Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-09-20
LANDING THE MARINES

unfortunately the harbor is wide
open, and prior to II year ago il was
necessary to anchor at least half
mile out because Of the shallow wat
or. And this is what the marines
were up against. AS their boats left
the war ship they were shining
marks for the natives OF the fort
and the fact that only a few of the
ranks were hit was due more to the
poor ann OF their enemies than to
rack or opportunity to pick them or.
one thing that worried the Ameri
can commander was the sight of n
| great gun mounted on a small hill
lock ut the sea side OF the fort. This
| looked MS big as six inch piece and
rs minute succeeded minute and there
was no great shell sent hurting in
their direction the Americans wond
| cred why.
Orders were given the gunncrs
| aboard the war ship to get that big
gun, and although Il score or more
efforts were made the big gun is still
there. Afterward this gun was found
to he OF ancient vintage and out of
commission
AT first the American commander
was anxious TO wound as few of the
Dominicans as possible. Orders were
, to shoot high" and the marines obey
cd.
But the going became hotter and
hotter until finally the gunncrs were
instructed to place II few shells in
side the fort. This they did with
nratncSS and despatch and soon the
iraras was terminated.
When the Yankee forces invested
the city they at once took possess ion
OF the fort. Thicr presence sent the
l)ominlcanS into Il wild rage Still
the natives were helpless opposed 10
Il superior force and a force that was
armed with modern guns with field
pieces and with machine guns to ped
die. What could they do?
In the meantime the force that had
landed at Monte Christi was indulg
ing i'll IL forced march through the
hills and over almost impassablc
roads to the direction OF Santiago.
lhey marched night and day resting
ohtE when the men were too tired to
keep gong. They reached their oh
lcc,lVc two or three days after Puerto
rata had been taken. and there was
little on no trouble experienced in
including the officials OF the city TO
surrender
This Santiago place is one OF the
SHOW places Of the island. In the
nhSincSS section of the city there is
hardly building that doesn't show
the sears OF battle. The old cathedral
sad to have been erected more than
one hundred years ago flanks the pub
, TIC PARK on the south, while on the
north Is the barracks of the Guardian
Nacional, body composed of natiy
cS ana performing functions some
thlng like those which fail to the lot
Oh the New York or PENNSYLVANIA
State Constahulary. On the west of
the park is the Governors Palace and
Tie City Hall. On the east is another
church.
Most Of these buildings are bailt
oil wood and adobe, or concrete. The
outer layer is OF this plaster stuff and
'here Is hardly square foot of eth
CT the cathedral the barracks or the
church that doesn't show signs of bul
'elS ana heavier shot. The cathedral
in particular is riddlcd.
So. &1c" taking the island San
Domingo City, in the South, the capi
tai or The republic having fallen with
out trouble the Americans had pro
position on thci rhands. Communica
uon was had with Washington at
once The exact situation was made
clear to the officials and Instructions
were asked for.
In the Il ,"-.timc some Of ths bet
ter class CT Dominicans began to lake
heart. Thty were satisfied that th ,tr
big brother OF the North would coo