that
commerce is above normal.
NYT, 12 August 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
One year passes . . .
20 August 1926.
Revolutionary movements in Leon,
Chinandega, Sierras around
Managua.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED
From Green, Managua
August 20, 1926
Rail and wire communication with
the west are still cut and the
government is without
information except from
aeroplane observer sent from
Managua who reports that only
Chichigalpa and other small
villages between Chinandega and
Leon are held by
insurrectionists. Part of a
military train was blown up two
days ago Granada and Managua.
Small bands are reported active
in the sierras around Managua.
The government evidently takes
these uprisings seriously and is
mobilizing on an unprecedented
scale, drafting all available
men and commandeering all means
of transportation, food prices
rising. . . .
It is supposed liberals who have
been disappearing recently in
large numbers from cities expect
arms, aid and leaders from the
outside at some point on the
Pacific coast . . .
Green, Managua, to Sec State, 20
August 1926, USDS 817.00/3721
TOP OF INVENTORY
21 August 1926.
Revolutionary Movements
Continue.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED
From Green, Managua
August 21, 1926
Chamorro states railroad
communication with Corinto will
be reopened today and claims
complete victory from the ( * )
in minor engagements day before
yesterday with revolutionary
forces between San Marcos and
Jinotepi also Tamarindo;
Chichigalpa recaptured.
Apparently movement consists of
sporadic raids by bands
principally in department of
Carazo, Leon, Chinandega to
harass government and as
preliminary to general uprisings
when arms and leaders arrive
from outside. To meet this
Chamorro is moving large drafted
forces the cost of which cannot
be met by revenue or available
funds. Diaz, others and my
personal observation indicate
Chamorro is finding difficulty
in organizing troops. . . .
Green, Managua, to Sec State, 21
August, USDS 817.00/3728
TOP OF INVENTORY
24 August 1925.
Honduras Protests to Nicaragua.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Aug. 23
(AP).—A
new boundary dispute has arisen
between Honduras and Nicaragua.
The Honduran Government points
out that Nicaragua is occupying
the town of Cifuentes, in the
territory given to Honduras by
the King of Spain's award. It is
declared that in the compact of
1920 it was agreed to maintain
the status quo of the territory
pending decision by the American
Secretary of State, and that no
Honduran troops have crossed the
border.
NYT, 24 August 1925
TOP OF INVENTORY
25 August 1926.
First outbreak of revolution in
West.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED
Dennis, Managua, to Sec State
August 25, 1926
. . . The first outbreak of the
revolution occurred on Tuesday,
August 17th, when the small
villages of Chichigalpa,
Quezalguaque and Posoltega,
situated along the National
Railway between Leon and
Chinandega, fell into the hands
of Liberal raiders. The Chamorro
guards in these villages were
few in number and quickly driven
off by the Liberals.
This move by the Liberals at
once resulted in the cutting of
telegraphic and telephonic
communication between Managua
and points to the west and a
complete suspension of train
service. The following day parts
of the railway track were taken
up in the zone of the
disturbances around Leon and an
attempt was made to dynamite a
troop train proceeding from
Granada to Managua, which
resulted, however, in only the
partial destruction of the
locomotive.
There was no attack on Leon, a
city of some 60,000 inhabitants,
approximately nine-tenths of
whom are said to be Liberals,
nor on the city of Chinandega
where the Liberals also have a
large majority. As the
revolutionists lacked arms, they
doubtless were afraid to try
conclusions with the well armed
and equipped Government forces
of these two cities, and as the
Departments of Leon and
Chinandega are overwhelmingly
Liberal with a potential Liberal
man power immediately available
of well over twenty thousand, it
is easily understood that the
Government troops quartered in
these cities did not rush into
any extensive operations against
the insurrectionists on the
first outbreak but awaited the
mobilization of forces by
General Chamorro at Managua and
confined themselves to their
posts. During this delay from
August 17th to 22nd the regular
train service between Managua
and the west was suspended.
An incident of the disorders
around Chichigalpa was the
burning of a distillery and its
stores, resulting in the
destruction of over a million
liters of spirits.
Immediately following the
outbreak at Chichigalpa there
was a general rendezvous of the
revolutionists to a point on the
Pacific Coast known as Tamarindo
where on August 20th, according
to the report of Major General
Alfonso Estrada, commander of
the army of General Chamorro, in
a three hours engagement the
Government troops routed some
900 Liberals inflicting losses
of fifteen killed and eight
wounded. The Liberal leaders
were General Jose Maria Zelaya,
who was wounded, Augusto
Caldera, Manuel Montoya,
Francisco Martinez, Jose Maria
Miranda, Andres Largaespada.
Presumably the Liberal forces
which were largely unarmed had a
rendezvous at Tamarindo to await
the landing of arms from a
vessel which they expected.
About the same time there were
minor raids by wandering bands
on or near the towns of San
Marcos and Jinotepe. These
attacks were made by night and
had no serious results other
than desultory exchanges of
rifle fire between the raiders
and the Government garrisons. .
. .
Mr. Carter informed me that
since he had learned that the
Government had had certain
prisoners in the penitentiary
tortured in the past two or
three days for the purpose of
extracting testimony from them,
he had given orders to his men
never to employ such inhuman
methods.
I was informed yesterday that a
reputable Liberal attorney and
Magistrate of the Court of
Appeal of Leon, Doctor P.
Sotomayor, while staying in the
hotel at Corinto, was arrested
by Major Clay, an American
officer of the Guard, and sent
up to Managua for examination at
the penitentiary where he has
been suspended by the thumbs and
otherwise tortured in order to
obtain testimony from him as to
revolutionary plans.
Such brutal methods are
traditional in Nicaragua and, I
understand, ordered by General
Chamorro. . . . whose regime, I
can testify from observation, is
generally characterized by
abuses which in any country
having an American or European
level of civilization, would be
considered outrageous . . .
Dennis, Managua, to Sec State,
August 25, 1926, USDS
817.00/3769
TOP OF INVENTORY
26 August 1926.
General Ferrera in Honduras.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED
From Caffery, San Salvador
August 26, 1926
. . . Señor don Rafael B.
Colindres [Honduran Minister in
San Salvador] said that General
Ferrera is still in the
mountains in Honduras, near the
Salvadorean border, but that the
Honduranean Government no longer
feared "el cacique de las
montañas," as he called him, for
Ferrera had often in the past
been able to collect as many as
2,000 Indians around him, but
now had a following of less than
200 men; . . .
Jefferson Caffery, San Salavdor,
to Sec State, 26 August 1926,
USDS 817.00/3796
TOP OF INVENTORY
28 August 1926.
Alcalde asesinado en Somoto.
Antier fue asesinado el Alcalde
de Somoto, Pablo Ramírez, por
una columna de rebeldes que
pasaron por aquella ciudad.
La Noticia (Managua),
28 August 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
31 August 1926.
Combate en El Ocotal.
Hubo un combate cerca de El
Ocotal. El Comandante de Armas
de Estelí informó al Ministro de
la Guerra la siguiente:—Las
tropas al mando del coronel
Emilio Zúniga Durán que
marchaban hacía El Ocotal, al
pasar por el llano de Santa
Rita, tuvieron un encuentro con
los revolucionarios que andan
por esos lugares.
La Noticia (Managua),
31 August 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
1
September 1926.
Rebels defeated in Coseguina.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED.
From Green, Managua
September 1, 1926
Chamorro reports this morning
complete victory yesterday over
revolutionists around Cose Guina
[Coseguina, Cosegüina] on Bay of
Fonseca. Sixty government troops
and forty revolutionists killed;
over one hundred wounded. . . .
Green to Sec State, 1 Sept.
1926, USDS 817.00/3745
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
September 1926.
Nicaraguan Liberals organizing
in La Union.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED
From Gray, San Salvador
September 2, 1926
Salvadoran authorities inform me
that the much talked of EL
TROPICAL has put into La Union
owing to lack of fuel that she
carries some 3,000 rifles, 50
machine guns and corresponding
supplies of ammunition; that
General Irias [Camilo Lopez
Irias] and other prominent
Nicaraguan liberals are on board
. . . in the meantime the boat
is being held at La Union. EL
TROPICAL was flying the flag of
Mexico and had sailed from Santa
Cruz Mexico.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
tells me also that there are now
200 or more Nicaraguan liberal
emigrados at La Union whom the
Salvadoran Government will
permit freely to leave the
country on ordinary passenger
boats bound anywhere but will
not permit them to leave as they
desire in their own boats in
expeditionary form bound for
Nicaragua. Repeated to Managua.
CAFFERY
Gray, San Salvador, to Sec
State, 2 Sept. 1926, USDS
817.00/3747
TOP OF INVENTORY
4
September 1926.
Political Situation at Corinto.
AMERICAN CONSULATE
Corinto, Nicaragua
September 4, 1926
. . . on Tuesday, August 17,
1926, all communication, both by
rail and wire, with the mainland
has been broken by an uprising
and burning of property reported
to have been in the vicinities
of Chichigalpa, Posoltega and
San Antonio. While these
disorders could hardly be called
armed uprisings yet a number of
persons were reported to have
been killed, and about thirty
persons from the Nicaraguan
Sugar Estates at San Antonio
sought refuge at Corinto . . .
. . . about August 24, 1926,
there was considerable military
activity at this port occasioned
by the report that an unknown
vessel was attempting to land
arms and men at Corinto. In
fact, a small boat with three
men put off from the visiting
vessel at night to inform
themselves as to which force was
in power at Corinto, the de
facto government or the
so-called revolutionaries. These
men, two of whom were Nicaraguan
and one Mexican, were captured
by the forces at Corinto and
after having been severely
examined were sent to Managua
for detention.
From information obtained from
these captives, it was learned
that a considerable quantity of
munitions had already been
landed in Nicaragua on the bay
of Fonseca and that an attack
was expected to be made upon the
Chamorro forces from that
direction. . . .
From all available reports, it
was evident that the next
development was the
concentration of General
Chamorro's forces in the
vicinity of the Bay of Fonseca;
many men were impressed into
military service and troop
trains were busy transporting
them to Chinandega from whence
they were advanced toward the
peninsula of Coseguina on
Fonseca Bay. Aeroplanes made
daily reconnaissance and it was
stated that nearly 3,000 men had
been concentrated in that
vicinity. . . .
. . . there appeared to be no
disorders at that time in the
interior towns although reliable
information indicated that all
business was at a standstill;
offices and shops being closed
to prevent confiscation of
merchandise by the military
forces and prominent members of
the liberal party were in hiding
to avoid levies and requisitions
of supplies. It was also alleged
by persons who were believed to
be disinterested in the
political affairs of the country
that young men were disappearing
daily from the towns, apparently
joining the dissidents in the
field. These evidences of unrest
were widespread and while there
were no actual disorders in this
district, there appeared to be
an atmosphere of tension and
expectancy. . . .
On September 1, 1926, Mr.
Lawrence Dennis, Chargé
d'Affaires at Managua, requested
this office to transmit to
Captain Bogart of the U.S.S.
TULSA the information that an
extensive action had taken place
between the de facto government
forces and the so-called
revolutionary forces in the
vicinity of Fonseca Bay; that
one-hundred persons had been
killed and that one-hundred
persons were there wounded and
without medical attention or
means of being transported
elsewhere for attention . . .
Upon his return to Corinto,
early the morning of September
3, 1926, Commander Bogart stated
that he found some of the forces
at Potosi on the eastern side of
the Coseguina peninsula. There
were a few wounded men at this
point but after sending the
ship's doctor to a camp, some
four miles inland, he learned
that there were four or five
serious cases of wounded men in
charge of two native doctors. .
. .
While at Potosi, the Commander
learned that there was
continuous skirmishing on a
small scale and that wounded men
were constantly putting in their
appearance. The day before his
arrival, a launch containing
armed men reached Potosi and was
captured, its crew of forty
persons being killed, wounded or
captured. It seems these
launches put out from the nearby
coast of Honduras and Salvador
and when approaching the
Nicaraguan shore are signaled to
come ahead. When within easy
range, they are then subjected
to machine-gun and rifle fire.
Landings could doubtless be made
safely at various other places
on the bay where there are no
protecting forces. . . .
There is also transmitted
herewith copies of three
documents which Commander Bogart
was good enough to furnish this
office. They are copies of
documents found on the bodies of
persons killed in the action
with took place near Potosi on
August 31, 1926, and represent
fragmentary correspondence of
the Nicaraguan Revolutionary
junta in Mexico City.
It has been stated that in the
action in Coseguina one-hundred
persons were killed, one-hundred
wounded and three-hundred
so-called revolutionaries
captured. The majority of the
killed and wounded are said to
be members of the de facto
forces which are estimated to
total somewhere between 2,000
and 3,000 persons. It is stated
that none of the defeated forces
escaped. The former were
equipped with eight machine-guns
and some cavalry while the
latter are said to have had five
machine-guns, which were
captured, together with a stand
of 600 rifles and supplies of
grade three ammunition, all
American make. . . .
Corinto, Nicaragua, 4 September
1926, USDS 817.00/3868
Ancillary Documents.
Copies of Documents
Taken from the Bodies of Dead
Revolutionists by Chamorro's
Forces after the Battle of
Cosegüina, 31 August 1926.
Junta Revolucionaria
Nicaragüense
Sección de México, D.F.
México D. F., . . . . de . . . .
192 . . .
La Junta Revolucionaria
Nicaragüense, expone ante el
ciudadano Presidente de la
República Mexicana, General
Plutarco Elías Calles, el
siguiente programa de acción
política y militar:
El Comité se propone derribar en
Nicaragua el régimen del traidor
Emiliano Chamorro.
El Comité reconoce como
President Constitutional de
Nicaragua al doctor Juan
Bautista Sacasa.
El Comité proclama la soberanía
del pueblo nicaragüense. Por
consiguiente quiere romper, con
el apoyo indispensable de
México, los lazos de servidumbre
que tienen a Nicaragua atada al
capricho de los Estados Unidos.
Por razones obvias, el Comité
quiere poner bajo los viriles y
fraternales auspicios de México,
el porvenir de la Patria,
obteniendo primero la libertad
de Nicaragua y trabajando
después intensamente por la
unión centroamericana, todo esto
bajo el decidido patroncinio de
México.
Barridos de la escena política
de Centro-América los serviles
incondicionales de los Estados
Unidos, restadas las
pretensiones de expansión y
predominio de ese país
imperialista y lograda la unión
centroamericana, se concertaría
una verdadera y profunda alianza
entre México y la nueva
nacionalidad del itsmo.
Para conseguir estos elevados
fines políticos y patrioticos,
es necesario:
Que México apoye decididamente
al Comité, suministrado todos
los elementos necesarios para
hacer, sin perdida de tiempo, la
Revolución de Nicaragua.
En resumen:
En el terreno político
necesitamos: Que la voz de la
raza hable épicamente por la
boca de México.
Y en el terreno militar: Que
México nos apoye con elementos
de guerra para sostener en el
campo de batalla la siguiente
divisa: "Libertad O Muerte."
El Presidente del Comité.
El Jefe del Comité Militar
/s/ S. Seviles.
Junta Revolucionaria
Nicaragüense
Sección de México
México, D. F.
. . . . de . . .de . . . 192 . .
.
Notas
1a. Los jesuitas predominan
actualmente en Nicaragua. Los
clerigos forman parte de la
administración pública. El
Arzobispo ha sido Presidente del
Senado.
2a. La unión centroamericana es
el supremo ideal del pueblo
centroamericano. Este hecho
constituiría una de las páginas
más importantes de la Historia
de México y un positivo servicio
prestado al progreso de la
Humanidad.
3a. Siendo Presidente de la
República el traidor Adolfo
Díaz, del mismo partido de
Chamorro, opino, por medio del
"New York American," que la
intervención armada de los
Estados Unidos en Nicaragua
estaba siendo beneficiosa, y que
por consiguiente, debía
extenderse sobre las demás
repúblicas latinoamericanas,
inclusive México.
México D. F., 11 de Abril de
1926.
El presidente del Comité,
El Jefe del Comité Militar,
/s/ S. Seviles.
On the back of another document,
a letter to the President of
Mexico Plutarco Calles
soliciting his support, are
listed following names, "who are
supposed to be the Nicaraguan
revolutionary leaders":
Dr. R. Espinosa
Dr. L. Argüello
H. Espinosa
M. Cordero Reyes
J. E. Alvarado
G. Ramírez Broon
C. A. Castro W.
Neri Fernández
M. Barreto H.
R. Membreño P.
Julian A. Vanegas
Salvador Sobalbarro
J. M. Argüello
Samuel Santos
Enclosures, 4 September 1926,
USDS 817.00/3868
TOP OF INVENTORY
6
September 1926.
Conditions in the Liberal
departments.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED
From Green, Managua
September 6, 1926
Conditions are especially in the
Liberal Departments appalling,
military forces are taking
cattle, merchandise, which they
consume or sell, and money. They
are living on the country with
terrorism, torture prisoners of
war, search houses even those of
foreigners in an improper
manner. . . .
Government informs me that an
important battle took place at
Somotillo, Department of
Chinandega, yesterday [5 Sept],
large numbers of casualties, 32
killed and complete route of
Liberals with total loss of
arms. I am told this will
be last of revolution in the
West for the present. . . .
Green, Managua, to Sec State, 6
Sept. 1926, USDS 817.00/3759
TOP OF INVENTORY
9
September 1926.
Batalla en Somotillo.
Revolutionaries in Somotillo and
El Sauce. Big battle in
Somotillo between revolutionists
and government forces. 15 dead.
Grals. Samuel Santos, Pedro
Vargas, Ernesto Alvarado.
La Noticia (Managua), 9
September 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
October 1926.
Government forces victorious
near Corinto.
TELEGRAM RECEIVED
Green, Managua
October 2, 1926
Six killed and many wounded in
minor engagement yesterday near
La Reforma north of Corinto.
Complete government victory
claimed. It is to be feared that
other similar expeditions will
be undertaken if as Chamorro
alleges in this case Salvadorean
Government allows EL TROPICAL to
outfit them clandestinely at La
Union. After two years
experience with Central American
governments in similar
circumstances and seeing such
expeditions permitted by
Guatemala and Salvador against
Honduras notwithstanding formal
promises of presidents of the
first named countries as records
show, I suggest it will be
desirable to insist on the
elimination of EL TROPICAL
menace to the peace in a
conclusive manner. Small
revolutionary raids made in this
way have little chance of
overthrowing Chamorro and this
could go on as in Honduras under
Lopez Gutierrez for a year with
only disastrous consequences all
concerned. . . .
Green, Managua, to Sec State, 2
Oct. 1926, USDS 817.00/3865
TOP OF INVENTORY
5
October 1926.
Rebeldes en Macuelizo.
From Salvador Paguaga M.,
Comandante de Armas, Ocotal:
Macuelizo attacked by
revolutionists.
La Noticia (Managua), 5
October 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
20 October 1926. El
último combate de Somoto.
Somoto, via Yalaguina, 12 m. del
18 de Octubre.
Comandante General:
Tengo el gusto de participar a
usted que
el
día de ayer nos ocupamos de
explorar todo el campo donde fue
el combate, encontrando tres
muertos más, 26 heridos de los
revoltosos, recogiendo varios
equipos y pertrechos de guerra,
veinticuatro bombas de mano, 2
rifles mexicanos y 5 bestias
aperadas.
A
las 11 menos un cuarto de la
mañana de hoy llegóme espionaje
de caserío Santa Isabel y Santa
Rosa de esta jurisdicción,
informándome que por la vía 'Mal
Paso' encontrábase Simeón Jirón
alias Pichingo y Carlos Salgado,
de este pueblo con un grupo como
de 150 hombres armados con
rifles y pistolas que venían a
atacar esta plaza; en vista de
tal noticia organicé setenta
hombres al mando mío y del
coronel Luis Aguirre quien
organizó una caballería de
treinta soldados comandados por
el mayor Luis Peña; salí y a dos
kilómetros de ésta encontréme
con el enemigo; rompí los fuegos
haciendo salir al coronel
Aguirre y Jefe de la caballería,
así: Sobre el camino de Oruse al
Cnel. Aguirre juntamente con el
Jefe de la caballería y tomando
yo las serranías del costado
norte con resto del ejército y
después de nutrido combate de
dos horas y media derrotamos al
enemigo huyendo hacia la
frontera de Honduras. Recorrimos
los campos, encontré 26 muertos,
cinco heridos y pertrechos de
guerra, 150 tiros Matinger, tres
bestias, various documentos
importantes y 8 libras de
pólvora y dinamita. El coronel
Ubau que comandaba 30 hombres lo
dejé en esta plaza guardándome
la retaguardia, encontréle en
actitud enérgica, tal como se lo
ordené. No omito manifestar a
usted el arrojo y bizarría en
estos combates; el coronel Luis
Aguirre ha sabido enaltecer sus
laureles de militar. Subalterno,
Jefe Expedicionario, E. Z.
Durón.
La Noticia (Managua),
20 October 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
26 October 1926. Se libró
un combate cerca de la frontera.
Somoto, amenzado por los
revolucionarios.
Somoto, 24 — Dirección General.
Trascríbole: Comandante de Armas
— Ocotal.
A
las 6 am. ingresó el coronel A.
Vivas a esta plaza de regreso de
la persecución a los facciosos
derrotados el 21. Los encontró
en el lugar llamado 'Terreno
Blanco' como a una legua del
pueblo de San Francisco de
Cuajiniquilapa; éstos estaban en
número de 180 hombres,
comandados por los jefes Ciriaco
Aguilera, Carlos Salgado y
Efraím Cordón. El ataque comenzó
a las dos y media pm. habiendo
sido desalojados de su primera
posición, haciendo resistencia
tenáz en su campamento general,
el cual estaba bien fortificado,
los siguió y éstos se
parapataron de nuevo en unas
lomas como a a tres mil varas de
donde fueron desalojados como a
las seis pm., los que quedaron
totalmente desbandados. Al
explorar el campo. encontró 5
muertos, seis rifles, tres
mausser, uno calibre 38, dos
infumes, sesenta cartuchos
mausser y veinte infumes, nueve
bestias, unas aperadas. De
nuestra parte tenemos que
lamentar la muerte de los
soldados Pedro Flores y Antonio
Morales, hondureños, heridos,
Esteban Maradiaga, de San Lucas;
también pudo quitarles al
individuo Antonio Martínez,
vecino del caserío 'El
Jiñocuago', correligionario
nuestro que desde hacía tres
días lo tenían reo. Jefes,
oficiales y soldados se
comportaron muy a la altura de
su deber, no obstante de la
escabrosidad de aquellos lugares
y la fuerte lluvia. En su
regreso vía Río Negro, Cusmapa,
Sábanas, Oruce y San Lucas no
encontré ningun grupo.
Jefe Expedicionario, L. AGUIRRE
Telegrafísta Principal, M. J.
MARTINEZ
Somoto, amenazado por
los revolucionarios
Estelí, 24 — Dirección General.
— Ayer dije al telegrafísta
principal de Somoto gestionara
en comisión armada sobre la
frontera de San Marcos con el
guarda para restablecer la
comunicación y contestó lo
siguiente:
'Somoto, 23 — Inspector López —
Estelí — Entendido. Por el
momento sólo tenemos 25 hombres
en esta plaza y amenaza el
enemigo por dos lados.
Línea con la frontera está hecha
pedazos. Traje alambre del
Ocotal, pero no hay un sólo
fierro para repararla. Se
necesita además una pila seca.
Si en caso nos atacan,
informaré. M J. MARTINEZ
Mientras nuestras fuerzas no
destruyan los grupos revoltosos
de aquellos lugares, no podremos
tener comunicación, pues el
empeño mayor del enemigo
consiste en mantenernos sin
comunicación. Vea que
llenen los pedidos de materiales
que introduje a la Dirección
General. Yo, listo para salir
donde sea necesario. —, S. LOPEZ
R.
La Noticia (Managua),
16 October 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
November 1926.
Situation in Nicaragua and
Honduras.
Telegram Sent
Department of State, Washington
November 2, 1926
AMLEGATION, TEGUCIGALPA
(HONDURAS)
Department confidentially
advised from Managua that Sacasa
is ready to leave Guatemala for
Bragmans Bluff, Nicaragua on
November 5, and that
the
Nicaraguan revolutionists have
an agreement with the President
of Honduras to pass through
Honduran territory; also
that the Mexican Government and
the Liberals have an
understanding with President of
Honduras whereby he will form a
Government of the national party
with Liberals and will oust
Conservative leaders, such as
Martinez Funes, Carias, and
Abraham Williams. General
Alvarado has ready five hundred
Honduraneans in the Gulf of
Fonseca. For the operations on
the Pacific side the Lbierals
received yesterday three
thousand five hundred rifles and
five machine guns somewhere on
the Gulf of Fonseca landed by EL
TROPICAL before leaving La
Union. Membreno, Chief of Police
of Amapala, is working for the
revolutionists in understanding
with President of Honduras. ...
Dept State to US Legation,
Tegucigalpa, 2 Nov. 1926, USDS
817.00/3938
TOP OF INVENTORY
3
November 1926.
Revolucionarios en Somotillo.
Revolutionary bands active near
Somotillo.
La Noticia (Managua), 3
Nov. 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
4
November 1926.
Sangriento combate en El Ocotal.
Quedaron 25 muertos en el campo
de batalla.
Note:
This was the first battle waged
by Sandino's Liberal army in Las
Segovias — the attack on the
Conservative garrison at El
Jícaro on 2 November 1926.
Contrary to this official report
by Salvador Paguaga, Comandante
de Armas of Nueva Segovia, in
fact Sandino's small Liberal
band defeated the garrison .
Several items here are
noteworthy: that Sandino
is said to be a colonel from
Chontales; that his 250 troops
were reportedly armed with
rifles, pistols, and dynamite
bombs with nails; that his
troops reportedly retreated
toward San Albino and Murra;
that Alfredo Williams, son of
Jorge Williams, was among his
troops; and that the flags borne
by his troops were of three
colors and considered "Mexican".
Sangriento combate en El
Ocotal. Quedaron 25 muertos en
el campo de batalla.
(Informe oficial)
Ocotal a las 10 am del
3.—Comandante
General—Managua—Transcríbole—'El
Jícaro 3- Comandante de Armas,
Ocotal. Tengo la honra de
informar a Ud. que ayer a las
tres pm.ataqué al enemigo que se
encontraba acampado en esta
plaza en número de 250 hombres
armados de rifles, pistolas y
dinamita. A las seis pm. lo
derroté huyendo en precipitada
fuga hacia los minerales de San
Albino y Murra, dejando en el
campo 25 muertos, 35 bestias
aperadas, 30 bombas de dinamita
preparadas con clavos. El jefe
que encabezada los revoltosos es
el coronel Sandino, originario
de Chontales. De los muertos del
enemigo sólo puedimos conocer al
joven Alfredo Williams, hijo de
don Jorge Williams, americano.
Mi segundo jefe, coronel Aguirre
y los demás jefes y oficiales se
portaron con heroísmo vivando
entusiasmados a nuestro jefe
general Chamorro.
De
nuestra parte sólo en general
Durón resultó con una leve
lesión en la mano izquierda.
Después informaré cuando haya
terminado de inspeccionar todos
los campos de operaciones porque
el combate fue en distintos
lugares.
Los
pabellones que tenían los
revoltosos eran mexicanos,
tricolor, los cuales tengo en mi
poder, presenciando estos actos
el americano, Mr. Thomas
Bracken, quien firma la
terminación.—Z. Durón, segundo
Jefe, L. Aguirre y T. Bracken'
—Comandante de Armas. SALVADOR
PAGUAGA M.
La Noticia (Managua), 4
Nov. 1926
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19 November 1926.
American Forces Ready To Compel
Nicaraguan Peace. Kellogg
Seeks First to Induce Liberals
to Accept the Diaz Government.
His Words Stir Mexicans.
Responsibility for Gun-Running
Is Disavowed and Similar
American Feats Are Cited.
Warning Is Resented. Mexico, it
is Contended, Has as Much Right
as United States to Extend
Influence.
Transcription in progress . . .
NYT, 19 Nov. 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
28 November 1926.
Combates en Telpaneca, Somoto.
Ocotal 26 de noviembre.—Hoy a
las 8 am. fueron alcanzados los
revoltosos en Telpaneca por M.
J. Espinoza, Sante Lices y
coronel Luis Aguirre, que desde
Yalaguina los iban perseguiendo
desde ayer. Después de una hora
de combate declaráronse en
completa derrota, huyendo
desbandados unos río arriba y
otros dejaron en el campo un
muerto y se les hizo un
avanzado, tomándole también una
alforja con parque, y al jefe
Benito Lopez le mataron la mula
al tiempo de pasar el río y tuvo
que correr a pie, dejando en
poder de los nuestros todo su
equipaje. . . .—Comandante de
Armas SALVADOR PAGUAGA M.
Somoto 26 de noviembre.—Today we
fell on the enemy at Telpaneca,
defeating them after one hour
combat.—JOSÉ MARÍA MAYORGA A.
La Noticia (Managua),
28 Nov. 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
1
December 1926.
Revolucionarios en Somotillo.
Somotillo taken by
revolutionarists,
according to the government.
La Noticia (Managua), 1
Dec. 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
2
December 1926.
Noticias de Somotillo.
Somotillo retaken by government
forces, according to the
government.
La Noticia (Managua), 2
Dec. 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
29 December 1926.
Por qué no hubo elecciones en
Pueblo Nuevo.
Deposited in Estelí on 27
December. To Ministro de
Gobernación. No elections
because:
por
estar aquella zona afectada por
grupos de revoltosos; por estar
desintegrados todos los
directorios pues la mayor parte
de sus miembros andan huyendo
por temer de ser asesinado.
. . . —Jefe Político Julio
Cuadra.
La Noticia (Managua),
29 Dec. 1926
TOP OF INVENTORY
22 February 1927.
Diaz Now Asks America To Take
Virtual Control of Nicaraguan
Affairs. Alliance is
Suggested. Or Supervision
Similar to That Exercised in
Cuba. Coolidge Ignores
Critics. Indications Point
to His Resolve to Pursue Firm
Latin-American Policy.
Marines In Eight Cities.
Dispositions Being Taken to
Render Attacks by Liberals on
Chief Centres Impossible.
Transcription in progress . . .
NYT, 22 February 1927
TOP OF INVENTORY
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