Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-17
Americans Warned Native
Guard Must Be Relied Upon
by Those Willing to Remain
in Country.
CONSUL AT MANAGUA
TO AVOID DIFFICULTY
Instructions Sent on Evacuation
Movements Citizens Wishing to
Leave-Cruiser Memphis at
Puerto Cabeza-Representative
Fish Hits Policy.

BY the Associated Press.
Secretary Stimson today gave notice
to American citizens in Nicaragua that
the American Government could not
undertake general protection Of Its citi-
zens in that country.
The notification. sent through the
legation at Managua and the consulate
at Biuefields, recommended that all
Americans who do not feel secure under
the protection afforded them by the
Nicaraguan government through the
Nicaragusn National Guard. Withdraw
from the country or at least to the
coast towns, whence they can be pro-
tected or evacuated in case Of necessity.
Forces Not to Go Inland.
Those who remain the official
notice said. do so at their own risk
and must not expect American forces
to be sent inland to their aid"
The State Department prefaced its
recommendation with the following In
structions to the legation at Managua
and the Blueflelds consulate:
In view of the outbreak OF banditry
in portions of Nicaragua hitherto free
from such violence, you VIII ADVISE
American citizens that this Govern
rnent cannot undertake general protec-
ton of Americans throughout that
country with American forces.
ITO do so would lead to difficulties
ana commitments which this Govern
ment does not propose to undertake.
Protection Within Range.
In announcing these instructions,
Secretary StiInSon said that with Amer
icafl warships at three of the four ports
of any importance on the eastern coast
of Nicaragua, full protection would BE-
given American lives and property
within those port cities
The commanding 0fieers Of the
cruiser Memphis, at Puerto Cabezas;
the gunboat Asheville and the gunboat
Sacramento were authorized to land
forces If necessary to safeguard the
lives of American citizens and their
property in those ports. Forces from
the vessels, however, VIII not be sent
inland.
The Memphis, with complement Of
40 officers and 470 men, arrived at
Puerto Cabezas at 6 am. today after
rapid run from Guantanamo. Cuba.
The Asheville left half an hour later for
Cape Gracias Dios. As miles to the
north. The Sacramento was due to
reach Bluefields, l4o miles south OF
Puerto CabeZas, at 10 am. today.
All three of these ports have either
been attacked or threatened by insur-
gent activities.
The only remaining port OF irn-
portance on Nicaragua's eastern coast,
Graytown, has not yet been menaced. The
cruiser Rochester, with Rear Admiral
Arthur St. Clair Smith, commander OF
the Special Service Squadron in Central
American waters, aboard, was ready at
the Canal Zone to proceed north TO
relieve the Sacramento at Bluefields II
necessary.
Result of Activities.
Secretary Stimson summarized the
situation in Eastern Nicaragua as the
result Of what appeared TO be the move
rent of insurgents across the country
from west to east by four river routes,
the Coco, the Wawa, Rio Grande and
the Siquia or Escondido, bringing them
into the areas behind Cape Gracias a
Dios. Puerto Cabezas and Blueflelds.
No trustworthy estimate of their
numbers was available, he said, but an
idea of their strength and methods of
operation could be obtained from the
report of Marine aviators who few
over Cape Gracias a Dios while the
band, which had looted that port. were
retreating. That band contained only
Is men.
They operated much as the Indians
did in American colonial times, Slim
son said. They move in small bands
by canoes along the rivers attacking
outlying settlements. logging camps or
mines, loot and kill or carry Of cap
tives, to be killed in cold blood after
ward, he added.
Seven of the American victims in the
region above Puerto Cabezas were killed
in this way.
Stimson made public several belated
reports describing the raid on Cape
Gracias Dios and giving once more
the names of eight American civilians
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