Evening star., 1948-12-19
COSTA Rica Rebel Chief.
Said Somoza Promised.
Aid, Prisoner Reports
BY the Associated Press

bf me ASSociofed FreSS
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Dec. 18.
An invader prisoner told news
men today that DR.. Rafael A.
Galderon Guardia, leader of the
forces invading Costa Rica, had
said Nicaraguan War Minister
AnaStasio Somoza promised him
all help possible.
The prisoner, Florencio Ordones,
was one of 80 men captured In the
fighting in Northwestern Costa Rica
and questioned today by a commits
sion Of the Organization Of Ameri-
can States.
The commission is investigating
charges by Jose Figueres, leader of
the Costa Rican military govern
ment, that the invasion was
launched more than a week ago
from Nicaragua.
Newsmen are Excluded.
Newsmen were not permitted to
attend the commission session. The
commission issued q statement say
ing Gen. Miguel Angel Ramirez and
"other leaders" of the Caribbean
Legion also had been interviewed
Gen. Ramirez, who comes from
the Dominican Republic, has been
called the leader of the legion. That
organization has been described as
a body Of Central American exiles
with the avowed purpose of over
throwing the Dominican Republic.
Gen. Ramirez told neWsmen yester-
day he had turned all legion arms
over to Mr.. Fgueres two days
before.
Mr.. Figueres said today there is
no such thing as the Caribbean
legion"
Gen. Somoza, in disavowing
ANY connection with the Costa
tRican invasion, said in Managua
December, II that Costa Rican
iofficials should be the ones ac-
,cused for maintaining the Ca
,ribbean legion in Costa Rica.)
Will Visit Front.
The commission plans to leave
San Jose at 7 am. tomorrow for
Liberia, general field headquarters
for government forces fighting the
Invaders.
Earlier today the commission
viewed rifles and blankets which
Costa Rican officials said they had
captured from the invaders.
.Mr. Figueres pointed out two
rifles bearing the Nicaraguan coat
of-arns and a blanket with the
initials &C. NJ" standing for the
Nicaraguan National Guard.
Mr.. Figueres joked. That stands
for good neighbor, huh?"
The commission, which represents
the American states of the Western
Hemisphere mutual defense pact,
went into formal session be-
hind closed doors at the Foreign
Ministry. 1t arrived from Wash
ington late yesterday and was
greeted by thousands of Costa
Ricans who cheered and blew sirens.
Told TRUTH Says Figueres.
Mr.. Figueres, who was at the head
of the table, afterwards said, I'VE
exlained our case and we told the
truth"
AIN statement the commission
promised to ~act as quickly as pos
sible.'
At the same time the Costa Rican
chief of staff reported that troops
of the national guard of Nicaragua" "
were Withdrawing from La Cruz, II
miles inside Northwest Costa RIGA,
to Puerto Soley, nearer the frontier
Oh Salinas Bay. He said the troops
We're part of the invading force
which captured La Cruz Decem-
Ter II.
H (Nicaraguan newspapers said
sCosta Rican rebels" had aban-
honed La Cruz and were advanc-
ing to more strategic positions
deeper inside Costa Rica)
Peruvian Member Absent.
The commission members are Jose
Maria Bello of Brazil, Silvio Villegas
OF Colombia. Paul c. Daniels of the
United States, and Luis Quintanilla
of Mexico. Juan Bautista Lavalle
OF Peru, was not present. Commits
sion members said he did not come
because he was i'll.
Z Gn Washington it was said
Peru ordered Mr.. Lavalle, the
designated commission chairman,
mot to participate because Costa
.Rica has refused to recognize the
new revolutionary government OF
PERU
Mr.. Daniels said the commission
vail stay here as long as necessary
to complete its investigation, and
will visit the front before going to
Nicaragua to make 9 similar inquiry
there.