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Spy's Report, Jalapa District

     This report of an intelligence-gathering mission of a Nicaraguan spy, known only as "Navas", working the Honduran border zones around Jalapa in the northernmost portion of Las Segovias, was directed to Northern Area Commander Colonel Dunlap, who commissioned the mission. Its portrayal of the political and military dynamics in the Jalapa border areas confirms what other reports make clear: that the border was very porous, with many people and goods moving back and forth; and that local Honduran border officials exercised wide autonomy, and were often in cahoots with the Sandinista rebels. The report also suggests the growing sophistication of the Marine-Guardia intelligence-gathering apparatus.  (For a more detailed map of the Jalapa border zone, click here.)

 

 

Jalapa.
Sept. 24, 1928.

COLONEL DUNLAP. Commander-in-Chief of Marines in the Department of Nueva Segovia.
 
Swiss Replica Watches The present will serve to salute you attentively. I have not written because I have been personally looking over certain points. Saturday I left for a trip around Guineo, Carrizal, Blanco, Las Trojas, Teotecacinte and the border line of Honduras and Nicaragua. Many of the people that for fear of bandits, were hidden in the mountains, presented themselves to ask for guarantees to come to Jalapa from Honduras. Many people, Nicaraguans are returning to their homes.
 
Two reports I had before I gave you to the Captain at Jalapa to communicate to those headquarters to you. The one who is in with the Sandinistas is the Commandant of Cifuentes. I spoke to him Saturday at Guineo, I could not find out what he was doing there but I believe that he is waiting for Sandino around those parts because when he left Cifuentes he told his second in command, "If armed troops arrive and they are many, let them pass. If they are just a few disarm them." I asked him why he had entered Nicaraguan territory without permission from Jalapa and he said he had entered to go to Guineo but I mistrust this Commandant whose name is Captain Colindres.
 
In that round I made, of about 20 leagues, there is nothing new, only that spies and runners from Sandino pass to Honduras one after another, and Captain Colindres of Cifuentes lets them pass with all guarantees. The spies leave from Paredes, to Carrizal, from Carrizal to Trojas, where they take the road to Cifuentes. In Cifuentes there are some Sandinistas who make propaganda in favor of Sandino. I am informing myself of Los Encinos every day and from Teotecacinte from Magey and Trojas. Till today there have been no bandits in those places but in Cifuentes I sometimes get two informations a day from Cifuentes but in that town is Sandinista propaganda.
 
Today about 10 a.m. I received this information. They assure me that on Thursday night General Montoya slept near Limon and on Friday he crossed the border of Honduras by the side of Malacate. The man who gave me this information is called Ramon Lopez. He says that Saturday at 10 a.m. General Montoya entered the valley of Escuapa, Honduras. He had 15 unarmed men and he alone had a pistol in his belt. All were afoot. Ramon Lopez assures me that he is sure it was Montoya because when he was leaving Escuapa going towards Limon, Montoya was coming in and he asked him what troops were in town, to which he answered that there were none for the time being and Montoya entered the hamlet. I have constant information in Jalapa and no bandits have appeared as yet in this town. Some inform me that there might be bandits at Murra or on the heights of Murra but the spies are afraid to explore Murra. I do have information that there are bandits there but they are in small groups. I believe the Captain will send you all information that I have given him.
 
I will continue working / p. 2 / actively because the bandits have to look for an exit from Honduras or they will be surrendered or killed. They have to pass through Teotecacinte to get out of Honduras territory and those of Murra have to pass through there to go North of the Rio Poteca as that is the only place where they can cross to Cifuentes and I have 4 or 5 good spies to watch this route. At your orders,

P. Navas.
 

 

Colonel.
 
This other information I received at night from Audemars Piguet Replica Watches the foreman of Santa Barbara who has been working in Jicaro for 22 days and came here today to give this declaration. He is a good person and trustworthy. He has served as a guide for the Marines several times and when he passed through Apali I asked him to watch certain points of that region of Chipote, Barrillal, and Los Barrancos, and as I told him I was coming to Jalapa, he looked for me to give me this notice. He tells me that Saturday Ortez and 2 more went to the finca to eat and afterward Sr. Castro took them to the hiding place.

P. Navas.

 

In the house of Mateo Castro called Los Barrancos, jurisdiction of Ciudad Antigua. This man hides in his house Ignacio Ortez, Electorio Venegas, and two sons of David Cardenas and a brother. Besides these, there are three or four from Guapinol in that same finca. That man is hiding them and providing for them. I wish that you force Sr. Mateo Castro to had over the individuals as soon as possible. That S. Ortez is an assassin and they were accomplices in the battle of Quilali and Las Cruces. The men from Guapinol were the guides in those combats. It is necessary to press Sr. Castro to hand over these bandits whom he has hidden. From Apali to Los Barrancos there is two leagues and from Jicaro there is three and a half leagues to Barrancos. This place Los Barrancos is on the road from Jicaro to Telpaneca. All have pistols and rifles.
 
Ignacio Ortez and the men from Guapinol are the ones who assassinated Catarino Herrera in the first days of this month at Las Vueltas and they stole $500 and took eight mules loaded with coffee. You can give orders to Apali which is nearest. This notice is given by a man who lives near there. He came today to this town. He is a good person and has served as a guide for the Marines on various occasions. Los Barrancos is in the jurisdiction of Ciudad Antigua.

P. Navas.

M28.09.24, RG127/220/6


 

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