The Second Honduran Civil War (Spanish: Segunda guerra civil hondureña), also known as the Reclamation Revolution (Spanish: Revolución Reivindicatoria), was a civil war that took place in Honduras in 1924. This was the first conflict in Honduras where airplanes were used for aerial bombardment, and new war tactics inherited from the First World War were employed.
Background Post First Civil War government (1919–1924) General Rafael López Gutiérrez, who had become President of Honduras, annulled the result of the 1919 general elections for president. The candidates in 1919 were Dr. Juan Ángel Arias Boquín for the “Arismo” Movement of the Honduran Liberal Party, Dr. Policarpo Bonilla, former president of the nation and candidate of the “Constitutional Liberal Party,” and Doctor Tiburcio Carias Andino, candidate of the National Party of Honduras. López Gutiérrez, not satisfied with the results, ordered that the National Congress could not resolve by ruling in favor of the virtual winner who would be Carias Andino by obtaining the majority of votes and as the candidate of the National Party.
López attempt to stay in power
On January 30, 1924, the settlement plan between the Liberal Party and the National Party was deemed to have failed. These conversations were known as "Plan Paz Barahona".
As there was no agreement, General Tiburcio Carías and the Dr. Juan Ángel Arias, together with 15 Cariístas and 18 Aristas from the Chamber of Deputies, supported Dr. Miguel Paz Barahona to be president of the nationcountry in the National Congress of Honduras. As such, General Tiburcio Carias Andino secretly left the capital, Tegucigalpa, at 7:00 p.m., along with him several armed and leftist friends of his. His departure was interpreted as a signal to begin a war, and during the night, others left the capital to join the ranks of the newly formed "Revolution". January 31, 1924, was the last day of the Constitutional Government. The National Congress held a session in the afternoon, with the assistance of the Diplomatic Corps, but there was not enough quorum and the session was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Later, another session was held to select a president, or even a presidential designate, at the last minute, but there was still no quorum. At 9:00 p.m., the National Congress adjourned indefinitely. President López Gutiérrez proclaimed himself dictator the next day, on February 1, 1924.2
Members of the opposing Liberal Party and the National Party saw López Gutiérrez as a threat to democracy in Honduras and national security, since the General commanded and managed the Armed Forces of Honduras at will. On February 1, important social, political and executive Hondurans, including businessman Don Santos Soto Rosales, the wealthiest Honduran; engineer Héctor Medina Planas; attorney José María Matute; former Tegucigalpa Governor Raúl Toledo López; F. Alfredo Medrano, Guillermo Moncada, former Minister of War Dionisio Gutiérrez, left for El Salvador, along with other officers such as General Jacobo Galindo, General Joaquín Medina Planas, General Ramón Alvarado Mendieta, and Colonel Ricardo Lardizábal. A contingent of revolutionary troops, under the command of General J. Innocente Triminio Osorio, had left Tegucigalpa on January 30 and gathered a group of 300followers of the Barrio Viera.
During the First Honduran Civil War in 1920, the Honduran government had been fascinated by the power of the air armed wing, which had its scenarios in the First World War, and it bought its first British aircraft, a Bristol F.2B registered H-9.3, followed by more aircraft between 1921 and 1923, fundamental weapons in this new civil war. Meanwhile, López Gutiérrez declared a "state of siege" and mobilizeds his troops.
International reaction On February 27, 1924, the governments of China, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy demanded the United States government to protect its citizens living in Honduras. At the time the country experienced an economic boom that led many Chinese, European (Spaniards, French, Italian, Jewish), and Arab immigrants to arrive to Honduras. Northern Honduras regions had a multitude of English speaking communities. Because of this, the United States played a role during the war by sending in warships.
Movements
Western Honduras On February 3, General Vicente Tosta Carrasco and General Gregorio Ferrera took the town square of Marcala for the revolution and march towards the west of the country.
Central Honduras By February 4, General Mariano Bertrand Anduray in command of 300 men had taken the Plaza of the city of Siguatepeque.
Northern Honduras On February 4, Yoro Square was attacked by a revolutionary force under the command of Colonel Abraham López and Colonel Emeterio Rivera. Several men died in combat, including Colonel López and Colonel Timoteo Reyes.
Proclamation of the revolution to the dictator On February 5, in the town of "Las Manos", near the border with the Republic of Nicaragua, the General Staff of the Constitutional Army issued a statement for General López Gutiérrez, supporting Dr. Tiburcio Carias Andino as the rightful President of Honduras.
The Honduran government asks for financial aid On February 5, the Minister of the Interior and Justice, Dr. José Ángel Zúñiga Huete, asked businessmen, bankers and other Honduran and foreign merchants for the sum of US$200,000 in order to crush the proclaimed revolution and lift the country. Some of them refused to grant loans and a few others voluntarily gave money. The U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Franklin E. Morales, left Tegucigalpa in order to meet with Carias Andino and propose a solution.
Western Honduras On February 7, the city of Gracias fell to rebel forces commanded by Generals Vicente Tosta Carrasco and Gregorio Ferrera, who then continued to Santa Rosa de Copán.
Battle of Jacaleapa The battle was fought on February 9 outside Jacaleapa, near the Nicaraguan border, between the revolutionary forces commanded by Generals José Innocente Triminio and Camilo R. Reina Rivera, Colonels Pedro Francisco Triminio, Constantino S. Ramos, Manuel Valladares Núñez, Ricardo Lozano, and Armando B. Reina; and the government forces, under the command of Generals Sánchez, Teófilo Cárcamo, Cámbar, Fonseca and Mejía. Although details are lacking, it is known that there were many deaths and injuries. General Cárcamo was wounded and taken prisoner by the Revolutionaries. The Revolutionaries had to withdraw after running out of ammunition. Among the heads of the revolutionary forces were officers, including General José Innocente Triminio and General Camilo R. Reina Rivera, officers Colonel Pedro Francisco Triminio, Colonel Constantino S. Ramos, Colonel Manuel Valladares Núñez, Colonel Ricardo Lozano, Colonel Armando B. Reina, and others. In the thick of the battle the revolutionaries have done feats of courage and recklessness. Colonel Armando B. Reina has been mortally wounded in the fighting, when he threw himself on a machine gun of the dictatorial forces.Coronel Pedro Francisco Triminio Osorio, hermano del general José Inocente Triminio Osorio; Pedro antes de unirse a la revolución era Comandante de Talanga Colonel Pedro Francisco Triminio has been seriously wounded, Colonel Ricardo Lozano has received four bullets that have left him in serious condition, despite their inferior weapons, the revolutionary forces are in good shape.
Western Honduran front Feb. 10. The Plaza of the city of Santa Rosa de Copán is taken at the hands of the rebel forces under the command of General Vicente Tosta Carrasco and General Gregorio Ferrera. The Plaza of the city of Ocotepeque voluntarily joined the revolutionaries.
Central Honduras Feb. 10. Honduran government espionage detects that in the vicinity of the town of Lamaní, there is a rebel barracks with 2,000 men ready to take Tegucigalpa under the command of General Bertrand Anduray. The ruler López Gutiérrez sends forces to the outskirts of the capital, placing machine guns and cannons on the Cerro "el Picacho", the hill "el Berrinche", the hill "Sipile" and the hill "Juan A. Laínez" in order to protect and detain an attack.
Northwest
February 13. The city of Santa Bárbara falls, without much resistance to the rebel generals Tosta Carrasco and Ferrera. General Tosta continued through the Valleys of Quimistan in order to reach San Pedro Sula.
Eastern Honduran front February 13. The city of San Marcos de Colón is attacked by the rebels under the command of General Francisco Martínez Fúnez, around 45 were killed, the garrison in the Plaza resisted and repelled the attack, the rebels fled to the border with Nicaragua.
Puerto Cortes
The USS "Rochester" cruiser of the US Navy is anchored in Puerto Cortés awaiting orders.
Southern Honduras February 14. The American cruiser USS "Milwaukee", of 7,200 tons and 110,000 horsepower, has anchored in the Amapala bay.
18 February. General Leonardo Nuila has recovered the square of the city of La Paz, after a short shootout against the revolutionary forces under the command of Colonel Moisés Nazar, who the next day, in a counterattack
Battle of "El Pedregalito" February 20. The government troops under the command of General Peralta arrive at night at the place "Alauca", four leagues from "Pedregalito" and "Sabana Redonda", where General Tiburcio Carías Andino is with his army. At about 5:00 a.m., a fierce combat began that lasted all day, from which many dead and wounded on both sides have emerged. The revolutionaries despite their dangerous shortage of ammunition, sustained the long and continuous fire of the government army. Among the revolutionary leaders were General José Innocente Triminio, General Mariano Sanabria and General Camilo R. Reina, and Colonel Pedro Triminio, Colonel Calixto Carías, Colonel Constantino S. Ramos, Colonel Manuel Valladares Núñez and others. Colonel Carías was seriously wounded. After the battle, and due to lack of a park and sufficient weapons, the revolutionary forces had to withdraw from the site, taking the dictatorial forces.
Battle of Comayagua February 21. General Gregorio Ferrera attacked in the early hours and by surprise the Plaza of the colonial city and former capital of Comayagua, the government commander has ordered the counteroffensive. February 22. They continue fighting fiercely in the city and surroundings, General Ferrera's forces are gaining ground. On February 23, after two days and one night of terrible fighting, Comayagua has fallen into the power of the revolutionary army headed by General Gregorio Ferrera, the informative part also assures that the Commander and Dr. José María Ochoa Velásquez, former vice president of the nation and Colonel Salomón Sorto Z., who were defending the town hall and the plaza, have escaped unharmed and fled to Tegucigalpa, Colonel José María Navas Gardela, died in combat.
Center 26 of February. The "Gutierrista" government sent a strong contingent to the town of "Zambrano" with orders to stop General Ferrera's advance on the capital. The day after, on (February 27), more troops leave for “Zambrano”. The Military Red Cross is organized.
North Coast