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Excerpt
from R-2 Intelligence Report, 1 June
1928 (RG127/209/2). Author
unknown.
T R A N
S C R I P
T I O N
. . . (23) Fr. Intelligence Report,
LEON: Following extract from the C.O.
SOMOTILLO REPORT:
"At 2100, May 24th, a patrol of five
Marines while proceeding from SAN
FRANCISCO to LAGERO [LIGERO] and while
in a level open space at the entrance to
a deep ravine in that vicinity were
surrounded by the point of an armed
column of natives numbering
approximately (the point) thirty men.
Just as the patrol was taking position
and preparing to fire into the point,
thinking that the entire band was of
this strength, the patrol heard loud
native voices further up the ravine and
with the aid of the flashes of
lightning, were able to discern along
column coming down the ravine toward
them. The patrol crawled under cover of
the brush to one side of the trail and
observed. The point of the band searched
the three or four houses in the vicinity
for the Marines, and at times were
within thirty feet of the patrol. After
a search of no more than an hour the
band moved southwestward toward SAN
FRANCISCO. It was in this manner that
the patrol was able to make an almost
exact count, which was about fifty
mounted and between 150 and 160 on foot
all armed and with either pistols or
rifles. After the column had cleared the
vicinity the Marines obtained
information from the inhabitants of this
district that bands recently had been
killing cattle and stealing provisions
as well as terrorizing the people. From
unverified information it was learned
that the leader is FERFONIO VANQUEDANO
[VERBONICO VAQUEDANO]; that the band
scatters during the day and organizes at
night in a deep ravine about 8 miles
northeast of SAN FRANCISCO about 9 miles
northwest of SAN JUAN de LIMAY, in the
northwest portion of the square Western
Nicaragua Map. The patrol followed the
band until daybreak when the band broke
up into small units and took various
trails to the north in direction of EL
ANGEL JONOMICO [JOCOMICO] and LAGERO
[LIGERO]. A patrol of twelve men was
sent out from SAN FRANCISCO to gain
contact on May 25th. On the night of May
26th with ten more Marines from
SOMOTILLO a patrol of 21 men cleared SAN
FRANCISCO and LAGERO."
127/209/2
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Map of the places identified in
this report
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