The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-08
NICARAGUA TASK
| HOPELESS, SAY
| U. S. MARINES
Do Job Right or Not at All,
View of Observers of
Situation.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIAfMs
seripps-HowArd Foreign Editor

@~NWNA1 ApASlkI
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.-Every
marine should be brought home
from Nicaragua or else enough
should be sent down there to do
the JOB assigned to them.
This expresses only mildly the
sentiment I find in service circles
mere, following the killing Of eight
and wclnding of four. marines in
the fighting which has fared up
again In the little Central American
republic.
II Washington intends to OCCUPY
Nicaragua until it Is pacified, these
observers feel, the administration
should forget politics and take steps
necessary to accomplish the task in
way better for national prestige
and better for the Nicaraguans
Themselves.
Facing Hopeless Task
Il 1t does not intend to do these
things, the forces Of occupation
should be brought home as quickly
al possible.
AS matters stand now, the ma
rnles are facing a hopeless job. It
VIII take a generation for them to
gel anywhere. Irregular warfare
such as cost the lives of detach-
ment OF men on New Years eve
Wlll go on. American prestige will
dWindle, and Latin American criti-
cisn of our policy will constantly
grow moro bitter.
Despite official reports that more
than 1000 marines now are in Mica
ragua, am informed reliably that
actually there are only about 700.
What with the work of training the
native constabulary, paper work at
headquarters, keeping up supply
service, communications and what
not inevitable in such an expedi-
ton, it is said that not more than
200 or so are available as fight
ing men.
All Subject to Attack
The marines are stationed at four
or five outposts in the iungles of
the interior, subject to attack at
any moment. The country is we'll
night impossible, save along family
marked trails through the tangled
growths. Patrols constantly are
on the move, however, being absent
two or three weeks at time.
It was such a detail as this that
was ambHshed near Ocotal on New
Years eve. They walked into
carefully prepared ambush and
never had chance from the begin
ming.
There is no such thing as a rebel
army" in Nicaragua. Those who
killed the eight marines are be-
lieved to live in the region and dis
persed to their farms after the fight
was over. The relief force brought
to the scene by a friendly native,
found only peaceful farmers work
ing on their land
Roads Needed Badly
Nicaragua never will see lasting
peace, marines or no marines, until
roads are built from coast to coast
and border to border, according to
officers who have seen service there.
For several months out Of every
year the only way to get from one
side of the country to the other Is
to take steamer all the way round,
through the Panama canal.
Bandits are able to prey on the
inhabitants of the interior at will,
because there is no way to get at
them. and any politico with any
personality at all can impress ma
tives into service and put full
f1edged revolution in the field be-
fore the government can get within
a months march of him
Nicaragua needs roads, schools,
sanitation and civil training and un-
less the United States is prepared
to lend her a hand to get these
things, observers back from the
scene declare, it should recall its
forces For this, officials here say,
there is no authority, but others re-
ply that there is no authority for
the permanent occupation of the
country and the war which now is
being Waged.