New Britain herald., 1928-04-24
MARINES FACING
 DIFFICULT TASK
Will Try to Recapture Mines Held by Sandino

Managua, Nicaragua. April 2i- fP-American marines faced hazardous task today in wrestling rom rebel General Augustine San dino two American gold mines he was believed to have seized with their staffs. Fear was expressed for the safety of the captured men.
 w. J. Crampton, collector of GUS toms at Puerto CabeZas on the northeast coast. reported two mines near the headquarters Of the Pis Pis ilver have been robbed by rebels.
 While neither marine headquar- tors nor the American legation re- ceived further information from Nicaraguan sources it was believed that La Luz y Los Angeles and Eo- nanZa mines were seized. This belief was strenthened on receipt of word from New York that LaLuz Los Angeles mine had been confiscated and its staff including three Amer jeans, an Enelishman and a Nor Meeian made prisoner.
 Familiar With Region
 i>'1tlil stuNlltS itLtiNth iif1t st4l CT Sandino captured the town of Sangssang on the Coco river said he was working toward the Pis Pis riv- 1T region in order to obtain food. supplies, ammunition and dynamite with which 10 make mobs. Sandino is very familiar with the region lav- ing gone to Puerto Cabezas to assist l)r. Juan Sacasa in his revolt last year later returning 10 the interior to join forces with General Moncada. then commander of the rebel forces.
 With the rainy season beginning and making troop movements diff cult if is almost impossible to reach the 1'ls Fls mining section from the interior. There are no roads and the trails in the rainy season have be- come almost impossible. It will be Hecessary to send Marines up the Prinzapolka river in small Indian canoes known as pitpans. These small craft are the only ones that can ascend the stream which is full Of dangerous rapids. Where the river becomes impossible. they will have to make an overland march of two or three days to the mining re- zion which is about loo miles in land from Prinzapolka on the east coast. This march will be hazard ous trip through 9 tropical jungle.
 It was believed that additional marines would have to be sent to the east coast either from the United States or from the interior of Nicaragua since Sandino has shifted the scene of his operations to q new and undeNeloped country which is almost inaccessible. This presented marines headquarters with q very difficult problem.
 Is Richest Mine
 The La Luz y Los Angeles mine has been worked for more than 20 years and is considered one of the richest in Nicaragua. President Diaz who worked in the office of the mine about v years ago said it was one 6f the best in he eastern section.
 Most Nicaraguan mines were clos cd down during the last three years because of the revolution and poor transportation facilities La Luz and the Bonanza mine to the north. however. continued operations de- spite difficulties. ....
 Sandino destroyed the san Albino mine belonging 10 Charles Buffers of San Francisco last June after ex- tracing and seizing what gold he could. All mine material of any value was either carried away or de- stroyod. Sandino is regarded as a fair mechanic having worked if mines in Honduras and Mexico.
 Should the rebel leader destroy these two American mines as he did the one last June it will be a great economic loss to the country since few Nicaraguan mines arc working at I profit
 Those held prisoner by sandino. as identified by b. Watson Fletcher, of New York, one of the owners of the La Luz y Los Angeles mine, are: Harry r. -Amphlett, British sub ject. superintendent: George B. Mar shall. Of New York. assistant super intendent; l.. E. Mulberry, of Woods Nil'e, N. H., Roy Burley, also an American. and Peter Petersen, q Norwegian whose sister lives i'll Brooklyn.
 Mr. Fletcher said that as soon as he learned of the seizure he talked 10 Secretary Kellogg by telephone from New York and was assured