New-York tribune., 1920-10-24
One.Sided War


One-Sided War
In the same time there had been
$3.50 natives slain.
Whether or not SO many natives
have been killed and if so, whether
or not the killings were justifable
coubtless will be established by
hoard of inquiry invoked by Secre-
tary Daniels of the Navy Depart
ment.
In the mean time the public is
enabled to obtain some valuable in
formation in regard to affairs in
Hayti through the reading Of two
chapters of Roaming Through the
West Indies, just published by the
Century Company. The author is
Harry A. Franck, who has wandered
through many lands and written en-
tertainingly Of what he has seen.
Just released from service in France
before ne began his tour of the West
Indies, his testimony is the more
valuable because it is written with
out prejudice and without knowl-
edge that an investigation would
grow out of conditions in the black
republic.
1t is entirely without any thought
Of its possible effect, therefore, that
MIR. Franck observes in Port-au-
Prince, the Haytian capital, that our
advisory" share in the civil gov
eminent Of Hayti is in too many
cases being administered by men
chosen for their political standing
rather than for their ability or or
perience in such tasks as they are
facing. The navy and marine Of
fcers, between whom a rift now and
then shows itself, have the charac-
tcristics Of the military calling the
world over. They are by nature di-
rect and autocratic, rather than per-
suasive and tactful. They have al
most childish petulance at any
fancied slight to their rank, which
does not make it easy for them to
cooperate with the civilian officials. "
From the South
by chance or design the great
majority of our officers in Hayti are
Southerners, and they naturally
shun any but the most unavoidable
intercourse with the natives. After
all, the Haytians won their independ-
ence without our assistance, and to
a certain extent they are entitled to
what they call their dignite person.
nelle. The Southerner is famed for
his ability to keep the 'nigger' down,
hut he is less successful in lifting
him up, and that is the task we have
taken upon ourselves in Hayti."
On the other hand, the author In
dlcates in his work that United
States marines in Hayti have been
called upon by our government to
handle a situation with which the
average American is not even vague
ly familiar. Few know that bloody
sort CT warfare, mainly Of our
policy's making, has been going on
IN Hayti for the last four years
and still continues. Few are, per
haps, aware that our government
has sanctioned the enforced labor at
the point of a gun of Haytian ma
tives by the American forces Of oc-
oupation, condition which impelled
hordes of rebels to flee to the noun.
talns and jungles to become rebels
against the Invader"
The author of Roaming Through
the West Indies makes it plain that
American marines have had theil
hands full subduing the cacos, OF
black bandits. And the cacos, de-
spite the killing of about 5000 OF
them, are still to be entirely sub
cued.
The writer places a modicum o.
Lame for a Haytian situation OF
the Haytians themselves. He trace.
them from the days when French
men brought them from Africa al
Slaves, their expulsion of the French
slave masters, and their independ
ence of over hundred years stand
ing, punctuated by just one politi
cal revolution after another unit
The United States sent marines L
paclfy and administer.
How we'll the marines have ad.
plnistered will doubtless be brought