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statement of Calixto González, captured from Roque Vargas group, Quilalí  area  
(Oct 1930)
 
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Statement of Calixto González, captured member of Roque Vargas group, Quilalí area

     This statement by captured rebel soldier Calixto González identified some of the leading members of the Defending Army in the Quilalí-San Juan de Telpaneca area. Many of these names crop up repeatedly in both EDSN correspondence and Marine-Guardia reports Coronado Maradiaga, Ladislao Palacios, Florencio Silva, and others.  For the Marines & Guardia, this was some very good "dope."  We also see here a classic case of rebel deception:  when Captain Hunt took custody of his prisoner from the local Juez de Mesta (judge) in Buenos Aires near Quilalí (as seen in the ancillary document), the prisoner called himself Juan Diaz G., only later admitting his real name.  (Photograph of Sandinista squadron, n.d., collection of Walter C. Sandino)

     The reason he gave for abandoning the rebel cause are wholly improbable (they had been "suffering" for several years now), though his observations on rebel ammunition shortages were probably accurate.  We also get a sense of the intricacy and effectiveness of the Sandinista intelligence system:  the comments on the "minute reports on everything" received by Cruz Flores of Jicarito are emblematic of the rebels' grapevine system of communication.  Superior intelligence gathering remained the rebels' single most important military advantage till the end of the war which in turn demonstrates their enormous popularity in the sea of campesinos in which they swam.  This report, like most, was part of a larger effort to redress that imbalance in intelligence capabilities.  The accompanying patrol report by Lt. Hunt conveys a good sense of the district's physical geography, and of the Marine-Guardia's counterinsurgency tactics that helped to create such powerful popular opposition to the Marine intervention.

 

 

 5/chk.

QUOTED FROM THE DAILY OPERATIONS REPORT OF THE NORTHERN AREA
#238- 16 October, 1930.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 
The following statement from bandit Calixto Gonzalez, who was captured by Capt Hunt's patrol from Quilali in Buenos Aires and who belonged to the group of Roque Vargas:
 
I have belonged to Roque Vargas group, but I am determined to stay away from them now, because the bandits are suffering and I am willing to tell all I know. The last time that Roque Vargas passed through Casa Villegas, we were coming from Milagros. I left them at the Jicaro River and we were to meet again in the house of Cruz Flores who lives in Pedriga near the Jicaro River. On October 15, 1930 I witnessed the death of a man who was killed because he was a Moncadista. I was armed with a long bayonet of the Mauser type, the rest were armed with shotguns and 15 rifles, but no ammunition. The men who follow Roque Vargas are the following:

Florencio Silva, Las Posas. Antonio Espinales, Los Milagros.
Leonidas Centeno, Los Sitios. Ramon Espinales, Los Milagros.
Simon Espinales, Embocadero. Perfecto Chavarria, Paredes.
Sebastian Montenegro, Rio del Almorzadro. Simon Gonzalez, Sambo.
Cruz Flores, Jicarito. Alejos Martinez, Chipote.
Juan Torres, Jicarito. Blas Martinez, Chipote.
Juan Flores, Los Milagros. Simon Lopez, Las Vueltas.
Manuel Basilio, Los Milagros. Antonio Martinez, Santa Rosa.
Sabas Gonzalez, Santa Rosa. Coronado Maradiaga, Chipote.
Victoriano Lopez, Rio de Murra. Maximo Lopez, Chipote.
Florentin Lopez, Rio de Murra. Sinforoso Pastrana, Monchones.
Cruz Polanco, Las Cruces. Juan Zamora, Monchones.
Gregorio Polanco, Las Cruces. Captain Hernandez, Las Canas.
Valentin Muñoz, Ologalpa. Jose Maria Paz, Rio de Almorzandro.

Everyone dispersed, but the following who stayed with Roque Vargas: Perfecto Chavarria, Maximo Lopez, Sinforoso Pastrana, Valentin Muñoz, Antonio Martinez, Victoriano Lopez, Alejos Martinez, Jose Maria Paz, Florentin Lopez, Juan Zamora, Elias Martinez, and Captain Sanchez.
 
I came with Roque Vargas to Suscallan sometime ago and from there to Guanacastillo, where we stayed four days, from there we took a day to get to Rio del Golfo. Afterward we went to Los Milagros, where we stayed 6 days and from there to Chipote. Cruz Flores of Jicarito receives minute reports of everything that happens to the different groups, for example he knew of the battle at Ojoche and at Embocadero. Also he knew that a Guardia deserter from Jinotega by the name of Calero took a Thompson Machine Gun with 1 magazine to Ortez.
 
Luis Ponce of Jicarito also learns of many things.
 
He says that he saw Rafael Altamirano pas Zapotillal about 20 days ago with rifles but without ammunition. Each one had two or three shells apiece. These men now have a camp in Remango near Monchones. This same Cruz Flores of Jicarito has about 150 shells in clips of 5 each. I saw them and he now has them hidden in brush.

M30.10.16. RG127/209/2

Ancillary Document 

PC30.10.15.   Detention of Calixto González ("Juan Diaz G.") by Lt. Hunt's Patrol in the District of Quilalí, 15 October 1930.

 

 


District of Quilali
Quilali, Nicaragua
19 October, 1930

 


From:      The District Commander
To:        The Area Commander, Northern Area Guardia

           

Nacional, Ocotal.
 
Subject:   Patrol, Report of.
 
      1.   On Wednesday, 15 October, 1930 I received one civil prisoner from the Juez de Mesta of Buenos Aires by the name of Juan Diaz G. (offense: attempt at murder). He told us he knew where there was a bandit camp in the Valley of the San Juan river. (attached is a list of the group.)
 
      2.   Thursday, 16 October, 1930. I cleared at 0700 with fifteen enlisted and civil prisoner to try and locate the above camp.
 
16 October.
 
Cleared Quilali at 0700. Reached Coco River at 1115 and crossed. Followed well beaten trail on south side of Coco, heading Southwest. Trail passed through forest, could not see the sky at any time until we reached point estimated as being the point 240.5-358.5. Found a well beaten trail going north and south which leads to La Rica (240-351.5). Turned north following trail to the Coco River arriving at 1545. Chamaste was just across the river. On the map it is located at 240-359.2. The river was running high but made a crossing and found one shack which had not been used / p. 2 / for some time as the roof was overgrown and no signs inside -- camped here at 1615. Estimated distance covered six leagues. Nothing happened during the night.
 
17 October, 1930.
 
Cleared at 0730 heading northeast. Arrived at first house about 0830. This was a large house with mud walls and shingle roof. Showed signs of having been used. Some cattle here. There were three trails leading to this house, all three trails well used. Moved on North East up mountain - located another shack on banana grove but not in use although guide said it had been at one time, it had fallen down. Next found new straw shack on side of mountain in rice field. Had been used but did not destroy so as not to inform rest of section. A short time later found a shack loaded with cane. The guide said it was a source of supply, also there were no more houses with people further on so I destroyed this. Two more containing corn were found. They were destroyed. Estimate one hundred arrobas were destroyed. There was no way to bring it in as it was all one could do to get our animals over the trail, lightly loaded. At 1500 we arrived at the first house seen that morning. Camped. Estimated distance covered five leagues. Nothing happened during the night.
 
18 October, 1930.
 
Cleared at 0700 heading east hitting Coco / p. 3 / River at 0830. Followed the river on the north side, heading east. Trail was an old trail most of the way so had to cut our way. Arrived at Sta. Rita (245-360.9) at 1630 and made camp. Estimated distance covered six leagues. Nothing happened during the night.
 
19 October, 1930
 
Cleared at 0720 for Quilali, arrived at 0900. Estimated distance covered three leagues.
 
3.    Observations during patrol. Trails covered were, as a while well traveled although over grown, it was noticed that the trails would fade, then later appear more traveled. I also noticed that near these points the brush & grass on the side of the tail would show signs of having been passed over, as by one man at a time. This is probably signs of inf----- so as to throw patrols off. It seems to be a source of corn as all three store houses had been cased. The crops were good. Rice, corn and bananas.

 

/s/   R. H. Hunt, Capt, G.N.

PC30.10.19. RG127/202/13


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