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28.02.12 WATERMAN
28.02.18 GEYER
28.02.19 CLARK
28.02.19 GRAY
28.02.21 ORR
28.02.22 SHIEBLER
28.02.23 WELLS

28.02.19.   Gray to Dunlap on Conditions at San Albino & El Jícaro

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
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T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

San Albino, Nic.
19 February 1928.

Dear Colonel Dunlap,
 
     I am enclosing a patrol report of Lt. Chark which I believe is very complete, and which may contain information of the movement of bandit groups in the northern area which have not heretofor been reported. Clark was unfortunate in missing Maradiaga by about three hours, but we hope for better luck next time. I believe that Clark's dope that our Quilali attachment is hampering Sandino's communication is correct, and should be taken into consideration before any shift of the Quilali detachment is decided upon. I have visited Jicaro and have found conditions satisfactory. Lt. Waterman did a god job of getting seven (7) of the Torres band (about 8 miles north of Jicaro) on February 12th. There are fifteen left in this band. When the Apali flying field is finished I plan to operate with Captain Shaw and part of his detachment, out of Apali south toward Barrial and San Juan (between Telpaneca and Quilali). I do not know what Lt. Kenyon is doing as I am not in direct communication with him, and he has furnished me with no information. I have to-day requested that the radio which arrived via bull train this am for further transfer to Quilali be retained at [ p. 2 ] San Albino until the San Albino radio can be put into commission. Messages have no to be sent to Jicaro for transmission to Ocotal. This requires the sending of four men over the San Albino - Jicaro trail daily, a distance of ten miles for the round trip. I do not care to send less than four men on this duty, for two or three days ago the detail while returning from Jicaro was fired upon by a single sniper, from the edge of a woods, above, and about 600 yards from the trail. I have heard indirectly that Capt. Shaw expects to have the Apali flying field in condition for landing a light plane by February 22nd. This field will mean an uninterrupted line of supply to San Albino during the rainy season. I have been informed that Bull Carts can get through from Apali to San Albino at all seasons. I have changed my opinion regarding the health conditions at San Albino. The billets where the men are quartered are all on high ground and well drained. They are constructed of mud with corrugated iron roofs, dirt floors, and have an average capacity of about 6 to 8 men. The water supply is abundant and pure. The camp is piped and there are excellent bathing facilities. San Albino in my opinion, is healthier than Jicaro (not well drained) and [----y] [ p. 3 ] of the towns I have seen in Nicaragua where Marines are stationed. However, next in importance to building up a ration dump at San Albino, so far as the health of the men stationed here is concerned, is the necessity for canvas cots and mosquito nets. The men now sleep on the dirt floor of the billets, or on improvised plank bunks that they have constructed. A few swing in hammocks, all men originally had mosquito nets, but very few have them now. Any outfit that spends the rainy season in billets in this area without canvas cots and nets in my opinion will have 75% incapacitated by malaria. The doctors have worked very hard here, and with the facilities available have secured remarkable results. There is a building about 600 yards from the edge of camp that was occupied by the mine superintendent and which could be turned into a hospital of about 40 to 50 bed capacity. The present hospital building will be too small in the rainy season when the malaria cases come in. The morale of the enlisted personnel of the San Albino outfit is not too good, but I believe I am building it up. I have nothing further to [ p. 4 ] report at this writing. Trusting that you are good health and with kindest regards to Major Rossel and the members of your staff, I am

   Very respectfully yours
          /s/ John A. Gray

127/220/6

Summary & Notes:

   More indications of the local roots of EDSN bands in the district.
   Carmen Torres band still active in district, even after Waterman assault killed 7 on Feb. 12; band estimated to have 15 men left (report conveys sense that it's a zero-sum game).
   Letter mostly concerns logistical & infrastructural issues: supply lines, communications, physical facilities, health, morale at San Albino garrison; description of sleeping quarters of enlisted men at San Albino, physical layout of the mine property.
   Mosquito nets & canvas cots in short supply; concern about malaria in rainy season.
   Apalí airfield expected to be operational at end of February 1928; all-season bullcart path from Apalí to San Albino.

   San Albino judged to be a very healthy place overall.

   Photo at right:  Juan Altamirano (left) & Carmen Torres (right), n.d., ca. 1930.  Caption on back reads:  "1. Juan Altamirano - Jefe.  2. Carmen Torres, 13 Feb '32, prisoner in Jinotega for homicide".  US National Archives.

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
thru 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 +

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