Headquarters
Second Brigade Marine Corps
Managua, Nicaragua
13 January, 1928

B-2 REPORT
From: 0000 1 January 1928
To: 2400 7 January 1928

(A)     GENERAL STATE OF TERRITORY OCCUPIED:

(a)   The neutral zone is quiet. Although there was a large labor strike in CORINTO during the week no disorders occurred.
(b)   The outlying parts are normal with the exception of the northern areas, which Sandino continues to keep in a lawless state with his banditry actions.

(B)     ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

(a)   The laborers of CORINTO called a strike for higher wages. This strike was very serious due to the present heavy exporting of coffee. General Moncada persuaded the strikers to return to work at the old scale of wages until their complatines had been thoroughly investigated. A committee has been appointed by C.D. Ham, and is now investigating the labor conditions of CORINTO. Until this committee has completed its investigation and has rendered its report, the laborers are peacefully fulfilling their side of the temporary agreement.
(b)   Several other strikes were threatened during the week but, so far, none of them have materialized. One of these is that of the railroad engineers. If the engineers do go on a strike, and the labor situation in CORINTO is not corrected to the satisfaction of the laborers there so that they again strike, our forces will have a very heavy duty placed upon them in the question of supplies.

(C)     ATTITUDE OF CIVIL POPULATION TOWARD MARINES:

The present attitude of the local press toward us is neither friendly nor unfriendly.

(D)     POLICE OPERATIONS:

Routine work; nothing to report.

(E)     MILITARY OPERATIONS:

(a)   FRONT LINES:
1.   Enemy: The mountain stronghold EL CHIPOTE and immediate vicinity. More or less small independent bandit groups of western SEGOVIA.
2.   Marines: A special combat expedition at QUILALI and garrisons in the towns of SOMOTO: PATASTE: JICARO: SAN FERNANDO: TELEPANECA: OCOTAL and PUEBLO NUEVO.
(b)   MOVEMENTS:
1.   Enemy: A heavy concentration at CHIPOTE.
2.   Marines: The column of First Lieut. Richal and Captain Livingston effected a junction at Quilali. A large concentration of Marines towards SAN ALBINO commenced.
(c)   SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT:
1.   There are numerous ways that SANDINO'S forces may obtain their supplies and equipment. Nothing definite is known but consistent rumors place the area of Honduras north of JALAPA as the chief source. The COCO RIVER is also a very plausible means of entry.
2.   Medical supplies, food, clothing and munitions have been furnished our field units by truck trains, ox-carts, pack trains and also by the large transport plane of our air forces.
(d)  PROBABLE INTENTIONS:
There is practically no doubt that SANDINO has planned to make a determined stand at CHIPOTE. Great activity in preparing CHIPOTE for defense has been observed by our air patrols.
(e)   UNITS IN CONTACT:
At a point about three miles south of VUELTAS, Richal's column was ambushed by a force of bandits estimated at 350 to 450 in strength. At the time of the encounter our forces were proceeding along a trail-in single file up the side of a mountain. The point of the column had just turned a curve near the bottom of the hill when the point commander observed a suspicious movement and started to draw his pistol. Before he could succeed in drawing his pistol the bandits opened a heavy fire which instantly killed him. The enemy was well entrenched and protected by the heavy underbrush. In about an hour the bandits were routed and our forces captured the hill.
( CASUALTIES:
Marines: One killed (1st Lieut. G.N.)
Two seriously wounded.
Two slightly wounded.
Bandits: Thirty known killed.
Prisoners: None.
(f)   MISCELLANEOUS:
Work was rushed on constructing a landing field at QUILALI, in order that we would be able to evacuate the seriously wounded; suffered in the engagements of Livingston's and Richal's columns. A small landing field was cleared by January 6th, and the evacuation of the wounded was commenced that date, by plane, to Managua.

(F)     POLITICAL SITUATION:

At CORINTO a Woman Liberal party has been organized with General Jose M. Moncada as their candidate for President and Mr. Carlos A. Castro Wassmer as Vice-President. This organization has for its secretary Helida Rosa Baldelamar.




A.C. LARSEN.

RG127/209/2

Many thanks to Katrina Wells for transcribing this document.