HEADQUARTERS,
GUARDIA NACIONAL,
DISTRICT OF PALACAGUINA.
20 August, 1931.

From:     The District Commander.
To:       The Area Commander, Northern Area.

Subject:  Intelligence.

1. Antolin Gadea, “Jefecito” from the Jinotega and Matagalpa but now a resident of this district, escorted Isidoro Polanco, of Plasuela, in to present himself. The latter was a sergeant under Colonel Chevarria until the middle of June this year and since that time has been living by robbing and stealing. Through Gadea the following statement was obtained from him:

That following the attack here May 15th. he went with Chevarria to Honduras. The group traveled under the orders of this “Jefe” while at the same time traveling in company with Umanzor and his group which consisted of Ortez’s men. The men did not like Umanzor therefore many of them asked for leave which was in every case denied. This caused many deserters and greatly irritated the latter. Bentura Rodriguez and his brother, guardia deserters, asked for permission to return home and on three occasions this was denied them. Both of them had been sergeants under Ortez and were two of his best men as well as being close friends of Chevarria. After their last attempt to obtain leave they made the statement that they did not want to desert but that appeared the only way they might visit their families. When Umanzor was informed of this he ordered them both shot. The death of these two men caused an open break between the two “jefes” who immediately proceeded to Sandino’s headquarters to air their grievances. There they were told to turn over all their arms and send their men home to work. Before the men left they were told by Sandino that he did not want to fight the “Machos” and government any longer and also that their mission had been accomplished because the government was in hands favorable to them. These men left the vicinity of the headquarters around the first of July. Chevarria severed connections with Sandino and went to the district around Cabo Gracias. Umanzor did likewise and indicated his intentions of going to Honduras. Both these two men are now bitter enemies and are no longer in command of groups, that is, under Sandino. Generals Irias and Simon Gonzales were relieved of command in the same manner however they remain at headquarters with Sandino.

[p. 2]

That, Jose Leon Dias is no longer in communication with Sandino. He is still traveling independently however but his group is very small due to the many desertions which he has suffered. He refuses to divide the spoils and therefore the men do not like to travel with him.

That Umanzor is now traveling with fifteen of his own machete-men and that he is the only one of the group with firearms.

That Pedro Altemirano still remains loyal but that all others are doubtful.

That Francisco Estrada was in charge of Sandino’s body guard.

That Salgado remains in the field with ninety men but he constantly ignores orders emanating from Sandino on the grounds that he never received them. He stated that it was no longer his desire to sacrifice his men in combat with the Guardia. The men are very much afraid of the people and the Guardia and are traveling in only the least settled areas at present.

That with the death of Ortez all the groups lost interest in the cause. They all had a great deal of love for him and considered it a bad omen for them when he died. Thereafter many in each group asked for leave and not getting it, deserted, through fear for their lives.

That Sandino told them he was now going to work politically and put the men in power whom he wanted.

That Sandino sent Generals Agan Gomez and Abran Riviera to La Cruz de Rio Grande, near the Atlantic Coast, to organize the “hente” into a political and military organization. These two men left the headquarters in Chipoton, 246-378, the fore part of July this year with one hundred armed men. Their mission in addition to organizing that area was also to fight the Guardia there.

That many of the men, dismissed in the June concentration at Sandino’s headquarters, went to Honduras being afraid to return to their homes, but during the last two months the word was getting around that the Guardia will give them fair treatment and many of them are returning.

2. I believe this to be an honest declaration on the part of Isidoro Polanco. He would tell me nothing when questioned therefore the above was obtained through one of his friends in his presence.

          /s/   J. OGDEN BRAUER.

M31.08.20a

Transcribed by Pleet Initiative-funded Lebanon Valley College student-researcher Nicholas J. Quadrini.