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PC28.05.07   merritt

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28.04.28 MCQUEEN
28.04.30 ARNETT
28.05.06 HART
28.05.07 MERRITT
28.05.08 AIKEN
28.05.08 CLARK
28.05.09 KILCOURSE

28.05.07.   Sgt. Merritt, Report of Patrol, Matagalpa

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
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T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

HEADQUARTERS, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH REGIMENT
SECOND BRIGADE, U.S. MARINE CORPS
MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA
 
7 May 1928.

REPORT OF PATROL (May 3rd to 6th, 1928).

May 3, 1928.      Patrol left MATAGALPA at 2250 for GANITA [La Garita], arrived at 0245. Made camp until morning. The people that I questioned for information concerning outlaw activities had none to give, stating that as far as they knew everybody in GANITA belonged there. I patrolled the town and everybody seemed to be working, none delayed in answering my questions.

May 4, 1928.      Patrol left GANITA at 0940 for LEONESA. Arrived at 1440, could not gain any information of bandit activities in that area. Patrol left LEONEAS for LA PITA at 1530, arrived at 1630 where I made camp for the night. The owner of this place is W.J. Hawkins, his manager's name is Hermenegildo R. Lobarro. at the present time they have nine natives working in the fields. Information I gained there was of no military importance, everybody seemed contented and answered my questions without delay.

May 5, 1928.      Patrol left LA PITA at 0715 for W. Hawkins place and arrived there at 1530, where I made camp for the night. Klaus Kühl is administrator of W. Hawkins's HACIENDA DE ALGOVIA. The only information gained here was that the owner is present at the plantation only when the coffee is picked and prepared for market. I also learned that I could not make MATAGALPA in one day's travel so I made camp. The area around ALGOVIA is being cultivated. The Hacienda of W. Hawkins employs in coffee picking time three hundred natives. At the present time only thirty natives are employed to cultivate the fields. The land belonging to W. Hawkins is four thousand eight hundred acres, mostly coffee land. No information was gained here of any outlaw activities what ever, all natives around ALGOVIA work for W. Hawkins.

May 6, 1928.      Patrol left W. Hawkins at 0600, all the information gained along the road was of no military importance. Arrived at De Savigny's [DeSavigny] at 1530. I talked to Mr. De Savigny and he had no information of outlaw activities in that area. Arrived at MATAGALPA at 1730.

/s/ NORMAN L. MERRITT

Sgt., U.S.M.C.
20th Co., 5th Regt., USMC.
In charge of the patrol.

127/43A/20

Summary & Notes:

   Patrol east of Matagalpa; heavily indigenous zone (La Leonesa a gold mine).
   W. J. Hawkins, owner of Hacienda de Algovia, with 4,800 acres, mostly coffee lands; 30 natives working on the hacienda now; 300 natives working in coffee season.

   No useful information gathered on patrol.

P C - D O C S :      P A T R O L   &   C O M B A T    R E P O R T S
thru 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 +

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