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statement of joaquÍn Álvarez on sandinistas on the east coast (april 1928)
 
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Statement of Joaquín Álvarez on Sandinistas on the East Coast

     After their defeat at El Chipote in January, and after sweeping south through the coffee districts of Jinotega in February and March, the main Sandinista body headed east toward the mining districts of the Atlantic Coast region. This brief report summarizes an interview with Joaquín Álvarez, a laborer at one of the big US-owned companies on the East Coast, who was heading west and bumped into two of the main bodies of rebel troops as they traveled east. Detained briefly, Álvarez was soon released.  His account offers a glimpse of the constitution, strength, and intentions of the rebel movement during this period, and again of their antagonistic relationship toward persons of property.  Especially noteworthy is his description of the "small boys" who populated Sandino's ranks.

 

 

Excerpt from R-2 Periodic Report, Managua, 22 April 1928.

From BN-2, 3rd BN:  "Unverified report on the 20th by a native named Joaquin Alvarez who says that he was recently working for the Bragman's Bluff Lumber Company at Puerto Cabezas (showed papers in Companies letter-head). He traveled from Puerto Cabezas to Richardson's Ranch (where he was interviewed) via PIS-PIS - GUANI - GUASACO - TUMA, the main trail to the East Coast. He left Puerto Cabezas April 9th, on the 12th he encountered a group of about 100 men one and one half miles west of GUANI. They robbed him of $128.00 and took his extra clothing. They were going East and traveling in groups. All were armed with rifles and pistols and each and all were mounted. A great number of boys from twelve to fifteen years of age. About 5:00 PM, April 17th he arrived at CACAO and found a group of about 100 making camp a few hundred yards off the main road. They tied him up. All were armed with rifles and pistols and all on foot except the leader. This group also included a number of small boys. The group encountered at GUANI were better equipped than the first group."

IR28.04.22, RG127/209/2

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