Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-31
TWO BLUEJACKETS
KILLED BY HA|T|ANS
Rear-Admiral Caperton Resists
Attack on Port au Prince
by Natives.
NORFOLK MAN ONE OF DEAD
Re-Enforcements Will Sail From
Philadelphia on Battleship
Connecticut To-Day.


In an attack by natives on Port au
Prince, Haiti. held by Rear-Admiral
Capcrton with 400 men from the
cruiser Washington. The attacking
party was beaten off. without having
approached closer than the outskirts Of
the city. and order was maintained in
;he city itself. No sailors were
wounded. and tho loss OF the attacking
force was not reported.
The dead:
William Gompcrs, seaman, of Brook
lyn. ~ 7.
Cason $. Whitchurs,. ordinary sea-
man. OF NorfolK. Va.
Re-enforcements had been ordered to
Haiti before word of the fighting was
received. The battlcship Connecticut
will sail from Philadelphia to-morrow
with regiment of ma rines. numbering
800 men. The navy transport Hancock.
now being orerhaul-d Il; Philadelphia.
also Will go to Haiti. IL is said. al
though 1t is not known ,,ha, force she
will carry
Admiral Caperton's message gave few
details OF the fighting /, showed
however. that he had been warned Of
the intention of the Haitians TO attack
the city. and early in the evening Cap
tain f. l.. Beach, OF the Washington.
commanding ashore. moved his men
out TO the edge OF the city TO meet
them. detailing strong guards 10 main
tain order in the town The Haitian
soldiers and civilians in the city were
disarmcd yesterday to prevent snipiuE
from the houses.
RLUEJACKETS HEAR
DRuNT OF FIGHTING:
The attack came at o'clock last
night. the bluejacket battalion bearing
the brunt of the fighting. From the
brush beyond the last houses snipcrs
opened hre on them. The fire was re-
turned and the attackers driven Off
but not before Gompers. and White
hurst had been killed.
The following summary OF Admiral
Caperton's tcrsc report WAS given out
tonight at the Navy Departments
admiral Caperton reports from Port
au Prince that, owing to IA report that
the town would likely he attacked dur
ing the night. tina, he made disposition
OF his force1 for defense n, T.. NJ
Attack from south about =. Nj Snip
ing from brush in outskirts of town
Two killed in the seamen battalion,
none wounded. Successfully rcpulsed
attack. Maintained quiet and order in
interior OF city throughout night"
In his flrst message after his arrival
at Port au Prince, when the marines
and bluetackets encountered slight re-
sistance OH landing, Admiral Capcrton
asked for an additional regiment Of
marines. The men We're needed he
said. 10 police the city and surrounding
district adequately. He suggested that
the additional marines be sent on the
cruisers North Carolina or Tennessee
fast ships. indicating he expected
some difficulty. These vessels were not
available. and the department ordered
the battleship Connecticut. at the
Philadelphia yard made ready to sail
tomorrow. The Connecticut was TAX
ing on stores tonight.
SECRETARY DANIELS FEELS
no GREAT APPREHENSION
Secretary Daniels felt no great APP
prehension about the situation. The
extra force was sent primarily he said
TO permit shor, hours OF guard duty.
admiral Caperton has advised us"
said the secretary. "that it is very hot
at Port au Prince, and that he did not
deem it advisable to keep marines on
shore duty constantly. lie said he
wanted a sufficient guard to assure
Disarmament Of the town Yesterday
was directed after n conference be-
tween n committee of safety. organized
by the citizens of Port au Prince:
American navy officers. and the Ameri-
can charge d'affaires. This committee
is the de facto government. Any nego-
tiations by the State Department will
be addressed 20 ii. as there appears
to be no other form Of government ut
the present time
II Is practically assured that during
tile occupation OF Port au Prince efforts
TO negotiate treaty with Haiti for
the administration OF that country's
financial affairs by the United states.
similar to that with san Domingo the
neighbor OF Haiti. will be renewed.
This government purposes TO include
in such treaty "a provision similar 10
the Platt amendment in the Cuban
treaty. whereby the United States has
the right to intervene in the interests
Of peace. Previous efforts to obtain
such treaty failed because the late
President Gullaume fcare the pconle
would rise against him If he signed r.
Admiral Caperton's forces prohah,
will stay in Fort au Prince until
stable government is established and
Il treaty with the United states signed