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Statements of Francisco Blandón & Roberto Vindel, held captive by Santos Vásquez group

     In early 1930, Sandinistas still active in Las Segovias were laying low and awaiting their Supreme Chief's return. This report summarizes the intelligence gleaned from two citizens seized by rebels under Santos Vásquez in late February in the Jinotega area and held for about 24 hours. 

     Here again we catch glimpses of the rebels' material poverty (forcing the captured men to exchange clothes with them, eating only cheese and sugar), even though they reportedly had plenty of ammunition.  The report also includes an intriguing hint about the spy networks being built by the Marines & Guardia: the report was submitted by an informant code-named "A-1," who appears several other times in the documents. The rebel jefe, Santos Vásquez, was a protégé of Pedrón as were more than a dozen other local jefes in the department of Jinotega.  (Photograph of EDSN troops, ca. 1933, with Gen. José León Díaz mounted in the background, from the collection of Walter C. Sandino).

 


... GN-3 Memorandum 4 March:   A-1 reports following information received from Francisco Blandon Altamirano and Robert Vindel of Jinotega, who were captured by the bandits at 1300 21 February and released 1400 22 February near San Marcos.  Altamirano states that 80 men were in the group that held him.  Vindel states that 20 men were in the group that held him.  Vindel states bandits traveled all night and were in camp when prisoners were released.  Bandits took their clothing and gave them old clothing.  Bandits stated they were enroute to Colon and would join another group there to attack Jinotega.  All bandits had rifles and some carried pistols in addition.  They had two machine guns.  Altamirano states that he had to carry bag of ammunition that was very heavy and that bandits had plenty of ammunition.  His group led by Santos Vasquez and had very many Honduranians.  Part of this group had ambushed Cunningham and Puller.  They laid two ambushes for Puller but he had passed point when the bandits reached it.  They had intended to ambush Cunningham in other points but his dog had warned the Guardia.  This group splits up and operates in three groups.  While they were prisoners, bandits ate cheese and dulce [sugar] only. ...

IR 30.03.22: 10. RG127/209/1

Transcribed by Pleet Initiative-funded Lebanon Valley College student-researcher Nicholas J. Quadrini.


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