T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

SECOND BRIGADE, U.S.M.C. E.F.
LOS ROBLES, NICARAGUA.
18 March 1928.

Patrol Report 5.

   At 0800, 17 March 1928 I left with a patrol of two officers, twelve enlisted, to map north from Pasa Real [Paso Real] toward Guale. On this patrol the following observations were made, and information received from natives questioned along the road.

   Pasa Real was deserted except for women where on the previous day there were a dozen men,some mounted, in and near the store of Salvador Gutierrez.

   From several different sources I was told that Esperanza Altamirano with fifty bandits had passed north on the Pasa Real - Guale road on the 13th of March. That previous to this other bands had come north from Pasa Real some taking the east branch at Tumulyunca [Tumayunca] going toward Los Cuchillas and La Virgen, others taking the west branch going toward Guale and Santa Cruz. That bandits are operating in the Pantasma area at the present time, foraging for supplies and causing much fear among the natives there. That Sandino is moving north with Chipote as his destination.

   Roads are good for bull carts as far as Tumuyuaca (2 miles north of Pasa Real). From Tumuyunca to Bocadero [Embocadero], 3 miles, roads are hard surface, rough, but are passable for bull carts. Bocadero is at the top of the first of a series of mountain ranges, grades are steep and footing bad. This patrol stopped two miles beyond Bocadero and found trail continually getting worse. There were some very muddy spots and in one place saddle mules, unmounted, sank up to their bellies. Pack mules would have the greatest difficulty on this trail. This is the main trail to Guale and the Pantasma Valley. The point where the patrol stopped was about three miles from Guale according to information received from several inhabitants. South of Bocadero the area is thickly inhabited with many trails, north of Bocadero the area is very sparsely inhabited and from local information this is the only trail across the mountains, there were no branch trails leading in.

/s/ S. E. Ridderhof
1st Lieut. U.S.M.C.
 
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FIRST BATTALION, ELEVENTH REGIMENT, LOS ROBLES, NICARAGUA
18 March 1928.

   1st ENDORSEMENT.

   1.  Forwarded.

   2.  The Salvador Gutierez [Salvador Gutierrez] mentioned herein, keeps a store and barroom at Pasa Real. There have been reports that this place was a bandit hang out and that bandits that might be within the area were very likely to congregate there on Saturday nights.

   3.  Captain Hunter with twenty three men of the 47th Company cleared camp at 9.00 P.M. last night, surrounded and picketed the above store and cross road, and remained until just before daylight. Captain Hunter reports that he believes that the presence of the patrol was not observed. There was nothing suspicious. The place was closed and there was no one traveling in the locality.

   4.  Lieutenant Humphrey with a patrol ambushed Los Robles--Tuma trail.

/s/ K.E. ROCKEY

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