LATIN AMERICA: Battlefield

Once again U. S. marines were sent last week to occupy Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. Round about the city marched and countermarched the armies of the usurper, President Chamorro and the Liberal counter-revolutionary leader, onetime Vice President Sacassa. Total casualties for the week were roughly estimated at 100. After a particularly fierce skirmish, President Chamorro courteously requested the commander of the U. S. gunboat Tulsa, which was anchored at the port of Corinto, to steam seven miles up the coast to the scene of battle and take care of the wounded, since neither army was equipped with a medical corps. Dutifully the Tulsa steamed out to tidy up the battlefield, found no battlefield to tidy at the spot designated by President Chamorro, returned to Corinto. Subsequent reports declared the battle to have taken place some 30 miles inland.

Meanwhile Rear Admiral Julian L. Latimer arrived on board his flagship the armored cruiser Rochester, anchored off the Nicaraguan fortress of Bragmans Bluff, on the eastern coast, awaited orders from Washington.

Presidents Wilson, Harding and Coolidge kept U. S. marines in continuous occupation of the capital of Nicaragua for 13 years (1912-25). No sooner were the marines withdrawn (TIME, July 13, 1925) than General Chamorro overthrew the Liberal Administration elected during the U. S. occupation and has carried on as "President" ever since though recognized by no foreign power.