Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-08
CoMMANDEE: RKITER CENsURED.
Secretary Tracy Takes Him to Task for His
Conduct In the Barrundia Case.

Secretary Tracy Takes Him to Task for His
Conduct In the Barrundia Case.
Publicity has at length been given to the
official papers relating to the action of the Sec
rotary Of the Navy in suspending Capt. Geo. c.
Reiter from his command Of the US. s. Thetis
for his action in connection with the killing of
Gen. Barrundia In the hsrbor of San Jose,
Guatemala. last August Under date of De-
cember 20 Commander Eeiter made an addi-
tional report to the Secretary in regard to the
case. and the Secretary replied with
long letter, dated December 81, in which
he reeapitulates the report of Commander
Reiter and accuses him of neglecting his obvious
duties In not prote citing Gen. Barrundia as a
passenger under the protection Of the flag of
the United States The Secretary SAYS that the
commander. while living with the Ranger and
the Thetis of San Jose, had been informed
previous to the arrival OF the Acapulco that
Gen. Barrundia WIS on board and liable to ar
rest upon entering Guatemalan waters but
that be did not take any steps to communicate
with the steamer to inform himself of the facts,
or to warn the cap tain of the risk his passenger
was about to encounter. Instead of this he
went on shore and telegraphed to the United
states minister a suggestion that he should ask
the Guatemalsn government to permit the
Thetis to take Gen. Barrundia back to Acapulco,
from which place lie had come. While he was
thus occupied the steamer arrived in port.
While on shore he requested the local Qua
temalan officer to suspend action until he had
received reply to the telegram. which request
was refused. The officer went on board the
Acapulco, but Commander Reiter did not go
with him or have any communication with
the captain either then or during the whole of
the night.
The following morning the United States
minister sent second telegram. stating that
the government declined the commanders
offer. According to the latter report at about
2 pm. it was thought that Il number Of shots
were heard on board the Acapulco. but the
commander did not visit the vessel until 230,
after the death of Gen. Barrundia, when Lieut..
BARTLETT who had been visiting the steamer.
reported that firing had been taking place on
board and that assistance was desired.
Here the Secretary says: In the opinion
of the department your conduct upon your
own showing is deserving of unqualified
censure."
Mr.. Tracy then defines what should De the
duties of a commander in such a position and
saws that he should have taken every step le-
galiy in his power to give countenance and
support to the captain and protection to all
persons on board. especially when he knew that
their safety was likely to be menaced. Instead
OF this he remained 80 completely passive that.
as far as events on board the Acapulco were
concerned. he and his vessels might as well
have been on the other side of the ocean, and
by remaining inactive he neglected his obvious
duties and placed his government in the posi-
ton of renouncing those who had sheltered
themselves under It's flag.