MARINE DETACHMENT, SOMOTO,
NICARAGUA
7 November 1927.
From:
Second Lieutenant George H. Bellinger
To:
Commanding Officer
Subject:
Patrol
1.
According to your instructions, a mounted patrol
consisting of myself, ten marines, one navy corpsman,
and a native guide departed from SOMOTO at 0200,
Thursday, 3 November 1927. We proceeded to the
outskirts of SANTA ROSA waiting under cover until dawn
at which time we made a surprise search of several
houses in that area. No arms or dangerous types of
machettes were found. Several men were in the
first few houses searched but the remainder were
practically void of men and machettes. One native
ran into the brush upon our approach but he was unarmed.
Some of the natives were hostile, others indifferent,
and a very few friendly. A native reported that a
bandit leader of a small group of men lived in SANTA
ROSA. We found the house of this bandit whose name
was given as Riveras. He had from the appearance
of his house quickly fled probably to the woods that
morning. The houses in SANTA ROSA are scattered
helter-skelter in groups of from one to four in an
approximate three miles area. Friendly neighbors
of bandits quickly war them of a patrol's approach by
animals calls or by runner messengers.
2.
The patrol proceeded to Espino arriving there at 1130.
The road enroute there was dry and compact but very
rough in some parts near SONIZ. About four miles
outside of and on the way to ESPINO the telegraph line
was cut in several places, and the houses were nearly
all deserted. ESPINO lies on the edge of the top
of a high mountain facing the Coco River. About
twenty houses and sixty people comprise the pueblo.
Two stone piles separated about forth yards apart are
supposed to indicate the HONDURAN-NICARAGUAN boundary
lines. This line runs through the center of the
town. Only one house on the Nicaraguan side of the
town is occupied and the majority of the inhabitants
living on the Hondurian side are Nicaraguan Citizens.
I was informed there that the town had no alcalde, that
a Hondurian judge by the name of Matee Nelasco residing
near San Marcos occasionally visited the town to
dispense justice (?), that a Hondurian Guardia Patrol
came to ESPINO at long infrequent intervals, that the
boundary line was established in 1915 by a Honduran
Commission, and that a bandit leader, Mardardo
Ballejowith [Medardo Vallejos] about twenty followers
was constantly making raids and depredations on
Nicaraguans living near the border. There were
several men in the town and supposedly Honduran side who
looked suspicious and hostile but made no hostile move.
The only indication of the border line was that
previously mentioned - the two stone piles - but there
was no sign post or flag there. We returned to
SONAZ and camped there for the night.
3.
At dawn the next morning, 4 November 1927, the patrol
[ p. 2 ] left for MAL PASO. The patrol had to pass
over a rough trail. Most all of the few houses we
passed were deserted and one of them had only recently
been burnt to the ground. Reached MAL PASO at
0930. This town is situated on the side of a
mountain half way up and has about 18 houses in fairly
close proximity to each other. The place was quiet
and very few men were seen. The people voiced
anxiety and alarm about the bandit Ballejo [Vallejos].
4.
Continued on to Pataste passing most of the way over
potreros which were well stocked with animals running
wildly about and shy in their actions. The
potreros and roads near PATASTE were soggy and bad.
Reached PATASTE at 1645. Mr. Mosher told me that
there had been [a] treaty between Nicaragua and Honduras
whereby the forces of one country could enter that of
another in its patrolling or pursuit of bandits to a
distance of one league but that he was uncertain whether
the treaty was still in effect. He also informed
me that the boundary line around ESPINO had been in
dispute for many years and as yet had not been settled.
Remained in PATASTE 5 November to rest animals.
5.
Left PATASTE early Sunday morning 6 November, enroute to
SOMOTO passing through SANTA ISABEL at 1300. The
houses there are practically all occupied occupying an
area of approximately one-quarter square mile, the
houses grouped in different parts of the town. One
man seen to run into the woods upon our approach.
The people bore the same attitude toward us at SANTA
ROSA. We looked over the town but saw nothing
suspicious. We were informed that a bandit group
under the leadership of Fidencia Carazo [Fidencio
Carazo] had killed seven members of one family on
Thursday night and two other people on Saturday night.
The bandit group had been last seen headed for the
mountains.
6.
Arrived SOMOTO at 1430. We traveled over a rough
back trail to SANTA ISABEL from PATASTE. The roads
between SANTA ISABEL and SOMOTO are dry and in good
shape.
GEORGE BELLINGER
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1st indorsement OFFICE OF THE
DIVISION COMMANDER OCOTAL Nic.
9 Nov 1927
From:
The Division Commander
To:
The Brigade Commander Managua
1.
Forwarded inviting particular attention to paragraph 4,
in re treaty permitting patrols to cross into Honduras.
R. W. PEARD
