New-York tribune., 1910-12-28
BOUNDARY FIGHT IN HAYT|.
Dispute Between Island Repub-
lies Leads to Conflict.
RUSHING TROOPS TO BORDER
Both Hayti and Santo Domingo
Still Hope for Peaceful Solu-
tion of Affair.

Washington. Dec. PA clash be-
tween Haytiaa soldiers and Dominican
| customs guards. which may have Sc
rious results. is reported to the Bureau
of Insul7r Affairs of the War Depart
rrent from the American customs Off
GERS detailed In Santo Domingo to col
lect the revenue. The trouble appears
to have broken out on Saturday night
at point on the boundary between the
two countries. near Lake Enriquilo, in
the southern part of the island
The results of the collision were not
known in Santo Domingo City up to last
night, but in the absence of official con-
firlnation the Dominican officials at
tached enough Importance to the report
to indulge in a hasty Cabinet meeting
and to begin negotiations with the resi-
dent Haytian Minister to Santo Do
rlingo.
To guard against the failure Of these
negotiations Dominican troops We're or
dered from various parts of the country
to the border. The Independence, the
only Dominican gunboat of any conse-
quence, was made ready to convey the
troops and supplies Immediately to Pc
dernales. The Clyde Line steamer
Cherokee, which was at Santo Domingo
City when the news came. was detained,
the government contemplating a re-
quest to the captain of the ship to
transport troops to some point near the
border on the south coast.
According to the advices received here
the trouble is due to a quarrel over the
boundary lines between the two repub-
lies. The dispute is one of long stand
ing which recently took on a critical
phase owing to the assertion by the
Dominicans of the right of occupation
of the disputed territory and the con-
struction of roads by them north of
Pedernales.
The Dominican government is reported
to be anxious to effect an arnicable set
tlement but failing in that will insist
on an immediate and definite adjustment
CT the boundary line.
Mr.. Russell. the American Minister,
stated tonight that while news of Sat
urday's conflict had reached Santo Do
mingo. it was promptly denied, though
the Haytian government is admitted to
have sent out armed forces to compel
the Dominicans to stop work on the
road between Pedernales and Lake
Fonda. The Dominican government
which is building the road insists that
1t does not cross Haytian territory. and
even if it did so the matter was one
that should be settled by diplomatic
representations.
The action of Hayti in sending an
armed force against peaceful road build
ers is therefore regarded as a clearly
hostile act. This the Dominican au-
thorities regard as sufficient to warrant
them in taking prompt defensive meas
ures, wherefore it is sending troops and
a Dominican gunboat loaded with stores
and war material to Pedernales which
is on the border line between the twoj
countries. on the south coast of the
island.
The difficulty is not regarded here as
serious, but it is not unlikely that one
of the little gunboats on the Central
American coast will be sent to Santo Do
rlingo to observe the developments
Santo Domingo, Dec. 27.-President |
Ramon Caceres, in an interview to-day, |
said that his latest advices looked more |
favora BILE for the friendly settlement of
the boundary dispute with Hayti. The |
President does not wish a conflict with
the neighboring republic. but demands |
that his country's rights be respected.
Work at the border upon the govern
ment railway line, which is intended !
ultimately TO connect the capitals of |
Santo Domingo and Hayu, continues.
The Haytian Minister here said to- !
day that he had received authority from
his government to accompany the Do |
minican commission which will proceed |
to the Haytian frontier to settle the |
trouble there if possible He declared |
that his government desired a peaceful
settlement, but believed that arbitra |
ton would be necessary before the boun- |
Diary dispute was ended. The commits |
sion is expected to leave here tomorrow
or Thursday.