The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-03
Say Marines In
Nicaragua Are
Killed
Government Concealed Loss
For Political Reasons

Following upon statements by
Juan Sacasa, constitutional presi-
dent of Nicaragua, who is being kept
out Of office by American marines
in spite Of the fact that almost the
whole country has rallied to his sup
port, that the action of the L. S.
state department in "smothering" his
country with naval landing parties
would endanger the lives of Near
aguans and marines both, comes a
story of an armed clash in which
marines were killed.
Hide Defeat
1t is said all facts were concealed
by the state and navy department.
The censorship is supposed to be due
to the fact that the marines came off
second best, as announcement Of
great victory for the "devil dogs"
would have stimulated recruiting.
The story appears on the authority
of the New York Mirror and
Hearst's news service, which declare
that it is authentic. 1t is as follows:
American marines have been kill
ed and wounded in Nicaragua.
The state and navy departments
have concealed this fact Rigid cen
sorship has prevented any leak, prior
to this exclusive story in the Daily
Mirror. Only AZ hours ago, the state
and navy departments officially no.
titled United States Senator Boran
that there was no truth to reports of
casualties in the Nicaraguan cam
paign.
Said No One Hurt
Today, an announcement came
from Washington, stating that a
troop train had been fired on. 1t
said no one had been injured.
Two or three marines have been
killed, and a half-a-dozen wounded,
according to information given to
the Daily Mirror.
There are now 1,70O American
sailors and marines in Nicaragua.
Within a week, there will be more
than 5000. Twelve battleships ard
ten airplanes will make up the bal
ance Nf the American forces in TIE
little Central American Republic.
Senator Royal S. Copeland vas M
titled ~ the Daily Mirr1r that this
newspaper intended revealing fhe
truth about the Niearaguan stu
alton. a
Senator Astounded.
81 am astounded by the statement
that there have been casualties
among our boys" said the senator.
He added that he would confer I'M
mediately with Senator Borah, chair
man of the senate foreign relations
committee, and demand a most
sweeping investigation.
This will mean that Major General
Lejeune, head of the marine corrs,
and other officers of that orgeniza-
tion, will be subpoenaed to tell what
they know.
Congress is slated to adjourn in a
few days. Senator Copeland believes
that state and navy departments
have concealed the reports of casual
ties in order to head off an investi-
cation.
Concealed For Months.
The Americans were killed and
wounded in skirmishes with the
liberal troops about a month ago.
Machine guns were used by the Mic
araguans in defending themselves.
Immediately after the casualties,
the most rigid censorship was en-
forced. 1t is impossible for war cor
respondents to get to the scenes of
fighting, or to send any dispatches
from Nicaragua that are not censor
ed.
The censorship in Nicaragua is
much more rigid than anything ever
attempted by the American army
during the world war. This, in spite
of the fact that the United States
is merely supposed to be protecting
American and foreign lives and
property.