"Genuine Revolution"

U. S. Charge d'Affaires William J. McCafferty in San Salvador was genuinely alarmed last week. A Communist army had risen in three Pacific Coast provinces, attacked the towns of La Libertad, Ahuachapan and Sousonate, moved inland and was fighting for Santa Tecla, only eight miles from the capital. Telephone lines had been cut, railroads torn up. San Salvador was threatened next. Charge d'Affaires McCafferty was familiar with Central American revolutions led by generals or politicians. He had failed to get excited when such a revolt overthrew the Salvador Government two months ago, set up a military junta (TIME, Dec. 14). There was nothing to do but wait until the junta staged an election to legalize itself and obtain U. S. recognition. But this affair was different; Communists might not observe the rules of the revolutionary game. Into his office bustled the Italian Consul General, Bartolomeo Daglio, demanding U. S. protection for his nationals. Hastily Mr. McCafferty cabled the State Department for help. "It looks like a genuine Red revolution," he said.

Genuine it sounded to Washington. The Navy ordered a cruiser and two destroyers to Acajutla, on the Pacific coast of El Salvador, near Sousonate. Loaded with marines they set out from Balboa under full steam. Two Canadian destroyers, which happened to be passing, put into Acajutla, two days ahead of the U. S. ships. Great Britain sent a cruiser to prevent "much bloodshed."

Junta President General Maximiliano Martinez acted swiftly. Troops set out from San Salvador, chased the rebels into the mountains, where they burned and pillaged villages as they fled. Foreigners hastened to leave the country. Many women took refuge aboard the Canadian ships. Airplanes carried refugees to Mexico, where they told a tale of 26 government officials being lined up against a wall and shot. Others fled to Panama, reported that from 600 to 1,000 had been killed in the uprising. They blamed the failure of the U. S. and other countries to recognize the junta government for giving the Communists courage to revolt.

Within two days General Martinez was in control of the situation. With martial law enforced in eight provinces, the revolutionists had dwindled to a few scattered bands, hotly pursued. In San Salvador 300 young blades roamed the streets with carte blanche from the government to shoot every Communist at sight.

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