Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-10-23

VI aCtual "aF existed, put during the
| whole time the bandits were mostly
engaged in bushwhacking. While
| the total number killed may seem
large 1t should be remembered that
| these operations extended over a pc
Rod of five and half years, and /
| believe that without the operations
| by the marines a much larger num-
Der of natives would have been
, killed by the bandits during this
| time"
| "Shockcd Beyond Expression"
Evidence at the trials Of two ma
rinc privates for the killing of ma
| ttvcs shocked me beyond express
sion," Gen. Barnett said in a letter
Of September 9th to Col. John II.
Russell, commanding in Hayti, or
| dering an immediate investigation
with the APPROVAL of Secretary DAN
| iels. 1t was at once carried out by
Col. Russell, who submitted a report
to the Navy Department March 20,
1920, but Gen. Barnett said the re-
| port had not been turned over to
Marine Corps headquarters up to
last June, when he was succeeded as
| commandant of the corps by Major
Gen. John A. Lejeune.
| In Secretary Daniels absence
, iloli washington INC report
OF Col. Russell on his investigation
was not available.
In his letter to Col. Russell Or
dering the investigation Gen. Bar
nett declared that testimony at the
trials of the two marine priVatcs, as
we'll as arguments presented by
counsel for the defence, Lieut.. +. l..
Spear showed mo that practically
indiscriminate killing Of natives has
gone on for some time"
Judging by the knowledge gained
only from the cases that have been
brought before me-" the General de-
clarcd, 81 think that the Marine
Corps has been sadly lacking In
right and justice, and L look to you
to see that this is corrected, and cor
rccted at once.
II was shocked beyond expression
to hear of such things and to know
that it was at all possible that duty
could be so badly performed by ma
rines Of any class.
Il want personal instructions sent
to every officer and non-commis-
stoned officer, both with the marines
and gendarmerie UIaytian con-
stabulary), that conditions as shown
by the evidence in the trial of the
privatcS above referred to must be
corrected, and that such action can
not be tolerated for moment"
Natives Were Helpless.
The ilashlight on what has oc-
Cured in IIayti tells story that
has about it ruthlcssncss with
which the conquistadores conquered
native Mexico. There was about the
same disparity in intelligence be-
tween the invaders and the invaded,
, with the same infcsiority OF weapons
possessed by the native Haytians.
There is no reflection upon the con-
duct OF either naval-- or marine
y forces. They were there to carry out
orders and did 50 in the effective
operations anywhere.
The attack on Port au Prince TO
which Gen. Barnett refers was Il
specific example OF the efficiency
with which the marines handled the
: situation. The American forces oc-
cupying Port an Prince learned that
Il body OF native troops was advanc-
ing to attack the city. The Ameri-
cans posted themselves to command
the road with rifles and machine
guns, with the result that the Hay
tan attackers were almost annihi-
lated.
The report of Gen. Barnett. pre-
coded by that of Gen. Lejcune, is
evidently part of programme on
the part Of the administration to put
the occupation Of the island in as
good light as possible.
Gen. Barnetts report apparently
went into details too thoroughly to
meet all requirements. John A. Nc
llhenny, United States agent in
charge of finances, has been sum-
moned to Washington by the State
department to aid in making up the
final report on the situation.
Conflicts With Hague Laws.
The administrators course in
Hayti has become a live issue ever
since critical reference was made to
it in recent speech by Senator
Harding. The administration I'M
doubtedly expects to show that peace
has been attained in lawless COM
munlty, but the question which has
not been approached is by what au-
thorlty the occupation of the island
was made. Neither has it been ex-
Iplalned- how the administrations
course, taken mysterously and with
jout authorization of Congress-
squares with the declaration of the
second Hague convention contained
IN Article | and 2, signed by the
United States, which says:
fhc contracting powers agree not
10 nave recourse to armed force for
the recovery Of contract debts
lclaimed from the government Of one
country by the government Of an
iother country as being due to it's
nationals"
| Critics of the course that has been
4 ,,I
Jean republics say it defeats the pur-
tpose OF the Monroe doctrine, that it
infringcs the rights of lesser peoples,
tawakens suspicion Of the United
States throughout the new world,
and that it is lacking in harmony