The new South-news., 1908-12-05
REBELS CLOSE ON CAPITAL
People of Port Au Prince in
a Panic.
4 BLOODY BATTLE IS IMMINENT
1asDrgcnfs Have swept Al itrf"rs
Them and Approaching Port An
Prince. Where soserpms
t> Preparing t"r si.Kr.


brings the revolutionary sry nearer
10 Port Au Prince and feeling Of
impepdinR disaster has taken posses-
atom o' the people. The advance
guard OF Gen. hntoince simon's
forces have swept All before them
The government losses AZ Ansc-A-
vrAu and The route Of the loyal
troops. have caused corataruntlor
among tho officials Of he govern.
mcnt. with possibly the sole cxccp
tion of President Nori Alexis Ef
cry effort 20 have him take himself
out OF the country has proven fail
ure. and the aged prcHi tent. who
has faced many revolutions before
announces bis determination 10 fight
% the last
u may be- that President Alexis
feels the confidence he expresses IN
hls ability 10 check the n1snncing
army OF the revolution. but The res.
idcnts OF Port Au Prince certainly
are not OF the same mind ,inuy ol
them are panic strintcn and the
great majority OF the natives h8ys
closed and ahuiicrcd their stores and
business houses and have put barn
across the doors and windows Of
their residences
There % an uneasy feeling among
the Foreigners Notwithstanding th,
presence In the harhor or the war.
rhipn OF the United States and
France. from which forces unquca |
tionshiy viii be- landed " the inanr
gents succeed IN passing the gatcn OF
the city. OF az the frst sign OF dis /
order ana pillaec Flags of differ
cnt nations are flyins from th'
homes Of many OF the foreign rrs
idcnts. the markets are deserted and
thc country people. upon whom Tho
city depends Tor 10 auatennncc. have
fled prccipliatoly and refuse to rc.
turn.
The situation has become 80 gray,
that an Official proclamation hn
been iaaucd, convoklng the cham
bera IN extraordinary session. 80 that
measures may be taken to preserve
the government. or at least TO Of
feet compromise with the royoiu'
iionnry leadcfn.
There was great fear that the dia
affected body of nayticna IN THIS
city might take up arms for the
overthrow OF the government which
however. being forcwarncd, had TAX.
on precautions nRnins, this happen.
ing rtsiient Alexis. .enepectlng The !
loyalty OF Gen. Cameo the chicf oi |
police. has sent him out on special
mission. while Gen. Nau. who alsc
10 one Of the chief police oilicials
has been replaced by Gen. ilyacintho
for the same reason.
So far as can be seen. all Of the
oiilccrs aud soldiers here rcmnlf
loyal and are facing the coming oi
the rcvolutionirts calmly. Three al
visions of troops asc ontrcnchod ai
the convergsncc of three roads sew
oral miles outside the city aud IL b
not expected that Con Simon's force
would reach the cross roads. unit
possibly Wednesday. Tho vanguard
of the rovolutionists occupied Grand
GaoNe. a town of 1900 Inhabitants
about thirty miles west of Port Au
Prince. without firing a shot
In proclamation issued Gen. 81
mon stated that ho desired to rescue
the country FROM the tyrannical rule |
of Nord Alexis, so that the people |
would be free to elect new prcsl
dent. but II "a not known whether he |
fayors Gen. firmin for that oiilce OF
Is working In his own interest tn, |
adhcrcnts OF Gen. Firmin have not /
shown any great activity 80 far.
The United States government has /
no present intention of Intervening /
In lIastien affairs. THIS statement /
IL made on the best OF authority /
The situation In the island Is an In
tcrnal one and as far as known, II |
has TO do entirely with the peopl, |
there.