Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-13
HOT TRAILS OVER
BOUNDARY LINES
Punitive Expeditions From One
Country Into Another-Andrew
Jackson's Famous Excursion
in Florida

TITLE punitive expeditions make big his.
IL tory. Little" relatively speaking. There
was the march of the $4,000 troops-Japanese.
Russian, British, French and American to
Tientsin and to Pekln in 1898. The
Boxers had created a reign of terror The
Chancellor of the Japanese Legation had
been murdered The German Ambassador
had been murdered. Tho members of the
diplomatic corps at Peltn, with other resi-
dents, had fortified themselves in the British
Legation. The first expedition was prin-
clpally an expedition for the rescue and pro-
lection of the foreigners, but during the
progress OF peace negotiations the Powers
dispatched punitive expeditions in various
directions, these operations continuing into
the spring of 1901 These events. of course,
produced great and lasting effect on Orien-
tai and world history.
Amelia Island, now a part Of the State
of Georgia, but formerly included in the
Spanish territory of Florida, has been tho
destination of several punitive expeditions.
After the abolition of the slave trade within
American borders in 1908 1t became place
of resort for pirates smugglers and slave
traders. 1t had, indeed. borne that character
since the Revolution, but early in the 10th
century it became more than ever nuisance,
against Spain, and American soldiers then
occupied the island, holding 1t until 1913.
A little later a band of filibusterers seized
II and then a force took possession in the
name of Mexico. Our first actual step into
Florida took place in 1917. Conditions re-
spectIng Amelia Island were quite as intol-
cradle to Spain as to the United States.
Gaines, an American general, was directed
to seize and occupy the place until further
orders He went there and American SOL
diers held the island until the Floridas were
acquired by the United States through the
treaty of 1919.
Jackson Speaks His Mind
In the period preceding that date our real.
tions with Spain were considerably strained.
English and hostile Indians, during the War
of 1912, and even afterward, made Florida
a menace to the American settlers in Geor-
gia, Alabama and indeed the whole South
west of that time. Andrew Jackson, in
passionate address TO his idle Tennessee SOL
diers in July of 1879, expressed his feelings
thus: "You burn with anxiety to learn
what theatre your arms will find employ
ment. Then turn your eyes 10 the Southl
Behold. In the province of Vest Florida, a
territory whose rivers and harbors are in-
dlspensable 10 the prosperity of the western
and still more so to the eastern division OF
our State. Behold there likewise the asylum
from which an nsidious hand incites TO
rapine and bloodshed the ferocious savages,
who have Just stained our frontier with blood
and who will renew their outrages the mo-
ment an English force shall appear in the
Bay of Pensacola" For years Jackson
looked forward TO the seizure of the FlorIdas
by force of arms.
nidicuItfas with Indians of CsulF
States continued long time after the close
Of the Revolution. when they had been allies
of the English. The whites and the Indians
made land treaties, establishing boundary
lines; and border outrages. not only on the
part OF Indians, but on that OF the whites
themselves, were common. 1t was commonly
believed by Americans that English ennis
sares among the Creeks were continually
stirring up the redskins and trying to make
as much trouble possible for our Gov
ernment.
It was felt that Spain had amply proven
her inability to fulfill the duties which de-
volyed upon her as owner Of Florida Slaves
found an easy refuge there and hostile In
dians and bands Of freebooters were other
causes of annoyance. Spain, however, in
sisted that her sovereignty should be re
spected. Jefferson was the first President
to try to buy F4orida and negotiations were
carried on intermittently for score of years
In 1917 there were frequent collisions be-
tween whites and Indians on the frontier.
Gaines attacked Fowltown, on. the American
side Of the border, and defeated the chief Of
the Creeks. Immediately the Indians in the
whole section went on the warpath and the
Seminole War begaE. Jackson. who super.
seeded Gaines a. commander IN the South
west. advanced through Georgia Ii great
haste and N March. 1918, was on the Florida
rontier His orders alloWsd him to foiloE