Evening star., 1908-01-17
HAITI REVOLT GROWS
ALEXIS SENDS
TROOP TO MEET INVADERS.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, January H.
The revolutionists who landed near Go
naives have captured st. Marc. forty-four
miles from Port au Prince, as we'll as the
first-named town, and are marching on
the capital.
President Alexis is taking energetic steps
to suppress the revolution. Detachments
OF infantry. cavalry and artillery were
embarked this evening on gunboats and
will be landed at Archaic in order to stop
the advance of the revolutionary force
on Port au Prince.
Gen. Celestin. the minister of war. is
directing the military operations. The
general opinion is that the movement
may be suppressed If other towns in
Haiti do not take. up arms against the
Alexis government.
st. Marc is situated on the west coast
of Haiti. exports coffee and logwood and
has about 5000 inhabitants.
1t is reported that Gen. Jadotte. COM
mander of the Gonaives district. has been
shot by the insurgents, but the report is
not confirmed.
Eight Await Presidents Death.
President Nord Alexis has been in ill
health for years. and 1t has been reported
that his demise ie certain to be followed
by the most destructive internal warfare
Haiti has ever known. His age has been
placed at from eighty-five to Lightweight,
but he has ruled the little republic since
1902 with great vigor
There are at least eight aspirants to
the presidency. some of whom have been
impatiently awaiting In Jamaica and
other West Indian islands the signal to
begin the struggle for the presidency or
dictatorship of Haiti, for Gen. Nord
Alexis has ruled by his own strong will
and personal authority over the army
and congress.
It is charged that corruption extends
into every possible branch of public af-
fairs of Haiti and that no means of OBJ
tanning revenue dishonesty Is overlooked.
Secretary Root. it is added, has repeated
ly had his attention called to the injustice
the foreign creditors of Haiti, who in
clude number of Americans. have been
subjected to by the government. sue
cessful revolution, it has been pointed
out. would probably result in the new
dictator repudiating all the acts of his
predecessor, which probably would bring
about a state of chaos.
The history OF Haiti may be said to be
a series of revolutions. only the more
recent of which need be touched upon.
Gen. Alexis in 1896 rebelled against
President Hyppolite. who previously had
oyerthrown President Legitime. HyppOlite
preparing to march against the rebels
and was succeeded by Gen. Sam In March,
1896. Sam. however as result of his
misgovernment. caused the people to re-
bel, and he fled from Haiti in 1902. Gen.
Alexis. who had headed the revolutionary
movement. assumed the presidency In
1902, and in the ordinary course of events
should retain the presidency until May
49, 1909.
The only information received here
touching the reported attempt of rev.
olution in Haiti was contained in ca
blegram received at tho Navy Depart
ment from Lieut. Commander George
Marvell, commanding the converted gun
boa. Eagle He reported from st. Marc.
on the northern shore of the island. that
q party of revolutionists had landed there
and had an engagement with the govern
ment troops. in which some of the COM
batants had been killed. but that no
Americans were among the number. Ap-
parently the commander Of the Eagle did
not attach much Importance to the af-
fair and had gone with his ship to Guam
tanamo. The gunboats Des Moines and
Paducah. which are now off the Domini-
can coast. will, however soon be sent to
Haitian waters to observe developments.