MARINE DETACHMENT
JICARO NICARAGUA
4 September, 1927.

     1.      In compliance with your telegraphic orders contained in your 8630-1157 I took charge of a foot patrol of twenty-one marines and proceeded on 1 September 1927 [to] Quilali, leaving Jicaro at 0700 that date.

     2.      At 4:00 p.m. same date, having reached a road fork about five miles northwest of Quilali, the right hand branch of which leads to Quilali, the leading man in my advance guard saw four men armed with rifles about two hundred yards ahead. These men immediately fled and could not again be located, but as they took the direction of the left hand fork I followed along it for a distance of about 1,000 years. From the point I reached I saw a house on the next hill, about 1500 yards distant. Two men, armed with rifles, came out and stood beside the house, watching us. I had my advance guard, three rifles and one automatic rifle fire on them, and immediately about ten more men, with rifles, ran from the house and over the nearest crest, without returning our fire.

     3.      Since it was then getting late I proceeded toward Quilali, and camped for the night two miles northwest of Quilali. Night passed without incident.

     4.      At 0700, 2 September a sentry on duty 100 yards from camp on the road towards Quilali saw five men armed with rifles on the crest of a hill 200 yds away. One was aiming at the sentry. Sentry immediately opened fire and the man disappeared over the hill. With a patrol of seven men I followed them but did not sight them again. The country is heavily covered with brush and interlaced with foot trails.

     5.      Observed Quilali carefully before entering. The road entering Quilali is plainly visible to the whole town for a distance of one mile. About five men seen in town. One, carrying a rifle left town and climbed a hill to the northeast, apparently hurrying. At a distance of about 600 yards from town saw four men with rifles leaving with a pack animal. Opened fire on them and they dropped the pack from the animal and escaped by the road to the Northeast, without returning our fire. Pack was found to contain corn and beans. [ p. 2 ]

     6.      Passed the night of September 2-3 in Quilali without incident. None of the inhabitants of the town were there and except for a few troops it is not believed that any of the houses have been occupied recently. The enclosed letter from Sandino's Commissary Officer at Quilali was found in his house at Quilali, addressed to Sandino. Copies of the proclamation dated 25 August were left in Quilali and also in the houses along the road.

     7.      Cleared Quilali at 0645 September 3rd and arrived at Jicaro 1900 same date without incident. The houses along the road are occupied by women only and they will not give any information about armed bands. A few men were seen working in the fields.

     8.      No information could be obtained about Sandino. From information obtained from many sources I am convinced that the location of Chipote is as shown on the attached rough sketch. I have not yet any information as to the location of the encampment known as "El Chipote" but no doubt it is on Chipote mountain, and very likely on the level space shown as Manchones.

George J. O'Shea
1st Lieut. U.S.M.C.

NA127/209/2