New-York tribune., 1913-09-09
DOMINICAN REVOLT BAD;
j. S. CRUISER ON WAY
Washington Hears Gunboats
Are SheIIing Puerto Plata,
Centre of Revolution.
AMERICANS ARE IN PERIL
Not Considered Likely That
Government of Republic Would
Do Anything Purposely to
Embarrass United States.


Washington, Sept. s-The insurrection-
ary movement in Santo Domingo seems 20
be far more serious than officials OF this
government anticipated. Jose NJ. Esteva-
the American Vice-Consul in charge at
! Puerto Plata the centre OF the revolution,
| Informed the State Department to-day
that Dominican gunboats were shellins
the town. with grave danger to American
/ lives and property.
/ The cruiser Des Moines will be at
Puerto Plata tomorrow, sailing from
I Guantanamo. where she went for coal
after her trip 10 the Venezuelan revolu-
ton. and should the shelling Of the town
continue to endanger Americans the Des
Moines will doubtless stop H. In the
( mean time. a revenue cutter has been
ordered &c proceed to some point between
/ Puerto Plata aid Guantanamo 70 main
tain wireless communication. the cabls
and telegraph lines in Santo Domingo
/ having been broken.
II is not considered probable that the
Dominican government is permitting any
OF its gunboats purposely to do anything!
that would imperil Americans This gov
|
ment OF Santo Domingo in its present
troubles, and that governments interests
lie in the direction OF keeping In perfect
accord with the United States.
American interests in Puerto Plata are
small, though a number Of Porto Ricans
recently have entered the business COM
munity there Warrant for Intervention
by Commander Andrew p. Long Of tho
Des Moines would be found in any action
on either side interfering with the opera
ton OF the custom house, under Ameri-
can supervision and control II Is ex-
pected that Commander Long will insist
that hostiltles be conducted outside the
limits OF the town.
So far as naval authorities here are In
formed, the Dominican navy consists OF
two or three converted yachts, armed
with six-pounders and machine guns
They could cause great damage to an un-
fortified town like Puerto Plata, espe-
cially since Il is largely OF wooden con-
structlon and might easily be set afire.
Long conferences were held to-day by
President Wilson, Secretary Bryan and
Assistant Secretary Osborn with Mr.
Sullivan. the newly appointed American
Minister 20 the Dominican Republic. Mr..
Sullivan will sail on Friday or Saturday
for Santo Domingo City, with assurances
for President Boerdas that he has the
moral support OF the United States In his
efforts TO suppress the Puerta Plata re-
bellion.
Minister Sullivan also will make known
20 rebel sympathizers that the Wilson ad-
ministration is without sympathy with
any government not founded upon law
and orderly succession.
The reason for this latest Dominican
revolution, which started last week when
Governor Cespedes OF the State Of Puerto
Plata declared the states independence
Is understood here TO be the attempt OF
the central government 70 obtain control
of the railroad from Puerto Plata TO
place called San Diego. The line is gov
ernment property. but recently the gov
ernment undertook TO lease IL 10 an IN
divldual under conditions which Cespedes
did not like The line had been used for
political purposes in the past and now u
was suspected that the governments pol
icy was TO give control TO private citizens
and thus diminish the political power OF
Cespedes. Ex-President Velasquez Is also
mixed up in the revolt.