Evening star., 1928-01-09
The Nicaraguan Campaign.

One thousand United States Marines
are sailing today for Nicaragua. With
them goes Maj. Gen. John A. Leieune.
commandant af the Marine Corps. who
Is to survey the situation in that coun-
try and determine the methods to be
adopted and perhaps the number of
men to be required for the completion
OF the campaign against Sandino. the
rebel. chleftain, who has set up an in
surrectionary government. and has in
effect made war on the United States
by his attacks upon its soldiery. These
forces OF the United States are in MIC
arasua for legitimate purpose. the
maintenance Of order in that country.
They are there at the invitation and
On the request of the recognized gov
eminent They are there in pursuance
OF policy maintained by this country
to establish stability in the smaller re-
puhlics Of Central America and TO pre-,
vent the development of chaotic condi-
tons menacing not only to the peace
Of those lands, but to the interests and
properties Of Americans located there
IN business.
There is no purpose to oppreSs the
people Of Nicaragua by imposing upon
them American military rule. There
Is no intention TO intervene in the
political affairs of that or any other
Central American country. 1t is evi-
dent that Sandino is not representative
Of recognizable fraction of the people
Of Nicaragua. He is disappointed as
pirant for the presidency. who has
taken to arms. has been outlawed. and
is now seeking to set up a paper gov
ernment in the hills. He has adopted
e the zeal Of his republic" a repre-
sentation Of soldier in his uniform.
leaning over fallen American Marine.
grasplng an appraised machete in his
right hand and the Marines hair in
his left.
There are evidences that Sandino is
supplied With arms and munitions from
sources outside of Nicaragua. The sus-
used by interests inimicai to the United
States to embroil it in a veritable war
for the purpose of showing that this
country is engaged in an aggressive
policy. The interests that are. as il is
believed. thus maintaining the rebel
ehieftain wish TO see the United States
prevented from any form of interyen-
ton in that region in order that they
may themselves exploit those lands
Tor their own selfish purposes.
As long as the Monroe Doctrine is
maintained as fundamental policy OF
this Government it must be prepared
to protect not only its own interests.
but those OF other governments in the
area which has for good many years
been beset by internal troubles due to
constitutional failures and to the lack
Of sense Of responsibility for the
asntenanee Of order and stability.
Critics Of the present policy o; the
United States in this respect do not as
nail the Monroe Doctrine. but question
. the means by which ii is maintained as
vita. principle affecting the Western
Hemisphere and protecting it from ag-
gressiTe actions by European powers
The spectacle Of American troops en-
eaging in a campaign against an alien
people for no specific advantages In not
pleasant. but 1t is necessity arising
nom the relations that have for more
than a century existed between the
strongest republic In the Western Hem
bpnere and weaker ones that are
now. thanks TO the wise, restrained and
temperate courses OF this Government
steadily Developing TO secure independ-
eace and efhcient organization.