The sun., 1891-01-08
COMMANDER REITER CENsURED.
Secretary Tracy Aeids niA RespsAssSis
for the KititnG sf Gen. Barraaaia.

COMMANDER REITER CENsURED.
Secretary Tracy nsids nin Respe~siSis
for the KiiisG sf Gen. Barrsaaia.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 7.-Secretsry Tracy. IN .
letter dated Dec. 81, censures Commander
George G. Reiter Of the Ranger for not protect
ing Gen. Barrundia, who was killed on board
an American vessel and under the American
nag The Secretary had relieved Reitsr Of his
comm and By an order dated Sept 20. and the
present letter was written to explain the cause
OF the removal. The Secretary says:
In the opinion OF the department your con-
duct upon your own showing. Is deserving OF
unqualified oensurs. In your situation. in
command OF . force OF public vessels OF the
United States. in the territory which. II not at
that moment at war. had recently been the
scene OF hos,ities IS we'll % Of civil disturb
ance. 1t was your duty TO watch With
the most active solicituds over the
interests OF your country in that quarter. and
especially It's interests ahoat. From the mo-
ment that the approach OF the Acapulco
steamer bearing the American nag was known
10 you. you should have taken every stop le-
gally in your power to give oountenanoe and
support TO her Captain. aud protection to all
persons on board. especially whom you know
that their safety was likely to be menaced.
Instead OF this In your apparent endsavor to
escape responsibility. you remained so COM
pletsly passive that as tar a. events on board
the Acapulco were concerned. you and your
vessels might as well have been on tho other
side OF tho ocean.
Whenever any passenger. whether Ameri-
can or foreigner. 10 received on board an
American vesael. he comes under the Ameri-
can Dag and is entitled to the protection and
security Of which that nag Ia tho guarantee
At sea this inviolability has In time Of pence
exception or qualification. In foreign ports It
is qualified only BY the local exercise OF the
territorial authority. Whatever NAV have
been the extent OF this authority over vessel
anchored within the port. tho American
steamer, before she entered the port and after
suhosy @ a. your own shS or as the .ol x
your own country It was within your legiti-
aa1 .s:eu sv:ri 0nM %e.as ssss
.sS Ss Gnsd 81 pss Of ri
yoa haa ahs
approach: you were informed Of tho i4,ention
seeking TO escape from the territorial iurs-
u ns 10 return s 10 his S country % to omsnt men revols
He oa AZ A%s .I,S
.ss q ss psS snder the
hs EbSsP s1d bss. I'll d,:.s :ss
enee sSs Ss,eP.e Ss cast
ancnor IN sae p port p " warn r. the CAPTAIN s 1t 1hs
e desire i. an asylum o. board your shiS:
Had You merely gone out to inform Yourself
a.n ns IA S1S 5
port outside Of Guatenala; that he was at San
sSss only hsS; y n Io the soq.: 81 the
movement against Guatemalan sovereignty.
hs had no intention Of entering. voluntarily;
eesSs eeastedis 's have Osen .pp1i.ed i@medi
to rssSess ,hs ss ,ss sosd Is
failed e oner tho fusi.lye ~ asylum. such an
S0sS sss a cs % over q +: b. s p.4
sIa SSis g it ~ You'd Ssys Insinsaipsd .Ss np!ed
nss MAKES 70 II al Who in aocd faith embasi Sndes
It's flag BY remaining inactive you neglected
msnt men in The position of rsnouncins those who
had sheltered themselves under its nag.
s.eis ess o
sssndoned tho sesponsi6iIItis. 81 his pesitiiSaa
aeoa as afiSsoh tSis oritss eseaslon FSli svsys
you were on that afternoon; Of the probable
SHn q 1Hs sHuhos 10 tie 'aS wsa
fnonsdss 81 their ay II s
e no way Influenced >. y9ur .nots sondS%cs %S,cs
showed only two plainly what was taking
s1 ,oa wn n:sS a
for half an hour mnttl formal request came
is not surprising that. upon yoar arrival st the
ei'ase 81 shs. date s % 70 %Ir MisaeE tbss she CON:
mandante bad loft with the body OF barrundta
It would seem that you had from the be-
telegram 10 the United States Minister. OF re-
Sn o
to 10 only too well founded. that he would need
your protection. But upon what principle you
submitted this az q question for the tsrritorlai
to ssd dsaste ssD ssSs tss
United States officer does not ask Of foreign
Government permission to offer asylum TO any
Who stands in need OF . refuge. An o1acer who
80 abdiostes his authority and that OF tho ma
ton he reprepents. and surrenders 1t to others.
has lesson TO learn before he can SAFELY DO
:" 1t is possible that, in adopting this limo Of
sbe despatcS q The Tnted stass
1a8fiis til: ,ss.
ipaction. Even II tho Minister had distinctly
advised you to remain passive SPECTATOR.
which was not the case. your responsility. as
by be either increased or diminished. and.
ritory sss IN Which % The Iinstsr was oothsd With
h e IT, Sstss aSS.i .hs .a N; III! ss
sponsibility OF Q naval ofacer Is complets. nor
shift tho burden to another"