“We Never Surrender”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 10

“We Never Surrender”

U.S. Marines’ Heroic Fight in Nicaragua American Marines, it is now* known, made at Ocotal in Nicaragua, a desperate stand, against odds, which will rank as the fiercest event in the history of the United States Marine Corps as well as in the warlike records of the Central American Republic. It is now revealed that the Marines numbered only 39. They were assisted by about 50 local constabulary; and these 90 fought all day a battle against a force of six times their number. Then, near the end of the day, American bombing airplanes arrived and turned the tide of battle in favour of the Marines. DERRING-DO OR DIE When the day of battle began the Marines were surrounded within the town by overwhelming numbers of enemies, and it looked for a time as if all would be slaughtered. At one stage General Sandino, the “Liberal rebel’’ leader, who was at the head of the besieging 500, called upon the Marines to surrender. He pointed out that they were cut off and without water; and that they would eventually have to capitulate. Captain Hatfield, the U.S. Commander of Marines, replied: “We have received your message; and we reply, ‘With or without water, the American Marine never surrenders. We remain here until we die or are captured.” DIARY OF BATTLE I am able to cable the description of the fight given by the Mayor of Ocotal in person. The Mayor says: “Sandino opened fire on the city from all directions at 1 o’clock in the morning. “There were shouts and cheers for Sandino, and cries of ‘Death to the Americans.’ “Fighting became general; but it was soon evident that the stronghold of the Americans could not yet be taken. Our constabulary fought bravely. “In the Municipality Park machine gpns were sending forth death everywhere. A Browning on the Commandancia closed the approaches, while two Lewis guns raked the yard, and American sharpshooters kept the corners clear. “Any one so imprudent as to cross met with death. “Yet the hosts of Sandino swept on, attempting to capture the park and to use the stone wall for protection. “Daylight comes (says a later memorandum by the Mayor), and the Americans have not retreated an inch. Our constabulary also maintain their positions. “American sharpshooters are piling up the dead. “At sunrise General Rufo Marino falls fatally wounded at a corner where seven of his followers have been killed. “Rufo was a young man of brave appearance. As he had been the right hand of Sandino his death caused some confusion among the attacking forces. “For a time the battle was less fierce, and the rebels took advantage of the lull to loot whatever was left at hand to loot.”

LIKE LIONS AND LIKE EAGLES “At this time (adds the Mayor of Ocotal) Porfirio Sanchez and others of Sandino’s rebel generals offer to me and to the Director of Police safety and protection if we would surrender. We refuse.

“Captain Hatfield and his Marines are fighting like lions (adds the mayor’s diary, in a note timed 10 a.rn.). “Two airplanes are seen. They fly low and fire on Sandino’s forces, and then they fly away. “But we know they will come back with more planes and more bombs. “The people are becoming frightened. A delegation of non-combatants has come to ask me to speak to Sandino requesting him to retire for the sake of humanity.

“3 p.m.—Five airplanes are seen. They approach in battle formation. “They get in line, flying low, and open fire with their ten machine-guns. “They drop bombs on Sandino’s army, which is now beginning to retreat.

“Explosions of several bombs are heard consecutively. “It is as if hell had broken loose. There are quick explosions, and then a heavy thundering; one great roar of sound is indescribable. “The bombardment lasts about 3U minutes.

"At 5 o’clock it is all over.” Thus ends one of the most piquant battle dispatches ever written—an hour-by-hour record by the leading civilian in a beleagured place, with allday fighting ending up with repeated air attacks on the besiegers. If the Marines “fought like lions (as the report says), the airplanes fought like eagles; and the vultures came later, to the choosing of the slam. When the day was done the fields about Ocotal were strewen with dead Nicaraguans, and great vultures were seen swooping down to their grim work General Sandino and the remnants of his army fled to their fastnesses in the mountains; and they are now being hunted by airplanes. SANDINO’S THREAT Sandino was formely a lieutenant with General Moncada, who was the “Liberal rebel” commander-in-chief in the recent revolution. He had refused to surrender undei the American peace terms; and he swore he would drink “Yankee blood. After the declaration of peace Sandino turned outlaw, preying on the coun-try-side and terrorising the inhabitants. He had at first about 200 followers; but he also recruited 300 or more on a promise of “loot and pillage after an easy victory over the Americans at Ocotal.” Captain Hatfield lost one marine killed and one wounded.