Evening star., 1955-01-18
War in COSTA Rica
(luieis Down After
U. 5. Planes Arrive
D. N. A..ssle,.d pr...

is.-The battlefront in Costa
Rica's war against rebels uuieted
last night following the arrival
Of four United States fighter
planes to bolster President Jose
Figueres' forces.
Two Of the three planes re-
portedly used by the insurgents
promptly few to Nicaragua and
we're seized by the Nicaraguan
government.
Despite rebel radio claims Of
big victories, q general staff COM
nnunique said yesterday no fights
Of any sort were reported In
Northwestern Costa Rica. the
only previously active front.
Government Claims Control.
Elsewhere in the country. the
general staf added. complete
calm" prevailed. with the gov-
ernment in absolute control Of
the situation"
Unofficial sources indicated
that the government was getting
ready for a big push In the
Santa Rosa area, about 20 miles
from the Nicaraguan frontier IN
the northwestern part Of the
country.
The general stan communique
contradicted claims Of the rebel
radio that insurgent troops de-
feated government forces In q
pitched battle at Santa Rosa.
The radio also claimed that
former Costa Rican President
Rafael Calderon Guardia, s'su-
preme commando" of the rebel
forces, sis now at the gates of
Liberia"
A key city ON the Inter-Amer-
ican Highway, Liberia is shout
20 miles south Of Santa Rosa
and I38 miles northwest Of san
Jose. It has been strafed sew
eral times by rebel planes.
Figueres Confident.
Mr.. Figueres appeared con-
fident Of finai victory after greet.
ing the American ferry pilots
who landed the four World War
II type F51D Mustang fighters
at FL Coco Airport. outside San
Jose.
Things are going well," he
commented. Il can see little
choice for them tthe rebels) but
to surrender and 60 back TO
Nicaragua"
Costa Rica has accused neigh
boring Nicaragua of aiding the
rebels with arms, training and
supplies, q charge Nicaragua
denies. A fiye-nation inyestiga-
ton commission sent by the Or
ganization OF American States
last week said Nicaragua was the
base Of the insurgent attack.
which started last Tuesday.
The GAS commission arrived
In Managua. capital Of Mica
ragua, yesterday to investigate
Nicaraguan claims that the gov
ernment Of President Anastasio
Somoza had no hand in the OUT
break. Mr.. Somoza told the
group bis country had taken mo
part whatsoever In the fight
ing. kss Essssss
Nicarakua Backs Up Claim.
Backing up their claim Of nom
Intervention, Nicaraguan ofii-
cials announced that two rebel
ATS trainer planes had landed
at Rivas, Nicaragua, yesterday
and were promptly seized. Ma
tionality Of the pilots was not
disclosed.
There was no mention Of
fighter plane the rebels have
been reported using.
The OAS Council approved
the sale Of the United States
plans to Costa Rica, repeatedly
for q token price Of 81 each.
The United States pilots who
ferried them to Ell Coco will
stay In San Jose a week to train
Costa Ricans In handling them.
The Costa Rican Air Force pre-
viously consisted OF an old sim
gle-engine trainer and some
borrowed commercial transports.
A United States Air Force
C-54 Skymaster transport ac-
companying the fighters carried
spare parts and maintenance
personnel. The guns on the
lighters were loaded when they
arrived.
Costa Rican pilots were so
anxious to iiy the Mustangs that
they spent the night getting
checked out on them. But It
was doubtful whether even the
most eager would be allowed to
ny them on combat missions in
less than two days.
Caldcron Takes Charge.
The rebel radio announcement
identifying Ex-President Calde-
ron IS supreme commander OF
the insurgents said he took
charge Sunday after reaching
rebel headquarters from out
side" Costa Rica.
Mr.. Calderon served as presi.
dent from 1910 TO 1914. He was
exiled following the successful
revolution led by Mr.. Figueres in
ls48 and reportedly has been
living recently In Mexico.
The broadcast said Can't.
Teodor Picado. jr.. son Of the
President who succeeded Mr..
Calderon. remained rs rebel |
chief of stafi. The younger
Picado. . graduate of West Point, |
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