Piquant Guns

Nicaraguans know better than to fire at 6,000 U. S. marines who patrol, police and "neutralize" their country; but last week some of the marines began to fly about Nicaragua in airplanes, and Nicaraguans embraced enthusiastically the opportunity to snipe undetected at these planes from cover.

Rear Admiral Julian L. Latimer, commanding the U. S. forces, announced that near Leon last week a plane piloted by Captain H. D. Campbell, winner of last year's Schiff Memorial Trophy,* was struck twelve times by bullets which tore away part of the tail. One bullet struck another marine plane. Soon Admiral Latimer ordered the U. S. planes to mount machine guns and use them when fired upon. Since the U. S. is not at war with Nicaragua this development was piquant.

Piquant also are the recently announced terms under which 3,000 rifles have been sold by the U. S. War Department for $6 each to the Conservative Nicaraguan Government of President Adolfo Diaz (recognized by the U.S.). The contract is so drawn that even if the Liberal Nicaraguan Government of President Juan Sacasa (recognized by Mexico) should be returned at the next Nicaraguan election it will have to finance payment for these arms (now being used to fight it by the Conservatives).

During the week Liberal troops took Jinotega (near Matagalpa) from Conservative forces which quietly withdrew without offering battle.

President Diaz (recognized by the U. S.) announced last week that, aided by a $1,000,000 loan placed in Manhattan, he will be able from now on to pay his Conservative soldiers 50-c- a day. As an earnest of this the Conservative troops were reported to have received a flat payment of $2.50 each last week, pending the arrival of promised U. S. gold.

*For the greatest number of hours in the air without injury to personnel or equipment.