The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-14
CHARGES MARINES |ND|SCR|M|NATELY
 KILLED HA|T|ANS
General Barnett Declares He Was Shocked Beyond Ex- presSion at Trial of Men
 For Killing Natives
By Associated Pres,

Washington, October I3.-Dis-
 closure that summary iuvestigs-
 tion of alleged "practicnuy indis-
 criminate killings of Haitian na-
 lives by United States marines"
 was ordered more than a year ago
 by Mnjor General Barnett, taen
 commanaant of the marine corps.
 was made today in publication of
 report by General Barnett on
 operations in Haiti during Ameri-
 can occupation.
 Evidence at trials of two marine privates for the killing of natives shocked me beyond expression" Gea- eral Barnett said in a letter of Sep tember 2 10 Col, John Fl. Russell, coml- manding Haiti. ordering an iinn eaiat \ investigation with the approval Of Secretary Daniels It was al once car- ried out by Colonel Russell. who submitted q report to the navy depart ment March 20. 1920. but General Bar turned over to marine corps headeuar. ters up to last June. when he was sue ceeded as commandant Of the corps by Maj, Gen. John A. Lejeunc.
 General Barnett's report contains no indication of the result of the investi- gation for this reason, as it covers opera tions in Haiti only up to the time he was relieved as commandant.
 Secretary Daniels. it was shown, or. dered General Barnett September IS last. to submit a special report on con ditions causing the investigation. This report was incorporated in the general operations report made public today. General Barnett received the order while on leave of absence shortly after publication of statements of Senator Harding. republican nominee. criticis- ing the naval administration in Haiti.
 REPORT NOT AVAILABLE
 Tn Secretary Daniels absence from Washington tonight, the report Of available.
 Tn bis letter to Colonel Russell,
 ordering the investigations General
 Barnett declared thnt s'testimony
 at the trial of the two marine pri-
 yates well ns argument present.
 ed by counsel for the defense.
 showed me tbnt practically indis-
 criminate killing of natives lad
 gone on for some time"
 Judging by the knowledge gained. only from the cases that have been brought before me" the general de. clared. '1I think that the marine corps has been badly lacking in right and justice and I look to you to see that this is corrected. ard corrected at once.
 q was shocked beyond expression to hear of such things and to Know h at 'it was at all possible that duty could tc so badly performed by marines of any class.
 .I ranf personal instructions
 sent to every officer and nOn-com-
 missioned officer. both with the
 marines and Eenda Ymerie tHaitian
 cons stabuIary) that conditions as
 shown by the evidence in the trial
 Of the privntes referred to must be
 corrected and that such action
 must not he tolerated for mo-
 ment.''
 CONFIDENTIAL ORDERS ISSUED
 Colonel Russell wrote General Bar nett last october that he had taken the matter up most seriously" and is sued confidential orders to his forces in line with General Barnett's letter. He said he also had issued new proc lamation to the Haitian people, the text of which was not given in General Barnett's report. The General replied he had ordered members of the marine corps then in the United Staates who had previously served in Haiti, exam ined and that he would order the re- turn to Haiti of any such people as may seem necessary
 General Barnetts report did not con tain any extracts from the two court martial proceedings from which he deduced that indiscriminate killing of natives had taken place. The cases were those of two privates charged with illegal execution of native, ais letter showed, but there was nothing rtx,n if. "a c q for the situation which General Bar nett's letter to Colonel Russell order ing the investigation pictured.
 The navy department made public October a special report prepared by General Lejeune, now conmandant of the corps, on the work of the marines in Haiti during his term of office. It declared that peace and tranquility prevailed in the island which General Lejeune had just inspected and that the marines had won the gratitude of all law abiding natives for their work in suppressing the bandits. No men tion was made of the incidents dis closed in General Barnetts report or of the fact taht the conduct of the marines had been under investigation.
 General Lejeune spoke in high terms of the loyal support he found to be ac- COTQSQ 1OiOHtl INhoStii ny iso SNbVi dinateg in giving Kindly treatme ent" to the natives.
 My heart was filled with pride to see these splendid men of the marine corps giving to their country and to the republic of Haiti such intelligent jealous, efficient and courageous serv- ice"
 General Barnstt's letter to Colonel Russell also ordered diseontinuance of the "Corves" system of road construc- ton under which the natives of each district were compelled to work on the roads a certain number of days each year without compensation. This sys- tenn, established under the old Haitian lsv, was discontinued at the beginning o4 American occupation. General 7ar- aefA report showed. but later re-
 Big Steamer on Fire
 By Associated Press
 arifn October 13-A telegram from it.an1burg this morning reports that d h4s Gre broke out at midnight on the