New-York tribune., 1920-11-11
Turner Tells Naval
Board Record of Kill.
ings Was Vaguely Kept
Prior to October, 1919
barnett's Figures
Called Exaggerated
Ratio Of Natives Killed
to Those Captured Is
Put at One to Seven
By Wilbur Forrest
Special cable to The Tribune

Tribune
PORT Au PRINCE, Hayti Nov. TO-
Testimony by Major Turner, brigade
adJutant, that in their intensive cam
palgning in Hayti between October,
1919, and October, 1920. the American
marines killed an average of more than
three Raytians daily was the feature
OF the evidence given at the initial ses-
sion of the naval board of inquiry at
TINS place to-day. The marines during
the year had 298 encounters with the
natives.
The naval board of inquiry was
named by Secretary Daniels on Oc-
tober Is, after he had made public
a report by Major General George Bar
nett in which the latter asserted that
practically indiscriminate killing of
natives" by certain marines had been
disclosed as the result of an investi-
cation made when a Haytian prisoner
vas killed by a marine.
The first report by General Barnett
asserted that $3.50 natives had been
killed by the marines, but he later
corrected this report to read $3.50.
The Navy Department made public the
Barnett report after Senator Harding,
in campaign speech, had denounced
the administration Of affairs in Hayti
by the marines and charged that many
Haytians had been killed by the Amer
leans.
Killing Records Vaguely Kept.
Admiral Mayo, chairman of the
board, personally interrogating the
witness, developed information that
records of the killings were only
vaguely kept at this place prior to
October, 1919, and became more ac-
curate thereafter because of an order
issued by Secretary of the Navy Dan
iels, after the receipt at Washington
Of a protest which was not made pub
lie at the time
Besides Admiral Mayo, the board of
inquiry is composed of Rear Admiral
J. II. Oliver and Major General w. c.
Neville,
Major Turner said he believed that
the figures given to General Barnett
regarding the killings were exagger-
ated, because, prior to the period of
more accurate record keeping, the tab
ulation was computed upon fragmen-
tary rumors and radio messages from
the bush country of northern and CEN
trail Hayti
The testimony given to-day was sole
ly concerning actual campaigning in
the bush country, and did not touch
other pOss Bile clashes elsewhere on the
island. The evidence showed that
since October, 1919, the ratio of Hay
tans killed to those taken prisoner has
been one to sewn.
Denies Orders to Slay Captives.
Major Turner emphatical,y denied
that brigade orders had been issued to
naltreat and kill captivcs in order to
intimidate others, and said that on the
contrary, orders forbidding such act,
had been issued twice. because of in
fractions of the rules OF war. Instances
Ct violation, he said, had resulted in
courts martial The first of these
bi.rities against the natives, was issued
October 10, 1919, and the second on
August /, 1920.
The testimony indicated that the
country is now virtually pacifed, only
two minor leaders remaining in the
field.
Though the sessions of the board
were public and would not have been
without interest to the natives, there
were hardly any spectators, because
perhaps, of the serious epidemic of
smallpox, which is now rapidly spread
ing among the black popuace, packed
like sardnes in their dwellings and
overtaXing the efforts of the marine
doctors.
The sessions were held in the marine
headquarters, which is within stones
throw of the palace of Presid Dart
iQuea aave. Admiral Mayo and the other
officers constituting the board are Iv-
ing on the Niagara. anchored mile
off shore