Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-08
THE SUkKEN GUNB0AT
L B
U .
Europe Awaits Our Action
With Interest.
VIEWS I OFFICIALS
D1s1NcIl4rNEb TO THINK THE
MONROE DOCTRINE INVOLVED.
Destruction of the Haitian Insurgent
Admiral,s Vessel May Have
, salutary Influence.

states minister to Haiti, with his usual
alertness, has promptly reported to the
STATE Department the sinking Of the
daluan gunboat Crete-a-Pierrot by the
German gunboat Panther The minister's
dispatches were dated yesterday at Port
au-Pr1nce. In the first dispatch the min
lister said it was reported that the Panther
mad called upon Killick to surrender; that
ne mad refused, and that the Panther had
sunk the Crete-a-Pierrot and all the crew
mad been lost. The second and later dis
patcn corrected the statement as to the
| crew, saying that they had escaped. Tho
minister also promised to make an extended
report by mail
Commander McLean's Report.
The Navy Department was also informed
of the event in the following dispatch re-
ceived from Commander Mclean, in COM
mand Of the United States cruiser Cincin-
natl:
Port-au-Prince, September 8.
secretary Navy, Washington.
German gunboat Panther sunk Crete-a-
Pierrot at Gonaives. Crew escaped. The
PANTHER returned to Port au-Prince.
(Signed) MCLEAN
The Position of This Government.
Pending the receipt of Minister Powelrs
report there is. in the opinion Of those otu-
Gals here who have kept in touch with
arairs, little likelihood Of any action by the
State Department. Judging from the char
acter Of the instructions transmitted
through the Navy Department to Com
mander McCrea of the Machias, there will
De lttie disposition to make an issue of the
action OF the German government. That
officer was especially instructed to prevent
interference with legitimate commerce, and
m execution OF those orders he was obliged
TO warn the rebel admiral that he must not
interfere with foreign shipping, else he
would be compelled to use force against
him.
While the State Department has not
adopted the German view that Killick was
a pirate, 1t has, on the basis of its own in
structions to Commander McCrea, never
admitted his right to interfere with foreign
commerce. 1t, however, did not decide that
killick was not privileged to operate as he
did in the case of the Markomannia, pro-
V1ded the seizure Of arms was made within
the three-mile limit, and so within Haitian
waters bhe seizure was made at the en-
trance to- the harbor, and that fact may
have an important bearing on the future
consideration ofbthe case.
However. any question that may arise as
to the legality16f the action of the COM
mander OF the Panther Is one that the State
Department may regard solely between
the goveramentsl of Germany and of Haiti.
Monroe Doctrine Not Involved.
AS there. has been no attempt on the part
of the German commander to seize any
Haitian port it lis contended that the Mon
roe doctrine cannot be regarded as involved
in this incident The administration view
Of the affair Is that 1t Is one whose ad-
justment ,shouit4frst be worked out as be-
tween GernanyLand the quasi-government
of Haiti 1s..1- atr-.-. a.. as-r-.-
A high officialssaid that unless the Incl
dent should develop into an attempt to ac-
quire territory or to interfere In the po-
litical status of Haiti the United States
would not intervene. The incident, 1t Is
stated is much less serious, from a diplo-
matte point of view, than if the actual gov
eminent of Haiti were one of the princf-
pals instead Of the Firminist government.
May Have a Good Effect.
The Berlin advices to the effect that the
Haitian government had expressed its sat-
isfaction with the situation went to con-
firm the officials in their position No
American interests have been affected un-
favorably In their Judgment, and as we
have never recognized the revolutionists in
Haiti there is no one to make complaint to
US.
On the whole it is felt by many that the
termination of Kiliick's career in this sum-
mary fashion may have a salutary effect
not only in Haiti. but also in South and
Central American countries where hereto
fore the slightest revolutionary disturbance
has been made the pretext for vexatious
and expensive interference with foreign
merchant vessels. Only recently the Brit
ish cruiser Phaeton was obliged to force
the Colombian government to release the
British steamer Ecuador, which it was In
tended to press into service as a troop
transport, while still more recently Com
mander McCrea adopted somewhat sim
liar course with respect to this same Ad-
miral Kiltck.
Previous Action by Germany.
Germany has felt herself compelled to
apply coercive or disciplinary measures to-
ward Haiti several times in the past.
It has only been about five years since
two of the kaiser's warshps steamed into
the harbor of Port au Prince and demand
ed under threat Of bombardment, the pay
ment of 10000 damages within four hours
for the imprisonment Of Herr Lueders, a
German subject. and an apology to the
kaiser's government for the insult offered.
The white flag was run up on the national
capital in Port au Prince the money was
paid at once and an apology was made.
This incident happened December 6, 1897,
in the second year OF President T. Simon
Sans administration.
Herr Lueders had been sentenced to a
years Imprisonment for an alleged assault
upon a woman. He denied the charge
German interests in Haiti are large Sub-
jects of the kaiser hold large percentage
Of the Haitian governments bonds. The
largest banking ana business houses in Port
au Prince belong to them. and they own a
street railway running from the Haitien
capital to the Dominican frontier.
Action Awaited With Interest.
A well-inforned diplomat said this after
noon that dthe action of the United States
government in the Crete a Pierrot affair
will be awaited with considerable interest
by other European powers. inasmuch as the
tacft acoufescence Of the United States NAV
be accepted geperaily as an acknowledge
ment of the right Of foreign governments
to enforce their, demands on Central and
South American countries In an equally
summary manner, in all cases not involving
an actual Seizure Of territory, without fear
of displea singthe United States.
Such action, he said. might easily decide
quarrels between political parties for the
control ofs-the government in the interest
Of the party favored by the interfering
government just in the present case
the chances eff success of the Firminist
party have beene practically destroyed by
the actiorG of Germany. The speaker said
that no ONE asserted that Germany was in
terested TN the pending Haitian struggle,
but 1t must be admitted that she had exert