Evening star., 1932-08-28
NICARAGUA TO PAY
MARINES FOR AID
Officers and Men Cheered
After Spending Own Money
to Live.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The officers and the men Of the
American Marine detachment sent 70
Nicaragua to supervise the presidential
elections are cheered at the prospect of
the Nicaraguan government refunding
them the amount of money they have
been spending out of their own pockets
for their upkeep in Nicaragua.
According to reports received here last
night, the Nicaraguan National Bank
has granted the Nicaraguan govern
ment a loan of 81 100000. A sum of
about $150,000 is stated to have been
set aside by the government for the
expenses of the American Marines de-
tailed for special duty to Nicaragua.
For while it appeared these men
would have to pay for their own upkeep,
although they did not go to Nicaragua
on their own choice.
The State Department at the request
of President Moncada asked the Navy
Department to send 600 Marines to
Nicaragua to supervise the polling
booths. Congress. however did not vote
the necessary appropriations for these
men and when they arrived in Mica
ragua they found that the Nicaraguan
government had no money for expenses,
Marines cannot GO on strike-they had
TO stick it out, and paid out of their
regular monthly pay for their food and
ether needs which in past years were
paid by the American and the Mica
raguan governments.
From the loan the Nicaraguan gov
errment now expects to refund the
money advanced by the Marines.
Presence Important.
Their presence in the Central Amer
ican republic is reported to be very
important this year. when the elections
promise to be really exciting; as eX-
citing at least as in 1927, when Sec
retary of State Frank B. Kellogg found
it necessary to send to Nicaragua Is
men of war and 5000 Marines.
There are two leading candidates in
the field today One is Adolfo Diaz
and the other Juan B. Sacasa.
Diaz, who is the candidate of the
Conservative party, has been in Office
once before, in 1926. He is closely as
sociated with an American lumber firm,
in whose employ he was before becom-
ing President, and Is naturally strong
iy pro-American. He has been recent |
ay in New York, whence he sailed for |
his country only a few days ago. He
close cooperation between the United |
States and Nicaragua.
SacaSa is the candidate of the Liberal |
party. He is considered in many quar- |
tiers as man with advanced radical |
tdeas. But his tendencies are on the |
whole pro-American, because he had |
been Nicaraguan Minister at Wash |
ington and believes that Nicaragua's |
future depends greatly on her friend |
ship with the United States.
Supported by Mancado.
President Mancado, a Conservative, |
Is reported to have sided with his po- |
litical rival Sacasa, whom he is trying |
to elect as President.
Although the betting in Nicaragua |
Is on Diaz for President-he is reported |
to have returned from New York with !
ample electoral funds-the split in the |
Conservative party may bring into Of |
flee the Liberal SacaSa. The fight will |
be intense and a certain amount of |
trouble is expected.
In the background appears that per-
sistent threat to Nicaragua's internal |
peace-Sandino. The famous Nicara- |
guam bandit leader is reported to have |
prepared careful plan to attack on the ,
eve Of the election the government and |
the American forces at present in
Nicaragua. His strength has been con-
eiderably increased in the last year.
Nicaragua has felt the pinch of the |
world economic depression and the men
who in more prosperous times were
peaceful citizens have become Sandin-
fstis Sandino does not offer them |
much pay but there always is the pros
pect Of remunerative loot and the leader |
takes care that his men have enough |
to eat and drink and are more or less |
clothed. Whatever they can make from |
raids Is just so much to the good.
Provided With Guns.
The Sandino bands are reported to |
be provided with plenty Of small arms, |
ammunition and machine guns. With !
his largely increased bands the Mica |
raguan leader intends to precipitate a |
new civil war in Nicaragua and is |
making no secret of it. He Is broad /
casting the fact to the world He is |
reported to have set the time Of his |
campaign two weeks before the begin |
ming Of the elections and boasts that he |
swil drive the American Marines and |
stheir friends out of the country in no !
time.
Whether he will be able to make good |
his promise, or whether he will wait /
untn the end Of November when all |
the American Marines are scheduled to |
!1eave Nicaragua, Is difficult to say. The |
tNicaraguan National Guard and the |
Marines are preparing for any eventu-
slity.
MARINES AWAIT RFSCITF