T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

HEADQUARTERS COMPANY,
SPECIAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH REGIMENT
San Albino, Nicaragua      16 January 1928.

      1.   In reply to reference (a) I have to state that there was no intent on my part to disobey either the written or verbal orders given to me by the Area Commander prior to my leaving Ocotal for San Albino. After leaving San Fernando, I found that the Muleros, who left Esteli with my train, were still with me. It had been so firmly impressed upon them at Esteli to accompany me to my destination, that they did. As it later developed, it was fortunate that they did stay with the train, as they released the Marines to duty as a Guard. There were persistent rumors of the possibility of an ambush on the road between Ocotal and San Albino, and in such an event the fire power of the Marines would prevent the loss of the stores - the muleros holding the mules in check.
 
2. The train arrived in San Albino without having encountered armed resistance. Due to the discretion allowed me by the Area Commander in the conduct of the march, all the men and animals of the train arrived in San Albino in excellent condition.

                    /s/ Arthur Kingston

127/204/5, Report marked "B"

T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

HEADQUARTERS COMPANY,
SPECIAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH REGIMENT
San Albino, Nicaragua           16 January 1928.

     1.   In reply to reference (a) I have to state, that the Muleros commandeered to accompany my column were those secured, at Esteli, by Captain Kieren. No Muleros were commandeered by me en route.
 
    2.   I do not recall the Gomes mentioned in reference (a), and search has failed to locate him at San Albino.
 
    3.   The column arrived at San Albino with fifty-one (51) animals, fifty of which were branded "U.S."; one mule was claimed by a mulero as his personal property.
 
    4.   Because of the many steep grades encountered it was necessary to lighten the bull carts and place a part of their load on the unloaded mules. It developed that the number of muleros was not excessive as they released Marines to duty as a force to be used in case of attack. From the information given me I expected the column to be ambushed at almost any moment. I conducted the march of the train so as to have all the men, stores and animals arrive in San Albino in the best of conditions. Upon arrival at San Albino, the men and animals could have continued the march without delay.

          /s/ Arthur Kingston

127/204/5, Report marked "B"

T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

SPECIAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH REGIMENT,
San Albino, Nicaragua           20 January 1928.

     1.   Captain Kingston's column, took no coffee, salt, sacks, or sewing machines from "Hula" ranch. I saw all carts and mules loaded on morning of 16th of January and also examined carts in the train during the first two hours on the road. The Gunnery Sergeant of the advance guard reported to me that coffee was loaded on a cart near one of the outlying buildings, but careful search failed to locate the bulls. From attitude of "family" at Hula, it is my opinion that if anything is missing from there, the enemy has it.
 
    2.   At a hacienda west of San Fernando (name unknown) one of our bull-carts went over the bank, and two bulls were injured and left behind. Two other bulls were hooked on, but it was my understanding that they came from our column. I have no information concerning any steel bar, axe, or lariat from that ranch.
 
          /s/ N. M. Shaw

127/204/5

T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

SPECIAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH REGIMENT,
San Albino, Nicaragua 20 January 1928. 

     1.   One of the bull-carts accompanying the column which cleared Ocotal on January 13, 1928, for San Albino, went over the embankment during the march to San Fernando. As it was one of sixteen carts, I proceeded giving orders to the men with the cart to get it on the road and come along with the rear of the column. They secured two additional bulls to get the cart on the road. When the cart arrived in San Fernando it had four bulls attached to it the same as it had when it left Ocotal. If there was an exchange of bulls, it was without my knowledge.
 
    2.   At "Hula" it was reported to me that there was a quantity of coffee and salt stored nearby. I endeavored to find out to whom it was consigned, but no one seemed to know. "Hula" is without doubt a sort of depot of supplies for the bandits in this section. In spite of this I left the coffee and salt behind. The report that the Marines took two sewing machines, would indicate, that the people at "Hula" were trying to blame the Marines for all their losses. I saw every bullcart and mule unloaded at San Albino. There were no sewing machines in the cargo.
 
    3.   There were no native male residents at "Hula" on January 15-16, 1928. If they were friendly to Marines, there is every reason to believe that they would have been there.
 
    4.   To my knowledge there was no property taken along the route from Ocotal to San Albino.
 
                /s/ Arthur Kingston

127/204/5

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OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER,
SPECIAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH REGIMENT,
San Albino, Nicaragua           21 January 1928.

     1.   Forwarded herewith are statements from Captain Kingston, and from Captain Shaw as directed in Radio 8619-0950.
 
    2.   First Lieutenant Esau is on outpost duty and statement will be sent when he returns.
 
          /s/ A. Young

127/204/5, Report marked "A"

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2nd endorsement. 23 January 1928.
Headquarters, Nueva Segovia Area, Ocotal, Nicaragua.

    1.   Forwarded. This communication should have been addressed to the Regimental Commander.
 
   2.   Attached hereto are two (2) communications marked "A" and "B" on this subject. It appears that the officers attached to the column do not know anything about the depredations alleged to have been committed by members of the column.
 
   3.   Many of the things complained of were undoubtedly committed, and the undersigned is of the opinion that the march discipline was very lax.

   4.   The letter marked "B" refers to Captain Kingston's failure to send the OCOTAL muleros back with Gould's column which his written orders directed him to do.
 
                 /s/ B. S. Berry

127/204/5