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77th Company, Second
Battalion, Fifth Regiment
Second Brigade, U. S. Marine Corps,
Granada, Nicaragua.
7 June 1927.
From: Second Lieutenant Monroe S. Swanson,
U.S.M.C.
To: The Commanding Officer, Second Battalion,
Fifth Regiment.
Subject: Patrol to Diria, Nicaragua, report of.
1. In accordance with your Field
Message No. 1, received at 1605, 6 June, 1927, I
proceeded via Graham truck at 1725, 6 June, 1927
over road GRANADA - DIRIA to the Village of
DIRIA with one squad equipped with three days
rations to investigate reports received
regarding the molesting of liberals at that
place by the conservatives officials. We arrived
at DIRIA at 1845 same date, being quartered at
the home of Alberto Sandizo. We returned to
Granada via the same route and same
transportation, leaving DIRIA at 1525, 7 June,
1927, and arriving in GRANADA at 1620, 7 June,
1927.
2. Upon arrival at DIRIA orders were
given to the Agent of Police, Pedro J. Rivas, to
inform the population of DIRIA to turn in their
arms, which order was carried out. As a result
one green rifle was received. The rifles of the
police were taken away, ten in number, from them
at 2000 6 June, 1927, but were returned to them
at 0900, 7 June, 1927. Orders were also given to
the Agent of Police that his patrolmen were not
to patrol streets with their rifles, but they
were to keep them in the police station for use
only in case they were needed to quell any
disturbance. The Agent of Police was also
instructed to keep his rifles unloaded while in
the police station, and to treat members of both
political parties alike.
3. An investigation of the report
turned in by Abrahano Ruiz that the officials in
DIRIA had been molesting the population revealed
the following facts:
On 23 May 1927, four
policemen entered the home of Alberto Sandigo,
liberal, at whose home Alberto Ruiz, also a
liberal, was at that time. The police entered
one door and Abrahano Ruiz came out another when
the police fired one shot which entered the
wall. They then took him to the police station,
holding him in custody about one hour when he
was released. Abrahano Ruiz then left town. This
occurrence [ p. 2 ] happened apparently for no
other reason that they belonged to opposing
political parties.
On 27 May, 1927, two conservatives named Alberto
Delgado Sequiera and Edwardo Castillo, who were
riding along the road towards GRANADA, met a
liberal named Jose Ruis Hijo on an ox-cart
coming from GRANADA to DIRIA at a point about
half way between the two towns. Upon meeting,
both sides opened fire with rifles and as a
result one conservative, Alberto Delgado
Sequiera and the one liberal were killed. It is
believed this skirmish was a result of the first
mentioned incident. The other conservative is
now awaiting trial in criminal court at GRANADA.
Both sides represent prominent families in
DIRIA, Alberto Delgado Sequiera being the
brother of Francisco Delgado Sequiera, the
former Commandant of Arms at DIRIA. The liberal,
who was killed, was the nephew-in-law of
Abrahano Ruis, who reported the conditions in
DIRIA to you. It is believed that the whole
trouble is enmity between the two families, and
inasmuch as the conservatives are in power, the
liberal faction is unduly afraid. Several
liberals asked that the houses be searched for
arms and gave me the attached list of names of
those who are supposed to possess arms.
At 1030, 7 June, 1927, a liberal, named
Francisco Espinosa, reported that a conservative
aimed a rifle at him when passing his house. An
investigation of this incident was made at once.
Accompanied by the liberal, I took two men to
the house of the conservative, but did not find
him there. A search of his house produced two
rifles. Later I learned that the conservative
was a policeman, named Agapito Lopez.
Questioning him at the police station, he stated
that he had his rifle out trying the bolt as the
liberal passed and did not mean to harm him. As
he appeared to be an honest looking man, I am
inclined to believe his version. He also stated
that inasmuch as he was a policeman he did not
think it was against the law for him to possess
arms.
4. Two patrols
were sent out from DIRIA at 0645, 7 June, 1927,
of two men each to report on conditions in the
surrounding country. One patrol went north to
SAN JUAN, a distance of about four miles, and
returned at 1045. The other went west about the
same distance and returned about the same hour.
Both patrols reported the people friendly and
busy cultivating their land. The roads in both
directions are passable by bull carts only.
Everyone in DIRIA seems to be friendly and busy
with their normal daily pursuits.
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- - - MONROE S. SWANSON - - - -
RG127/43A/19
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