817.00/4959: Telegram
The Minister in Nicaragua (Eberhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:52 p.m.]
183. Legation’s 180, July 27, 3 p.m., apparently crossed the Department’s 117, July 27, noon, which it answers in part. Neither I nor General Feland can prevent publication articles in the American press in advance of the receipt of our own information by the Government departments respectively interested. Immediately any activity occurs or seems imminent in any part of the country local telegraph operators submit guesses or true, false, or manufactured accounts to correspondents here at Managua who immediately send to the United States. This sometimes happens 24 to 48 hours before confirmation or disapproval is received by the General or me and we dislike to send anything from mere rumor. Frequently these men guess right. The Ocotal fight for instance was reported several hours before Feland had any news or confirmation of it. It is regretted that information that has come to the Department, whether from the Legation, Feland, or other sources, has proved at times “inaccurate and misleading”. Attempt has been made always to separate rumor from facts and to so state. In these last weeks, with inadequate help in the Legation, [Page 444] I had hoped that most military details would be received from Feland reports without necessity for their repetition by the Legation.
Sandino’s recent display of unexpected strength seems due to his possession of coffee which he confiscated in Jinotega which he is said to be selling in Honduras and gold which he is taking from the confiscated American mine at San Albino whereby he is able to pay small amounts to [followers?] thus retaining marauders who have, during the revolution of the last year, grown to prefer this life to any peaceful pursuit. Notwithstanding the reports that he is still receiving arms and ammunition and perhaps small cash from Honduras and other countries, it is believed that his arms are diminishing and that he must soon be annihilated or leave the country as seems certain to be the fate of other marauding bands. I have always felt that he would make his final dash down the Coco River but others hold to the belief that he will cross into Honduras. There is little doubt that in the Ocotal fight he was helped by Honduraneans and many Liberals from Managua and vicinity. It is estimated that Sandino has today as a maximum 200 men roaming in bands of 20 to 30 in the territory to the east of a north and south line through Ocotal owing allegiance to him but who could now be assembled with difficulty and seem to be disintegrating. Some 50 men owing no allegiance to him are reported to the east of that line as stated in my telegram No. 182, July 28, 5 p.m.46 Major Floyd yesterday took Jicaro, which he found entirely deserted and many signs that it had been occupied only by lawless troops for some time before they entered the town. A few shots were fired but no casualties on either side are reported. Flinn [Floyd] expects to move on to San Albino today or tomorrow. Aeroplanes reconnoitering there yesterday report some individuals endeavoring to signal them which indicates either a ruse or that no Sandino troops are there. If San Albino is occupied and must later be left before owners take over, Floyd expects to conceal vital machinery parts to prevent mine being worked by unauthorized persons.
- Not printed.↩