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HEADQUARTERS FIFTH
REGIMENT
SECOND BRIGADE MARINE CORPS
MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA.
23 February 1928.
From: The Commanding Officer, Fifth Regiment.
To: The Brigade Commander.
Subject: Apprehension of Sandinistas.
1. Two prisoners
named EUDOVIO CORNEJO and ANASTACIO RUGAMA were
apprehended by First Lieutenant Orr's patrol on
the coffee finca Fundadora on the early morning
of 22 February. This patrol was sent out from
Major Rockey's battalion. These prisoners were
turned over on the same date to the Commanding
Officer, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, at
Matagalpa, and are at present in close
confinement in the native Cuartel.
2. These prisoners
gave the following information. They joined
Sandino upon his visit to the Fundadora finca,
being promised a rifle, a mount, much loot and a
life of ease. They deserted him at Santa Elena,
a days march from Las Cuchillas, on the morning
of the 17th of February because they were given
neither rifle nor mount and were forced to keep
up on foot with Sandino's mounted column. A
Francisco Castrilla, of Jinotega spoke to the
coffee pickers encouraging them to join
Sandino's ranks. The Jefes [Chiefs] under
Sandino were Carlos Salgado, Montoya, Giron and
Joaquin Lobo. The latter makes Las Robles his
headquarters where he is playing both political
sides but working in Sandino's interests.
(Request Major Rockey be advised of this by
plane.) They also state that Sandino is going to
the east coast via the same route taken by him
during the revolution, the Rio Coco to Puerto
Cabezas where he will obtain arms and men, and
from where he can communicate with his friends
abroad. Sandino has with him, they estimate, two
hundred armed men and two hundred unarmed,
mostly mounted. His ammunition supply appears to
be scarce. He succeeded in recruiting many
natives in the Matagalpa Coffee Region but had
no rifles for them. They know of ten men who
joined from the Fundadora. Planes passed over
them several times when they were ordered to
hide in the heavy brush and were told not to
fire on the planes. Both prisoners claim to have
seen two machine guns with Sandino's troops; one
large and one small; also, one pack mule
carrying ammunition for machine guns. Both
prisoners state that there is a group of fifty
outlaws operating out of PASO REAL, northeast of
Jinotega, at night.
3. In the event of trial the following witnesses
may be called: First Lieutenant
William W. Orr, Pompilio Reyes, Mr. Frankel, -
Fundadora.
4. It is
recommended that I be authorized to send these
prisoners to Managua for confinement in the
Penitentiary.
--- /s/ ---
B. S. Berry
M28.02.23, RG127/220/2
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