Evening star., 1928-06-17
u. S. MARINES IN NICARAGUA
IMPROVE EACH SHINING HOUR
Studv Snanish and Otherwise Amuse Themselves in
Making the Most of Their Situation.
Get Cigarettes by Airplane.

stationed In the larger cities as Man
augua, Leon, Granada. Chinanoega,
Ocotal, Matagalpa and Bluefelds have
a much easier time than their bud
dies up In the hills, where ticks. neaS
and other insects play havoc with the
human body. Just the same these boys
manage to get into a town once In a
while with their more fortunate COM
rades and have a good time. It Is q
hard grind for the men In the noun
tains but then 1t has its compensa-
tions. They save money and with
the splendid airplane service they can
receive cigarets. candy and other lux
uries, though miles from civilization.
Though many miles from telegraph
station or a town the Marine COM
mander leading his patrol through the
dense woods is kept in daily commune
cation. Information Is given the
planesby means Of panels strung along
the ground. The next day, II the call
Is for cigarets. the plane drops them
to the patrol.
DO Not Fraternize.
One incident of this kind was told
the writer by Marine who with his
patrol had been isolated from commu-
nication for almost a week. II appears
that on sighting an airplane overhead
one morning the commander Signaled
for cigarets to be dropped next day as
the men had been without any for a
week The next day Capt. Edward
Archibald flew overhead and dropped
the cigarets TO the patrol In dropping
them the case split open, spilling the
cigarets upon the ground. Knowing
that the plane would be circling over
head. the men stretched upon the
ground, and with the aid OF the '1ose
packs OF cigarets, spelled the words
THANK You" to Capt Archibald.
The Marines do not mix great deal
with the natives. There have been no
marriages between the men and the
natives for several reasons. Most OBJ
vious is the decree handed down by the
church authorities against Marine
Nicaraguan marriages, which cites as
| the principal reason that the pay OF the
ordinary Marine Is not sufficient 10
support wife.
III many cases the Marines are quite
friendly with the better class OF Nicara-
guans and spend some time In their
company, both for social purposes and
for knowledge OF the language. Visiting
Americans have been amazed at the
number of Marines who have acquired
working knowledge OF the language
and the number who are able TO speak
II fiuently.
Many have made conscientious
study and have employed tutors. Others
have picked II UP from the natives In
the field and in the hills. while others,
having only picked up few words, are
able TO be understood. With the aid of
tutors and conversation they are rap
idly approaching perfection and have
been able TO improve the relations be-
tween the Americans and Nicaraguans.
In Managua the quota OF nearly a
thousand Marines who are always sta
toned at that place patronize several
restaurants and cafes that have In
creased In size under their patronage.
There Is "Joea," which supplies beer for
small price. Then there are several
restaurants run by Chinese and they
receive n healthy patronage because of
the good, old-tashiOned manner In
which they prepare steak and eggs.