US response Utuado uprising

p-47 thunderbolt - type of military aircraft bombed jayuya , utuado

the united states declared martial law in puerto rico , sent puerto rico national guard, commanded puerto rico adjutant general major general luis r. esteves , under orders of gov. luis muñoz marín, attack various towns involved in nationalist uprisings. in case of jayuya, town attacked air u.s. bomber planes , land-based heavy artillery.

the nationalist leaders in utuado captain of utuado branch of cadets of republic heriberto castro , damián torres. according plans of albizu campos, nationalists put armed resistance in respective towns , retreat utuado. once in utuado, nationalists continue fighting against armed forces of united states, until united nations security council took notice , intervened in favor.

headline in el imparcial day after bombing

in utuado group of 32 nationalists fought against local police. group reduced 12 men, , retreated house of damián torres - promptly strafed .50-caliber machine guns fire, ten american p-47 thunderbolt planes. 3 men died aerial gunfire.

the national guard arrived later day , ordered 9 men survived attack surrender. in addition 3 men killed p-47 thunderbolt planes, these 4 aircraft carried rockets 5 inches wide, , bomb loads of 2,500 pounds, inflicted massive damage houses, buildings , roads of both jayuya , utuado.

once nationalists surrendered, forced march down dr. cueto street , local town plaza - shoes, belts , personal belongings removed. group taken behind police station where, without trial, gunned down. 5 nationalists killed: heriberto castro, julio colón feliciano, agustín quiñones mercado, antonio ramos , antonio gonzález. gonzález, 17 years old bayoneted. 4 survivors wounded in became known la masacre de utuado (the utuado massacre).

united states law mandated u.s. president harry truman take direct charge in matters concerning puerto rico. in addition, governor of puerto rico, luis muñoz marín required consult directly white house. did not occur.