The Penn's Grove record., 1919-02-28
M DOMINGO SUFFERS
FROM MAN REVOLUTIONS
U. S. Marines EndeavOring To
Maintain Order
r. w. McAllister, Son of Local Bust
ness Man Writes of His Expert
ences. Finds The People Poverty
Stricken and Not Very Much in
Love With Their Brothers From
The u. S, A.
Dear Dad:-

The U. S. A.
Dear Dad
Since | have arrived in this country
| have written and received many let
tiers from my friends and a half dozen
or more have written and said where
is Santo Domingo City and what are
you down there for?
Santo Domingo is a port of the Is
land of Hayti, about 1850 miles from
New York. 1t was discovered by
Christopher Columbus and named by
him Santo Domingo-Santo, meaning
Saints and Domingo, meaning Sunday
in Spanish, Saints Sunday. The
Church that was built by Columbus
still stands. The people of this coun-
try believe him to be buried here and
have his tomb inside of the Church.
The brass chest that was given him
by Queen Isabelle is being preserved
in this Church and in good condition.
The people have always had revolu-
tions here, the same as in Mexico, and
have never had a responsible govern
ment. They owed a large debt to the
United States and it was impossible to
pay it. They declared the country
bankrupt and sent Americans here to
act as receivers, but the former revo-
lutionists turned bandit and caused so
much trouble the U. S. government
had to send their old reliable Devil
Dogs down here. A small detach-
ment took the city and established
martial law.
The United States Marines are al
o,,-or, o,ol,+ fo,. hoirn fho a 1.ct +n
fight in all wars, and also when there
is trouble of any kind at any place.
From the halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli,
We fight our country's battles,
On the land as on the sea.
The United States Marines were the
first to go over seas in the great strug-
gle that has just ended, and they have
been first in occupation in a number
of cases where the country had occa-
sion to use soldiers.
The people here are about 80 per
cent. ignorant, but the military gov
eminent has started schools and i'm
ported teachers from Porto Rica.
When the Marines first landed in
Santo Domingo very few of the chill
dren up to II years of age wore any
clothes. Now they are clothed and at
tend school and appear to learn quick
ly. Very few industries are in this
country. There are four cigar fac
tories and two t%anneries. The leather
is used to make a sort of slipper sole
leather and cloth tops.
There are several large sugar cane
plantations on the island controlled
-oo.41r Nv ~ o,.iaonS Tho OTsn11nn &c
very rich and needs no fertilizer. 1t
grows very fine sugar cane, but the
hardest job of all is to get the native
to work and help harvest the crops.
They are paid 60c to 90c a day, a ten
hour day. A peculiar thing about
these people is if you can get them to
sing they will work and work hard. A
Marine last week suggested that the
United States government send a song
leader down here for them.
Oranges are very plentiful down
here and sell for 10c a dozen. Ba-
nanas SC a dozen; cocoanuts and pine
apples &c to SC a piece, according to
size. so you can readily see the ma
tives can live very cheaply.
Santo Domingo contributed greatly
to the needs of the U. S. in the form
of large quantities of castor beans Tor
making oil to I'll aeroplanes.
The former governments of Santo
Domingo did not keep account of the
marriages, deaths or births in this
country but it is estimated the island
has a population of about 705,OOO
people.
The United States government has
two regiments of Marines here. One
regiment on one side of the island and
one on the other. Believe me they do
not get much time to play. The ban
dts are generally pretty active and
keep the marines busy keeping them
from looting towns and killing the
people.
On several of the trips l have taken
to the interior of this country | have
seen buildings SCARED by rifle balls
and in the hills we find trenches and
empty German made cartridges and
shells. 1 neglected to tell you when
the marines landed here they searched
every house and building in town for
fire arms and in nearly every place
found from / to II different kinds OF
weapons.
The people in the towns treat us civ
lily, but | am afraid not with love / n
their hearts.
Thru misunderstanding Thought to
be of German origin) the brain of the
native has been clouded and there
have been violent outbreaks, but they
are less frequent, and better times are
presenting themselves.
Hope to be home DON
Sincerely your son, Raymond.