Evening star., 1928-04-26
MARINES SET BASE
NEARER SANDING
Move $50 Miles North-Scoh
at Tales of Rebels Killing
and PIundering.
RY the A Asaneinted Press.

Hy the ASSncIAtPU tFeAs-
MANAGUA. Nicaragua April 26.--In-
tense exitement prevailed along the
east coast of Nicaragua today as the
Marine base was moved some $50 miles
farther north nearer the scene of rebel
operations.
Natives and employees who fled from
the Pts Pts mining district, in the face
of the advance of Rebel Gen. Augustine
Sandino, brought with them reports Of
his depredations as he came eastward
from Matagalpa. Tales were told by
Nicaraguans arriving on the coast OF
murder and plunder by the insurgents,
especially of those who did not SYM
pathize with Sandino's objective-driv-
ing the Marines from Nicaragua.
Brigade headquarters said these tales
we're exaggerated. scoffed at reports that
Sandino had large and well mounted
force and announced the removal of the
east coast base from Bluefields to Puer-
TO Cabezas (Brangmans Bluff.
BritOn Makes Escape.
Only one foreigner was definitely
known to have escaped before the rebel
advance into the mining region. Harry
Amphlett. British manager of the La
Luz y Los Angeles mine was safe at
Puerto Cabezas.
The fate OF all other foreigners in
the region was in doubt, but 1t was
hoped that IL might be cleared up some-
what with the return OF Marine planes
sent on a scouting expedition over the
region
Brigade headquarters said the planes
few over the Pts Pts district, but that
a small mechanical difficulty forced one
of them TO alight at Jalapa. In Nueva
Segovia The base from which the
planes flew was kept secret for military
reasons
Interest centered in the fate of
George B. Marshall. assistant manager
of La Luz. The customs collector at
Puerto Cabezas reported to his chief at
Managua on Tuesday that Marshall had
been slain. The Associated Press cor
respondent al Bluefields, which is 80
miles further from the mining district
than Puerto Cahezas, sent a dispatch
yesterday saying:
Assistant Manager Marshall is held
by Gen. Giron. who commands the
raiders. All commiSSary supplies, mules
and ore were taken. Marshall reports
being we'll treated as long as Gtron
stays by him.
Bonanza Mine Looted.
"The Bonanza Mine was looted An
attempt is being made to work the
same by the raiders; IL is thought that
Marshall is being held to assist"
Brigade headquarters said 1t had a
report that Marshall had been captured,
but no report that he had been re-
leased
The Bluefield dispatch also said that
First Lieut.. Tebbs of the Marines had
to retire after making contact with
the rebels, "due to overwhelming oppo-
sition"
He is out again with larger patrol, :"
1t continued. "All supplies the raiders
couldn't take from both mines and
natives were destroyed. The band was
made up Of Hondurans. Costa Ricans
and Nicaraguans and the raiders were
well armed and mounted. The nature
of the land makes operations dif1cult." i"
The Managua brigade headquarters
denied that the Marines were forced to
retire and also that Sandino had 500
men with him They believed that
Sandino had not more than $50 men
and scant ammunition
Marine and naval officials on the east
coast advised brigade headquarters that
Gen. Giron with probably $50 men ar
rived In the Pis Pts mining district about
the middle of April. Cash, merchan-
disc ana live stock were seized at La
Lug. Gen. Giron then went northward
to Bonanza and Neptune mines Be-
fore departing from La Luz. however,
he told mine officials he would return
in few days, at which time he would
do more damage. Natives and employees
fed 70 the coast.