Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-19
Bodies of 300 Slain Rebels
StreW Nicaraguan Town
After 17-Hour Fight.
U. S. FLYER ESCAPES
WHEN PLANE IS SHOT
Citizen Who Witnessed Battl
With Sandino Gives Vivid
Account to Diaz.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, July 10
Fearful Of an epidemic. the authorize
ar Ocotal, scene Of Sundays 17-hou
engagement between the forces o.
Gen. Sandino, rebel leader. and joint
body of 80 United States Marines and
group of Nicara guam constabulary.
are cleaning up the city, which has
the appearance Of a big graveyard
Fiocks Of great vultures descended
upon the battlefield over which the
bodies of about 800 of Gen. Sandino's
men lay scattered, most of the killed
meeting death from bombs dropped
by five planes ordered from Managua
10 the rescue of the Marine force at
Ocotal. by Brig. Gen. Logan Feland.
Plane Brought Down.
The rebel force, which attacked
OcotaI at 1 o'clock Sunday morning,
succeeded in bringing down one Amer
lean plane, but the aviator escaped
safely and landed in Ocotal. The plane
was piloted by Sergt. Albert S.
Munsch. One bullet punctured the gas
tank and another bullet went through
the pilots pistol holder.
Sergt. Munsch was accompanied by
Marine Gunner Michael Wodarzcyk.
who was on a patrol mission in
another plane. Wodarzcyk reported
that while looking for Gen. Sandino's
forces he saw a group of men south.
west of San Fernando, circled over
them and then dropped bomb, after
he had been fired on. Wodarzcyk's
plane was hit three times.
Force Marches on Town.
Mai. G. D. Hatfield. in command of
the Marine force at Ocotal, reported
last night that all was we'll and that
a column under Mai. Floyd was
marching on the town for the purpose
of preventing Gen. Sandino from re-
organizing his forces. Late reports
indicated that the rebel chieftain was
being deserted by the remainder Of
his hand.
A graphic account Of the fight, in
which one Marine, Pvt. Michael A.
Obleski OF Roulette. Pa, was killed,
has besn received by President Adolfo
Diaz from Arnaldo Ramirez Abaunza,
one of the leading citizens OF Ocotal.
The account described the battle as
one of the fiercest in the history or
Nicaragua.
Abaunza said that Gen. Sandino at.
tackled the city from all directions
Sunday morning, the troops shouting
and cheering for Sandino and crying
Death to the Americans" The fight
ing became general. with the Marine
force and the Nicaraguan constab-
ulary returning a hot fire with rifles
and machine guns.
Scorns Sandino's Threat.
"The hosts of Sandino sweep on"
Abaunza said in his report, attempt
ing to capture the municipal park, to
use the stone wall for protection. 1t
is now daylight-the Americans have
not retreated an inch. The con-
stabulary maintain their position.
The American sharpshooters are
piling up the dead"
In another part Of his message
AbaunZa said:
"Sandino remains at the entrance
Of the city directing the movements
Of his troops. He sends note to the
heroic Capt. Hatfield, intimating that
as he Hatfield) had no water he would
eventually have to surrender. Hat
field replied: Received your message,
and say, with or without water,
marine never surrenders We remain
here until we die or are captured
1.-THE captain and his gallant men
are fighting like lions. The fighting
continues"
"As II Hell Broke Loose"
Describing the arrival of the Amert.
can bombing planes, the account con.
tinued:
Five airplanes are seen at s pm.
They approach in battle formation;
then they get in line, flying low and
open fire with their 10-inch machine
guns. They drop bombs on Sandino's
army, which is now beginning to re-
treat. The explosions of several
bombs are heard consecutively. 1t
was as If hell broke loose-quick ex-
plosions, then a heavy laundering
one, something indescribable. The
lasts about 80 minutes"
Abaunza then told how the rebels
had retreated and how the citizens
Of the town rushed into the street
70 congratulate the American marine
force for the defense of the town.
Four members of the constabulary
we're wounded and none killed.
MARINES OFFICIALLY PRAISED.