Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-10-09
TO ESTABLISH WEST
INDIA SQUADRON.
United States Ha. Grown Tired
OF Petty Wars in the
South.
coGHLAN WILL COMMAND

Situation in Venezuela Not Understood
-Riotous Conditions i'm Hayti
Show Mo Sign Of Abate-
ment.
Washington, Oct. 9.-More than usual
Significance attaches to the order issued
by Mr.. Moody, secretary of the navy,
establishing the West Indies squadron,
This squadron will comprise the Olym-
pia, Cincinnati Marietta and Machias,
pnd will be under the command of Rear
Admiral Coghlan of "Hoch der Kaiser"
fame. Temporarily attached to the
squadron will be the Wisconsin and the
Ranger, both of which are already on
duty in Central American waters.
The purpose of this new squadron is
TO enable the United States to more
promptly and effectively protect Amer
lean interests in Central and South
american waters, 1T is the first step
toward putting into effect the determin-
alton of the president to end the insur-
fections and revolutions that have been
going on in these countries for many
years.
First, attention will be paid to the
establishment of perfect peace on the
Isthmus of Panama. Representatives
of the Colombian government have pro-
tested against the landing of American
marines on the isthmus. No attention
has been paid to this protest by the
United States. BY a treaty which was
executed between this country and
Grenada in 1876, and which has been
recognized as binding by the existing
republic, the Colombian government
promised and undertook to maintain at
all times free and uninterrupted tram
sit across the isthmus. The United
States agreed to accomplish this object
il at any time the Colombian govern
ment was unable to carry out any of its
pledges The recent landing of Amer
lean marines on the isthmus was, there
fore, not an unwarranted and arbitrary
act, but was the discharge of solemnly
assumed duty ON the part of this gov
eminent. The United States simply did
what the Colombian government was
unable to do.
No Government in Colombia.
In spite of the statements made by
the Colombian legation in Washington,
the fact remains that the republic of
Colombia is in state of chaos. There
is fight between the president, his
cabinet and the reYolutionists with the
result that there is no acknowledged
form of government with which the
United States may deal In completing
the negotiations for the right of way for
the Panama canal. While observing the
strictest neutrality as far as the three
cornered local fight is concerned. it will
he the duty of Admiral Coghlan to pro-
tect American interests, see that traf-
fic across the isthmus Is not interfered
with and to adopt, under the terms of
the Monroe doctrine, such steps as may
be necessary to guarantee an open sea
for the commerce of other nations. The
enforcement Of this policy, 1t Is believed,
will result In restoration of peace in
Colombia and make possible the estab-
lishment of government with which
this country may deal on the canal and
other questions.
Tho Venezuela Situation.
Admiral Coghlan will also be charged
with the duty of keeping an eye on
Venezuela. The situation there is not
clearly understood in Washington. Re
ports from Minister Bowen have been
of the most conflicting character for
which, Of course. he is not responsible,
us he transmits the news as he re-
ceives 1t. The announcement one day
that President Castro has won q VIC
tory over the insurgents Is almost in
avariably followed by statement that
Castro has been defeated, has cut the
cables and is preparing to flee to a
foreign country. BUSINESS is pdFdlyZeQ
in Venezuela, and reports are made all
most weekly to the effect that Amer
lean interests are being jeopardized. 1t
will be Admiral Coghlan's duty, from
his station on the Celubra islands, to
be prepared to send a war vessel to
Venezuelan waters to meet any emer-
yency in which Americas interests
may be threatened. The state depart
ment is without any definite informa-
mn ron N lQ iy1N
uela. The last official advices from
Minister Bowen We're that President
Castro proposed to cut the cables The
minister asked that war ship be sent
to Caracas in case nothing was heard
from him in a reasonable time.
Reign of Terror Continues.
Recent reports received at the state
department from Hayti indicate that
y reign of terror in that country shows
no signs of abatement. There is no in
dication that any form of order may
be restored for months to come, and
The impression is going around here
that the United States may be forced
to intervene. 1t is claimed by those
who have made a study of the condi-
tons in Hayti and Santo Domingo that
The United States, in its duty under
the Monroe Doctrine, will soon be COM
PEELED to interfere in order to prevent
the determination of the population of
the island. Hayti has claimed to be a
republic since 1859 and Santo Domingo
since 1863, but, whatever the title the
government, there has been the same
lespotism in both republics. 1t has
been since 1906, however, that the at
tempt has been made at self govern
ment. How successful this has been
Is best told by the following statement
of the careers of the various rulers:
Hayti-Emperor Dessalines; assassinat-
ed; President Potion, died of fever; EN-
peror Christopher, suicide; President Boy
III, put to death; President Herard, de-
posed -four months; Emperor soliquee,
Massage Caget, abdicated in hurry;
President Dominique. fled, wounded;
President Bosrond Canal, abdicated,
President Salamon, abdicated, fled to Gu
ba President Legitime, fled to New York;
President Hipolyte, died as president;
President Sam, abdicated, fed to Paris.
Santo Domingo-President Jiminez
Were) fled; president Santana, deposed;
President Bacz. banished: President Ca
bral, forced out: Baez recalled: President
Baez, overturned; President Dalton,
overturned by revolution; President Con
tales, overturned; President Gillermo.
overthrown; Merino, dictator; President
Heureaux, shot twice and assassinated;
President Jiminez abdicated and fled; one
early president assassinated.
Lipton's CHALLENGE Issued