HEADQUARTERS GUARDIA NACIONAL DE NICARAGUA
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

19 June, 1932.

From:      District Commander.
To:        Area Commander.

Subject:   Report of Intelligence Received.

1. At 1230 this date two natives reported in to camp stating at they had been held prisoners by the bandits and had been freed at 11 p.m. last night. One of them Alberto Balle was captured by Pedron Altamirano at a place called Cuicuinita near the Prinzapolka river on Dec. 8, 1931, the other Leoncio Navarrete was captured at his coffee finca (Zaragosa) near Caratera on Jan. 1, 1932, also by Pedron Altamirano. Balle was engaged in mining at the time of his capture about half a day’s journey to the northwest of Cuicuina (Lat 13 deg 33’ N-Long 84 deg 49’ W, Ham map). He was taken from there to the upper reaches of the Rio Yoya thence up the Suina river then to Cusuli (326-358 Matagalpa sheet), the trip consuming ten or twelve days. The group consisted of about 200 men. The group split at Cusuli, some forty or fifty going to Pedron’s main camp with him with Pedron himself as leader. This camp is in a range of hills called Camaleones and from Navarrete we gained the information that it is near Bocacito (292-347). Balle only knew that this camp was in the head waters of the Bocay river. On the 2nd of January this year, Balle was sent under guard of two men to another camp at a place called Trincado, near the river Guiguili. Here he met the other prisoner, Navarrete.

Navarrete, captured at Caratera (263-319), was taken to a permanent camp at Las Cuchillas (255-330) on 2 January. On the 5th of January he was taken to the main camp of Pedron at Bocacito, which he stated was about three day’s trip from Las Cuchillas. On the 9th he was taken to the camp at Trincado, which he stated to be a trip of about two and half days from Bocacito. This camp is really named Joaquin Trincado, possibly being the name of the man who owns the property. The camp lies in the angle formed by the Cua and Coco rivers at about (275-370), however, Navarrete also stated that the bandits have since moved to the southern side of the Cua at about (274-369). Both prisoners were held at this camp until about 27 January. They were then taken to Topon (265-384) where they were brought before Sandino and told what ransoms to pay. Sandino told them that all citizens of Nicaragua were obligated to serve the country in the cause of right and justice, but in as much as the two prisoners were too old to make good soldiers and also because they were more or less capitalists they would be required to pay ransom or as he put it, they would contribute money to further the cause. After this the two prisoners were confined at Mancuerno which is about a half hour from Topon. Having paid their ransoms, they were taken on the 15th of June by a guard of sixteen men under a capitan called Perez and started in this direction. They passed the night of the 15th of June at the house called Naranja on the Murra river. On the night of the 16th they stopped at the house of a Captain Gonzales near Santa Rosa 244-381; on the night of the 17th they stayed at the house of Roque Vargas near San Jose (239-378). They were then taken to the main road at 11 p.m. and told to head in the direction of San Fernando and Ocotal. They stayed the night at a house near there and then [p. 2] proceeded along the road arriving at 1230 this date.

2. Navarrete tells the better story of the two, seems to be much more intelligent and has a friendly feeling toward the Guardia. The other man seems to be afraid of saying anything and tries to make his answers vague or evasive. Navarrete states that Balle was better treated in the camp of the bandits than he was. He was fed better and otherwise with more consideration.

The following was related by Navarrete:

Sandino is at Topon at the present time or at least he thinks he is there. He arrived on the 10th of June and Navarrete found out by accident that he was there. Sandino tries to keep his presence a secret even from his own men and constantly keeps away from the camp although remaining in the vicinity. Navarrete is certain that the safe conducts which he and Balle received on the 13th of June had been signed very shortly before, although they are dated the 27th April. His reason for this is that the ink was still fresh when they got them. Navarrete also discovered that Sandino is not well and does not travel much. He caught a sight of Sandino and one of the bandits told him the rest.

Sandino and Pedron Altamirano do not get along well. On the surface their relations are apparently cordial but underneath the surface there is a deep enmity. Pedron or his people are reported to have killed 180 people since the first of January and although Sandino has repeatedly ordered Pedron to stop murdering people, Pedron continues at his own gait. Pedron has a large gang well-armed with automatic weapons, rifles, and plenty of ammunition and the men in his group would not follow Sandino in case of trouble between Sandino and Pedron. Both know this and as a result Sandino avoids anything which might bring an open break, while Pedron goes ahead and does just as he pleases.

Sandino maintains a large camp of well-armed men on the Honduranian side of the junction of the Poteca and Coco rivers just across the Poteca river from Poteca. The camp is called La Luz y Sombra. He also has a camp near Danli which is used as a message center for all agents entering and leaving Honduras. Colindres is charged with maintaining communication. He keeps moving along the border from Cifuentes to the Malacate region but always on the Honduranian side. If Guardia patrols approach the border Colindres moves farther back into Honduras. Colindres also purchases arms and ammunition from Conservatives of Honduras, some of them Jefes de Armas under the Honduranian government.

Heriberto Reyes visited the camp at Topon about a month ago to confer with Sandino. The jefe who is at present in charge of Topon is a man who is called Claudio Blandon. Coronado Maradiaga is also present. The number of bandits in the camp varies from 50 to 150 depending on the number out on missions. Some fifteen days before the mutiny at Quilali, the bandits in camp knew that it was going to happen. According to their information, four guardia were involved but on the day it happened one was so drunk that he was unable to take part in the mutiny. For some time previous to the mutiny guardia in Quilali (supposedly the mutineers) had been selling ammunitions to the bandits via merchants in Quilali. Names of merchants unknown. Since that time Navarette knows of no sales of [p. 3] ammunition. Merchants in Quilali communicate with Topon.

The bandits showed great elation at the Las Puertas happening and almost as much when they head that “Felipon” (Lieut. Truesdale) had been wounded and evacuated from the area.

Sandino has issued orders that his people may plant all the tobacco they wish and much of it is being grown. Also in all the country surrounding the bandits have planted much corn and beans. They have many animals including many bulls for working and transportation.

4. All co-ordinates given above are from Marine Corps Map of Nicaragua.

J. W. LAKSO

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Headquarters, Fifth District, Northern Area, Apali, Nicaragua, 21 June, 1932.

Memorandum for Area Commander:

The following notes to accompany report of Intelligence date June 19, 1932, may be of use:

The information received is largely from Navarrete who seems to be of a higher mental caliber than Balle. Navarrete can be induced to tell a good deal more than he has but he will not tell it to any but ranking officers, that is officers whom he is sure are also Marine officers. He will not say anything in the presence of natives. Navarrete has had a good education, comes of good family and is well known in Matagalpa. He acted as clerk of some court at one time. His story is believed to be fairly reliable and there is no doubt that he is the person he claims to be. One peculiar incident in connection with his story is the fact that he had twenty five dollars when he arrived here. He stated that Sandino requires all families to pay the ransom and a sufficient sum over that to pay for the traveling expenses of the person ransomed from the place he is released to his home. Both of these men of course have a great fear of the bandits. Navarrete stated to me that he had originally intended to tell his story to the local authorities of Matalga only but reflection had convinced him that there were too many leaks that way and he now determined to tell all he knows to American officers of the Guardia in whom he says he has more confidence.

This above is mentioned as a possible aid in examining him in regard to his story.

J. W. Lakso

M32.06.19

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