The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-05-17
Use AIRpL ANES
TO FIGHT BANDITS
MaohIne-0un Method Of Warfare
Being Tried II Santo
Domingo.
LATEST STUNT OF MARINES
Distinct Surprise 70 Macorls Gang Of
100 outiaws Hiding u inaccessible
Parts 0f lsIand-Freguent
eash Fighting.

New York. Hunting bandits with
machine guns III airplanes Il the latest
stunt Of the United States marine
corps. II II said to be distinct SUR
prise to the Macoris gang Of 400 ont
laws hiding In inaccessible parts Of
the San Pedro Macoris district Of San
10 Domingo.
News Of the adoption OF this up-to-
theminute method Of discouraging rev
olution and pillage In the turbulent re-
public came In private advices from
Porto Rico, where, II IL said, the out
laws obtained their arms and ammn-
nition. 1t marine headquarters here
there Is no knowledge OF how effective
well-directed gunnre from the soaring
planes has been. but q report from
Colonel Breckenridge, In command OF
one Of the companies on the island, In
dicates that the latest crop Of jungle
buccaneers viii soon be harvested. He
wrote to thank the originator OF the
idea, which, he said. was proving In
valuable, and added "Send down
some more airplanes." e.. ,t. 4
There are now 18 flying machines
with the marine corps In santo Do
mingo and Hayti. These forces con-;
sist Of the First brigade, Of 1900 men.
under General Catlin. at Port an
Prince, and the Second brigade, OF
1900 men. under General Fuller, at
San Domingo City. Attached to thess
forces IL the Fourth aviation squadron,
under Captain Mimms, Of 300 men, d.
vided into two divisions. B
Frequent Bush Fighting.
The one in Hayh has seven hydro
planes and; the other In Santo Domin-
no. has six machines. In both coun-
tries there IL very bad situation. with
constant outbreaks Of revolution and
outlawry. No regular battle has taken
place since the arrival Of the marines.
but there has been frequent bush fight
ing, with the marines the nrst and the
last to fight, n Y
=; An idea Of what the marines are
facing and how thoroughly they are
preparing to do their Job is given In
m article In the Times OF San .Juan,
Porto Rico, Of recent date. under the
headline. .Airplanes 10 Smash New
Band Of Bandits. . II says: IA
,ss..According to reliable reports the
latest band Of bandits In sSanto Do
mingo numbers about 400 young and
active men, and they are well armed
and have plenty Of ammunition. The
haunt Of the gang 10 in the San Pedro
Macoris district. and while they adopt
the old profession of being revolutions
lists they are proving to be as ready
for murder and pillage as their pro-
totypes who are gone. There has been
nothing like pitched battle with the
outlaws as yet, but marine officers hav-
Ing commands in the district are ex:
Recting serious trouble at any time. II
has been automatically stated that a
squadron Of five or six airplanes with
"A force Of 35 trained pilots and me-
chanics has recently been landed on
the island and Is being mobilized nj
the Consuelo sugar estate In the San
Pedro Mac0ris district, where wide
cleared area and level plains make the
ground Ideal for the building OF air
dromes and the maneuvering of the
machines. = sss Il
Expected to Check LaWiessness.
Although no official information has
been given out, 1t is currently report-
ed that the airplanes. when put in
proper shape, will be armed with ina
chine guns and viii play a conspicu.
GUS part In the hunting out OF the
bandits lurking In the iungles and In
properly cleaning them mp. With the
leathernecks afoot and the mir full at
drumming birds there does not seem
to be much hope for the wouid.be bad
men, and the fertile plains OF Snn Do
mingo may soon be made safe for hon.
est men,"
News from other sources Is to the
effect that several flights have been
made over the territory to which the
gang has been driven for concealmer,t,
with the result that conceaiment was
Immediately made doubiy sure In the
tall grass and timber. to escape from
the rain OF bullets from the skies.
What execution was, done is not known
here.