The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07
Navy Department Wants Details
OF the Assassination OF Engi-
neer Johnson
NO MERCY TO BE SHOWN
Slayers of the American Naval Of
fcer VIII Be Treated Like
Bandits if Caught.
INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN
Adm 4 Wise to Proceed to Do
minican Waters-American
Interests Suffering.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6-"Send full par
ticulars about assassination OF Johnson is
the substance Of a cablegram which Secre-
tary Moody to-day dispatched to Command
er Lewis c. Heilner. commanding the gun
boat Yankee at Santo Domingo city. When
the details Of the assassination have
rived the secretary will then be in a po-
sition 70 give specific instruction as to the
course to be followed.
Deliberation, it can be stated. will be OBJ
served in the handling Of the Dominican
situation. If the press dispatches are con-
frmed il can be stated that the naval COM
manders will he instructed to demand and
to obts / the fullest reparation. Nor will
they stop with this. Before the American
warships leave Dominican waters the in
habitants will have been made 10 know
that the Washington governments patience
has been exhausted and that the menacing
OF American life and property must cease
or the people Of the island stand the con-
sequences.
Mr.. Powell. the American minister at San
Domingo, has cabed the State Department
under date of Feb. 1. confirming the press
dispatches regarding the assassination of
j. G.. Johnson, an engineer on the gunboat
Yankee. The cruiser Columbia has left
San Domingo for Guantanamo. The Hart
ford has left Puerto Plata for the same
place. While no definite instructions have
been sent TO Mr.. Powell, ii is stated that
the American commanders will make every
effort TO apprehend the persons response
BILE for the assassination, and IL captured
they Will be forthwith disposed of as
bandits
ACTING OFFICIALS.
simultaneously at the State Department
and Navy Department to-day the announce
ment was made that a serious state of af-
fairs is prevalent in Santo Domingo. Com
plant has been made to the State Depart
ment by the owners of the San Isidro plan
tation that their property has been besieged,
and appeal is made for immediate relief.
Other Americans having interests in Santo
Domingo have made similar complaints. Mr..
Moody. secretary of the navy, and Mr..
Loomis. acting secretary of state, had long
conferences with the President to-day
the subject. Upon his return to the Navy
Department from the White House Secre-
tary Moody held a conference with Rear
Admiral Taylor, chief OF. the Bureau OF
Navigation, and a cable message was dis
patched TO Rear Admiral Wise, command
ing the training squadron now at Guahta-
namO, instructing Admiral Wise to take i'm
mediate and effective steps for the ade-
quate protection of American life and prop
efty IN the dominican RepuDIlC, limiting,
of course. his action at all times 10 the
recognized tenets OF international law.
Upon the receipt OF this dispatch Rear
Admiral Wise is expected TO proceed at
once in his flagship. the Mnnea polls, To
Dominican waters and to make a personal
investigation.
The Columbia already has been ordered to
return TO San Domingo from Guantanamo
where She went for coal and the Hart
ford will be ordered back from Guantanamo
The San IsidrO plantation is owned by
the BartTam brothers. of New York. 1t
Is managed by an American of the name
of Bass The plantation IS situated on the
Ozama river, about eleven miles inland.
Only steam tugs can navigate the river
on his arrival. Will dispatch or more
tugs with MARINES TO guard the plantation
Admiral Wise IL not instructed regarding
the killing of MachInst Johnson pending
the report OF full particulars telegraphed
Tor to-day by Secretary Moody.
General Sanchez, Dominican minister has
been informed OF the firm policy adopted
by the Washington government He cabled
his government tonight regarding the feel
ing In official circles.
Ii is apparent that the long pending Do
minican problem is reaching a crisis that
Will demand immediate attention.
The German government has nearly
reached the limit OF its patience in dealing
with San Domingo and the London and
the Paris governments show an equal i'm
patience with affairs there. All these gov
ernments have bided their time in the hope
that the Washington government would
meet the situation.