The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-21
SHIRT REVOLUTION"
sANTO DOMINGO THE SCENE OF
TIE TROUBLE.

C,taan Linen Aboard. Was In Cuba
waters and She was ordered BACK
\ WASHINGTON, Sept. 2O.-This is the story
Of the starting Of a revolution IN order tnat
a naval officer might get a clean shirt. Inc
scene was in tho vacillatlng little repuohS
Of Santo Domingo, where many polltlcaI
upheavals nave resulted from causes Tar
less worthy than a mans desire Tor Im-
maculate linen. The average DOMINION
patriot might rebel against the Government
which would obliRe him to wear a fTeshIy
washed and unsettled garment, but the
instiRator Of the clean shirt revolution IN
aanto Domingo was not a native OF that
onlntry. He was Commander W. II. II.
Switzerland Of the United States Navy.
For several months Commander Souther-
land, who enjoys the distinction OF DemS
mi than many officers junior 10 MIN
Ia rank and who was once an apprentice
how before he was selected for a cadetshlp
at Annapolis ard graduated at the heao Oh
his class. has been in command Of a squad
ron Of vessels which are patrolling in Do
minican waters To prevent exlleo reoei
leaders from landing on the island with
flibustsring expeditions. Up TO the time
Of the clean shirt revolution commander
Switzerland had succeeded in preserving
a semblance OF order on the island and
afording a sort Of protection to the exist
ingG Government, which is having an Ameri-
can citizen collect revenues to be turned
over 10 a national bank in New York city.
But that Is another story and one quite
apart from the narrat i've Of the clean shirt
revolution.
The y. s. s. Dixie was until about ten
days ago Commander Southerland's nag
ship. His pennant was hoisted high above
her deck, and In his cabin he had not only
official records and papers, but his own
personal effects. Ten days ago orders
went forth from the Navy Department to
Commander Switzerland to send the Dixie
90 Guantanamo, Cuba, for the purpose OF
exchanging a company Of her marines
with the cruiser Columbia, which she was
&c meet there. The Columbia was on her
way to Colon to bring home Secretary
Root and his family upon the completion
Of their South American trip. =
When the order came to Commander
Switzerland he hauled down his nag and
stepped aboard the little gunboat Scorpion,
but left his papers and personal ELECTS,
including his wearing apparel, aboard the
Dixie, thinking she would make a quick
run to Guantanamo, make the exchange
Of MARINES and be back to her station before
Monte Cristi In about tw~enty-four hours.
But Commander Switzerland did not take
into account the activity Of the insurgents
In Cuba. He had his own little band OF
rebels in Santo Domingo to contend with.
The Dixie had no sooner reached Juan
kanamo than there came a demand Tor
the presence oflAmerican marines in Havana
for the protection Of American lives and
property. The Dixie had on board soms-
thing like 25Osnarines and $50 bl~ueJackets.
She could reach the Cuban capital quicker
than any other ship with that number
Of marines on board. Accordingly the
Navy Department, entirely obllvlons 70
the fact that Commander Southerlands
clean shirts and all his personal effects
were aboard the Dixie, lost no time in
ordering her to Havana.
Meanwh ile the weather got hotter and
hotter on Monte Cristi; so did COMMANDER
Switzerland and the atmosphere which
be prevailed. Collars wilted every forty
Ave minutes and the Commanders white
duck uniforms showed only too plainly
the need Of consigning them to the wash
tub. But his changes were aboard the
Dixie and the Dixie vas a thousand miles
away. He became almost ashamed Ito
appear on deck before his officers and men
They we're not accustomed e, seeing their
commanding officer in a soiled uniform
and wilted cOllar ,
Commander Switzerland is stout, and
the shirts Of the average officer would not
fit him. The lookout watched in vain Tor
thu return OF the Dixie. Commander
Switzerland got busy and wanted 70 kno"
the reason. He soon learned. TheL Ia
began sending in almost frantic appeals
for the return Of his ship, but tn Navy
Department needed her in Cuban wH'erS,
regardless of the fact that Commander
Switzerland did not have a clean shirt.
Navy officials said they we're sorry, but
could not help the unfortunate situation
Some thought 1t was warm enough in SantC
Domingo to go without a shirt, but Their
officers must at all times present a dignifiec
and gentlemanly appearance, and no mar
can do that without a clean shirt.
Next the Dixie was ordered TO Cienfuegos
where American sugar plantations were
being raided by the Cuban rebels. Hell
commander was directed to land his marines
and remain there until relieved.
About this time, Commander Souther-
land. in sheer desperation because OF his
lack Of clean linen, got busy and started
What will hereafter y" kn"Tu as the Ntlear
shirt revolution" For weeks the Navy
DEPARTMENT had heard nothing from SantC
Domingo, except that the island was quiet
that there was no sign OF a di disturbance
Department officials were gratlned be
cause one revolution in the Antilles wa
more than enough, and they were having
their hands full with Cuba. Suddenly
one day early this week, the cable begaI
10 click. 1t told OF an uprising in the Mont
CPiati province OF SanJO domingo, Una
serious trouble was impending, that rebel
were organizing. There were Tour hundreC
Of them. The outlook was dark and Their
was need for at least one more ship AM
several hundred more marines. The de
spatch came from Commander Souther
land. ,
The Department was perturbed, but !
regarded the situation still more serious II
Cenfue0os, and the Dixie with Commando
Southerand's clean shirts on board wal
tcld to remain there. But to-day tn
Department, realizing the dire distress o
Commander Switzerland and his horribl
plight because of his lack of clean liner
rslented. It ordered the Cleveland TO pro
ceed at once to Cienfuegos, and instruction
were sent to the Dixie to hasten at once
with Commander Southerland's clean shirts
to Monte Cristi. She left C~ienfuego
to-day, and by tomorrow she will reac
Monte Cristi and Switzerland will enjo
the luxury Of clean linen and an immaculat
uniform.
The Department expects to hear no NOR
about the uprising in Monte Cristi as 500
az Commander Switzerland gets his clea
shirts, but 1t succeeded in accomplishin
fhs purpose Commander Switzerland wi
be able to change his clothes, and theI
is no question in the minds Of navy OFFICIAL
who are lau Ching over the AFFAIR that th