Sandino Presents Arms

President Coolidge sent 5,000 Marines and bluejackets in 1926 to catch him. President Hoover branded him only last year as a desperado who must be exterminated. Lurking in the hills and jungles of northern Nicaragua, he and his 500 guerrillas slew 135 U. S. officers & men before President Hoover withdrew the Marines (TIME, Jan. 9). Last week Nicaragua's arch-desperado and Robin Hood, tough little General Augusto Cesar Sandino, flew down from his mystery base in the north to Managua, capital of Nicaragua, and was smartly saluted by 50 native National Guardsmen (trained by U. S. Marines).

As he stepped from his plane General Sandino looked the part: big pistol on hip, broad sombrero, soft white towel knotted carelessly around his neck, over-size field glasses dangling against unpressed khaki uniform, high top boots. Bellowed the National Guardsmen, "Viva Sandino!"

"Thank you, boys," cried the jaunty General. "I bring you peace and honor."

Driven in state to the Presidential Palace, General Sandino was asked to stay all night. President Juan Bautista Sacasa used to be a general. When he laid down his arms at the U. S.'s behest, his subordinate, Sandino, refused to do likewise, fought on, always declaring that he would stop fighting if and when the Marines were withdrawn. Before going to bed Sandino and Sacasa had a thoroughgoing talk, came to terms which they signed at midnight: 1) The undefeated Sandinistas will peacefully present their arms to the Sacasa Government within three months; 2) Sandinistas who present arms as agreed will receive squatters rights in the Coco River Valley, will be guarded by 100 Sandinista police under the Government's orders; 3) on public works in northern Nicaragua the Government will give preference in employment to Sandinistas.

"I have nothing against North Americans personally," said General Sandino before flying back to his jungle capital. "Let them come to Nicaragua--as workers, not as bosses. I salute the American people!"

Testily in Washington, Rear Admiral Alfred W. Johnson, who supervised two and a half years ago Nicaragua's Congressional elections, said: "I must point out that Sandino is not a fit subject for hero worship."

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