T R A N
S C R I P
T I O N
Tuma, Nicaragua.
May 6th, 1928.
From: |
Captain Franklin A. Hart, U.S.
Marine Corps. |
To: |
The Commanding Officer,
Matagalpa and Jinotega
Districts. |
Subject: |
Patrol report to CUSULI, 27
April to May 5th, 1928. |
1. In compliance with radio
orders I cleared TUMA at 1300 April 27
with a patrol of two squads for CUSULI.
My mission was to gain all possible
information and reports upon possible
location of a site for advance base
operations.
2. I arrived at GUASACO at
1745 and spent the night at Senor
Hasluns [Carlos Haslam, Alfredo Haslam].
I secured the services of Senors Alfredo
and Carlos Hasluns as guides. At 0710
the 28th I cleared GUASACO over the PIS
PIS trail for CUSULI. This trail is
shown on the HAM MAP as passing over
PENA BLANCA, but in reality passes about
six miles to the east at LA TRONKA [La
Tronca] mountains. The PIS PIS TRAIL is
the only one in this section leading to
PIS PIS and the coast; it is called PIS
PIS TRAIL. We passed VIJAGUA [Bijagua],
20 miles from TUMA at 1045. There are
three or four houses in this section. At
1300 I arrived at CACAO, 25 miles from
TUMA, at this place a trail enters PIS
PIS TRAIL from PENA BLANCA and the north
to CUA. It was over this trail that the
last group of bandits entered the PIS
PIS TRAIL on their way to PIS PIS. I
interviewed a Senor Jaquina [Señora
Jarquín] who lives in one of the three
houses of CACAO. She was present when
the bandits passed. They made camp and
remained at CACAO for one day and night.
They were joined by a second group and
proceeded toward PIS PIS. She rather
exaggerated her statements regarding
numbers and machine guns, stating there
were 200 in the first later joined by
100 that was partly mounted. They had
pack bulls and plenty of ammunition as
she heard them fire their machine guns.
Said she saw five machine guns. She
heard them discussing their plans, one
spoke of returning in about two months,
another said they were returning via the
RIO GRANDE to MATIGUAS, a third that
they were going back to SEGOVIA via a
short way to BOCAY.
3. Cleared CACAO 1415 for
RANCH GRANDE and arrived 1745, 31 miles
from TUMA. Made camp for the night. Fair
camping place, good pasturage, one
house, good water. At 0630 cleared for
YAUSCA [Yasica], passed LOS CARPAS 0810,
(34 miles from TUMA). There are two
houses at LAS CARPAS. Both the owners
were killed when the bandits passed this
section. Senora Maria Amador, wife of
Seperiano Fonseca [Seferino Fonseca],
who was killed gave the following
information. She stated the first
mounted group passed on Wednesday the
4th, and the second group two weeks
later. There was 150 all mounted in
first group, about 200 in second, partly
mounted. The second group killed her
husband, also two other men, the
Hernandez brothers. At [ p. 2 ] LOS
CARPAS there enters a trail from the
north, that passes about 10 miles from
PENA BLANCA and goes to valley of the
CUA and BOCAY. No bandits came over this
trail.
4. At 1000 met one Augustine
Flores of Vijagua, returning from
CUSULI. Flores had been captured and
taken by the bandits to CUSULI and was
released by them on Tuesday the 24th
when they all cleared for PIS PIS. He
stated there was about 100 in the group,
all armed, partly mounted and had three
machine guns. He heard them address one
as General Sandino. This group I found
later was commanded by Irias [General
Pedro Antonio Irías]. I sent Flores to
the C.O TUMA with message. He was sent
by C.O. TUMA to MATAGALPA. Arrived
YAUSCA 1545 about 48 - 50 miles from
TUMA.
5. YAUSCA is a section of
about six houses, located on YAUSCA
RIVER, small valley, all houses
deserted, no food stuff available for
man or beast. Good water available for
temporary camp site. It was here at
YAUSCA that the mounted group camped for
a few days. Due to the fact that YAUSCA
was deserted I was unable to get all the
information I desired. It is located
about 18 miles from the junction of the
YAUSCA and TUMA RIVERS. Cargoes are
carried and boat trip may be made in two
and one half days to SARDINAL, which is
one days pack from here. Many mosquitoes
and no shelter available.
6. At 0645 April 30th
cleared YAUSCA for GUASLALA and arrived
1230, 60 miles from TUMA. I made camp
here due to the condition of the
animals. Here I met three natives
returning from PUERTO CABEZAS, where
they had been working for the Braggman
Bluff Lumber Co. They stated that on the
24th they had passed a mounted group of
about 70 near LA CEIBA (in Pis Pis area)
and at WAUNI on the 28th another group
of about 70, mostly on foot. They did
not see any machine guns. I kept these
three men with me until I returned to
TUMA.
7. 0715 May 1st cleared for
CUSULI and arrived at PAPIA 1000 (six
miles from GUASLALA) where I decided to
have mounts and pack animals. I left six
men in charge at PAPIA and proceeded
with the remainder for CUSULI, arriving
there at 1230, about seventy-two (72)
miles from TUMA. CUSULI is a clearing in
a small valley of two small knolls,
there are three houses. The CUSULI RIVER
passes through the valley and cargoes
carried on the river. Senor Peralto
[Peralta] the owner of a small ranch
there states that the first group passed
on Holy Saturday, the second group
arrived on the 23rd and made camp for
two nights and a day. There was about
100 under command of General Irias. He
heard no plans other than they were to
join the rest at PIS PIS. CUSULI is a
junction point of several roads, one
leading to CUICUINA and the MACANTACA
plains, a- [ p. 3 ] nother to PIS PIS,
third to BOCAY; fourth to MATIGUAS with
is about obsolete as it has not been
used in years. You may reach EL GALLO by
boat in six days. A pair of leggins was
found where the bandits camped with the
name B. J. S. Godwin inside. Malarial
mosquitoes here. Cleared 1600 and
arrived PAPIA 1800 where camp was made
for night. PAPIA IS NOT SUITABLE FOR A
CAMP SITE DUE TO MANY MOSQUITOES AND
STINGING KNATS.
8. By camping at PAPIA I was
able to reach YAUSCA in one day, thereby
saving a day in time. Left PAPIA 0630
May 2nd and arrived YAUSCA at 1445. At
GUASLALA met a mozo who stated that he
lived near YAUSCA and that he had
several drinks of corn whiskey with the
Sergeant Major of the second group who
told him that General Irias was in
command, they were going to PIS PIS for
supplies and ammunition, but did not
know exactly where they were to get it.
They were very short of both and their
plans hinged on their success. He stated
that Sandino and his staff remained in
the mountains of SEGOVIA. That in all
there was not over 300 men on this
expedition.
9. Cleared YAUSCA at 0630
May 3rd and arrived RANCHO GRANDE 1400,
cleared RANCHO GRANDE 0630 May 4th,
arriving GUASACA 1600 and cleared there
0700 for TUMA in morning 1130.
10. The PIS PIS TRAIL leads
from TUMA on a roughly northeast
direction to the PIS PIS mining area and
the coast. It is the only trail leading
from here to the coast and is
intersected by the following trails from
the north. Trail from JINOTEGA enters at
GUASACA. Trail passing PENA BLANCA from
north enters at CACAO. Trail from valley
of CUA and BOCAY enters at LOS CARPOS,
passing about 10 - 12 miles from PENA
BLANCO. The PIS PIS TRAIL after leaving
VIJAGUA is merely a path through virgin
forest, over steep mountains, rocky,
muddy and rooty with many logs fallen
across the trail. It is the worst I have
seen and I imagine from the present
condition that it will be practically
impassable during the raining season.
Estimated time to pack supplies to
YAUSCA during rainy season will be from
four to five days from TUMA and from
TUMA to CUSULI five to seven days. The
trail is completely covered from aerial
observation except at the sections
mentioned where there is a house and
small clearing. There are very few
houses, practically all deserted, only
four occupied from VIJAGUA to CUSULI
distance about 50 miles. There is no
local food stuffs. Considering the above
I found no place that I consider
suitable for the location of advance
Base Headquarters, or for camp site for
any length of time.
11. The places passed and
distances from TUMA are as follows;
GUASACA 12 miles, VIJAGUA 20 miles,
CACAO 25 miles, RANCHO GRANDE 31 miles,
LOS CARPOS 34 miles, YAUSCA 48 miles,
GUASLALA . . . [remainder not copied]
[/s/ F. A. Hart ]
127/43A/20
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