Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-06
SIX MORE j: S. SHIPS
WITH 400 MARINES
SENT TO NICARAGUA
Two Cruisers, Three De-
StroyerS and Submarine
Tender Ordered to Sail.
BLUEJACKETS ON WAY
TO PROTECT LEGATION
Latimer Under Instructions to
Guard American Lives and Prop
erty Thoroughly.

BY the Associated Press.
Six additional naval vessels have
been ordered to Nicaragua, carrying
an expeditionary force of 400 ma
rines
The ships are the cruisers Cincin-
natl and Marblehead, the destroyers
Barker, Smith Thompson and Os-
borne, and the submarine tender
.Argonne.
They will report to Rear Admiral
Iatimer in command of the Amer
lean force in Nicaraguan waters, for
such disposition as conditions war
rant.
Two other destroyers left Nor
folk yesterday, and, although they
were to replace two other ships of
their type, they doubtless will be
used temporarily to increase the to-
tai American naval strength avail
able to Admiral Latimer.
Sent for Protection.
The Navy Department said the
purpose of the dispatch of additional
troops and ships was to enable
Admiral Latimer to thoroughly pro-
tect" American lives and property in
the war-torn Central American
country.
A force of six officers and 160 blue
Jackets and marines from the cruiser
Galveston was to arrive at Managua,
the capital, at noon today to act as a
legation guard.
The new contingent of mrineS will
be taken from Guantanamo. A detach-
ment of marines aboard the Argonne
will replace the men from the Gal
weston at Managua, and the latter will
return to their ship.
The mine sweeper Quail has been
sent to Corinto from the Canal Zone
for temporary duty, and will remain
attached to Rear Admiral Latimer's
squadron.
Orders Are Announced.
An official announcement, issued by
Admiral Eberle, the chief of naval
operations, listed the six new ships
and said:
'The above ships and men will be
under the direct command of Rear
Admiral Latimer for such service as
he may assign them on either the At
lantic or Pacific coasts of Nicaragua.
1.-THE above naval forces are being
sent to join Rear Admiral Latimers s
squdron to enable him to thoroughly
protect American interests and the
lives and property of American and
foreign citizens in Nicaragua"
The only explanation of the sudden
move obtainable in official quarters
was that the men taken from the Gal
weston to guard the Managua legation
could not be spared indefinitely from
their ship, and that the new marine
contingent was needed to relieve
them
With the arrival of the ships or
dered South today, the squadron un-
der Admiral Latimer will consist of
six cruisers, seven destroyers, one
mine sweeper and the ArgOnne. which
is available as a transport. The total
complement of men will be approx
mately 1900, including 535 marines.
Other Forces Available.
The scouting fleet, which is to sail
Saturday for Guantanamo Bay, places
in Southern waters an additional
naval force of three battleships, six
cruisers. 80 destroyers and auxiliaries,
including air squadrons. There are
about 10,2S0 men in the Southern
feet.
The legation guard at MGnagua will
be under command of Lieut.. Comdr.
w. y. Richardson, jr., of the Calves
ton.
Hope for improvement in the Mica
rauguan situation has been revived
at the State Department.
Department officials base their be-
lief that a change for the better will
come about on the decision to restore
the Managua legation marine guard,
and the action to permit President
DiaZ, under an embargo placed last
September. to import 900 rifles, 100
machine guns and several million
rounds OF ammunition, which he pur
chased in the United States
The latter step was decided upon
after DiaI had insisted that unless
such material aid was forthcoming
he would have to relinquish the reins
of government to his Liberal oppo-
nent, Juan r. Sacasa, former vice
president, who has set up a govern
ment of his own at Puerto CabeZas
and who, DiaZ has repeatedly charged,
is receiving arms and supplies from
Mexico, which has recognized him.
Prompt Action Expected.
1t was assumed here that Diaz
would take immediate advantage of
the American action, in view of his
statements that his forces were in
dire need Of arms and ammunition
Officials would not say whether addi-
tional arms shipments. if requested.
would be allowed TO go from the
United States.
The American naval commander,
who has established neutral zones on
the east coast at Puerto CabeZas and
Rio Grande bar for the protection of
American lives and property, is said
by the State Department to have the
power TO prevent the Liberals from
using these zones as supply bases.
Whether this authority extends 10
the point where he could intercept
arms shipments from outside sources
to Sacasa has not been disclosed. but
It is believed certain that such shin
ments could not be delivered bv wav
If these zones.
Chairman Borah of the Senate
foreign relations committee, who is an
advocate of American withdrawal
from Nicaragua as soon as the need
for protection disappears, in a state
ment last night characterized the
state Departments action in granting
DiaZ a license to import arms as "in
tervention" on this country's part.
Under the circumstances and con
ditions prevailing" he said, this act
lis intervention"
The foreign relations committee
which has before ii a resolution by
senator Wheeler. Democrat, Montana
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