The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-11-13
KNAPP REPORTS
. FROM HAITI
Natives Have Confidence in
Marines but Fear the
49,. Gendarmerie
MADE SURPRISE ~,
vIsIT.IN TWO CITIES

Citizens Grateful for Return of Peaceful
Conditions - Women Travel Without
Fear of Bandits and Civilizations Are
Being Conducted.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.-Secretary
Colby has made public the text OF the
report just received from Rear Admira
Harry s. Knapp. who was sent to Halt
nv the state department on a special mis-
sion of investigation and Cancellation over
conditions in the heart of the bandit dis
trict. where he purpOsely made a sur
brise' visit to see how the. American
marines were handling matters.
Admiral Knapp's report follows:
My visit was purposely unannounced'
I wished to see conditions in their usual
state and to avoid the preparation of any
remarks on the part of Haitian people
whom l should meet, in the hope OF ar
irving at their real opinions as closely
as would be possible.
Both at Mirabelais and at Las Gao
bas | asked the commanding othcer OF
the marine detachment encamped there
to invite the leading citizens to con
ference with me, which was done.
AT both places great gratitude was
expressed over the return to peacetuI
conditions and a relief from the terror,
ism that less than a year ago had existed
throughout the region due to the actlYl-
ties of the cacos (bandits,l Content
ment was expressed with present condl'
lions, and ! did not succeed In elicit
ing any sentiments of discomfort.
over the entire length of road trav-
ersed we constantly met people gong
to and from market and saw no signs
Il h Ir1gF OH
side of the normal except for, the pres
ence at one or two places enrOute OF
small detachments of marines. Houses
were occupied and in the vicinity. OF the
habitatiOns cultivation was going on Sc
fur as could be seen from the road. This
in marked contrast with the conditions
as described to me by Colonel Russell
that existed about a year ago, when he
first returned to Haiti and himself Wis
tied this same region. Then he had tc
60 with military precautions and In dan
ger of ambush the roads were deserted
as were the houses. and cultivation had
almost entirely ceased, due to the terror
ism exerted by the Caeos.
"On Saturday. and yesterday hundreds
of women were passed on the road II
number of cases women were passed
who were proceeding alone, but in most
cases they were proceeding in groups
and generally they ,"ere not attended by
any man. All this goes to show that the
country has been pacifed and that the
Cacos reign oftterror is over, a fact re-
garding which Che Iaitiens that l men
toned expressed the greatest satisfaction.
There was ehe thing that was spoken
of at AIirabelais that it seems proper
to bring to the attention of the depart
ment. I was told there that the people
regard the marines as their friends, and
their assurance of peaceful conditions
but that they did not wish to be left
to the care of the gendarmerie. | in
quired the reason for this opinion and
was told that the rank and file of the
gcndarmerie we're people apt to rob
to take what they want without con-
pcnsation by virtue of the force they
could exert as members of a military or
ganization.
Il have no doubt that this fear Of
the HaitienS is too well founded. 1t has
been and is the constant effort of the
gendarmerie officers to instill a higher
code into the men, and this is succeeding
in large measure, but it cannot be ex
pected that the entire force will change
its habit of thinking by being placed il
Uniform and subjected to military control
1t is Unfortunate. and is not, | believe
reflection on the gendarmerie officers
but is one of the things that must b'
met with patience and unremitting care
II represents one of the great difficulties
attendant upon the efforts of the United
States to improve conditions in Haiti"