The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-21
HAYTIAN WOMEN
AMONG KILLED
Secretary Daniels Makes Pub
lie Report by Admiral Knapp,
Investigator.
ADMITS BIG SLAUGHTER
Very Possible That 5000 Men
May Have Been Killed.
He Says.
ADMITS BIG SLAUGHTER

New York Herald Bureau,
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Special Despatch to THE NEW York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washn gton, ID. c., Oct. 90.
The long death roll of Haytians in
cident ITO American occupation, ap-
proximately one out of every 400 in
habitants. included women, according
to Rear Admiral H. S. Knapp, who
was sent to the island to make an
investigation by Secretary of the Navy
Daniels.
The Navy Department made public
day "a letter from Admiral Knapp.
addressed to Charles Mckinley of
Portland, Ore, in which Mr.. Mckinley
asked some pertinent questions con-
cerning affairs in the distracted island.
The fact that the reply of Admiral
Knapp is made public by the Navy
Department is regarded as indicating
the departments BELIEF that it is a
defence of its activities there.
In spite of the favorable nature of the
Admirals replies. admissions are made
concerning the killing of women. al
though 1t is explained they were killed
within the fighting lines. The admis-
sion is made with a vague suggestion
that the report that women were killed
might or might not be so.
There may have been cases of women
being shot," Secretary Daniels's investi-
eating report says. during action wnen
these women were in company of bandit
bands, but such cases, IL any occurred,
were accidents incident to the campaign
and were not the result of an intent
and were In despite of every desire of
the American troops engaged"
The Admiral says he has heard of no
cases of children being killed.
Figures 5000 Haytians Killed.
This is the first public admission that
women may have been killed." and in
dicates the desperate manner in which
the natives. men and women alike, re-
sisted occupation of the island. The
Admiral admits the casualties among
Haytians. also making this admission
with the accompaniment OF some doubt.
saying casually. 1T is very possible that
1900 Haytian men in all may have been
ing in these large casualties were neces-
sary in order to restore respect for life
and property.
Admiral Knapp says ne Is not pre-
pared to answer fully the question
whether "iogging. strangulation and
sept" were practised to obtain infor-
nation from the natives, but says he
has been unable to suhstantiate the re-
ports and processes to be ignorant of
what Is meant by sept"
The Admirals letter explains the
"corvee" system. by which labor was
forced to make roads and says II has
been abolished. He admits the system
was retained In "onc or two remote re-
gions' after the American occupation
and after the system rad been ordered
discontinued
Enforced Labor Caused Trouble.
1t has been understood the cont uua-
tion of the system was largely respon-
sible for the disturbances in the Hinche-
Missaide districts. whero illegal killings
are reported to have taken place.
Answering the question whether 1t Is
true or not that the representative legls-
lative system has been abandoned and
whether 1t is true that no legislative
Assembly has been convened since 1915.
the Admiral says the literal answer Is
no" He qualified this by explaining
that a Congress was elected after the
occupation but after meeting was pro-
rogued by the Haytian President after
the coup d'etat of June 10, 1917. Since
that time no legislative body has met.
The Constitution of 1918 provides that
the election of the legislative body snail
take place on January 10 of even num-
bered years. Under the provision OF the
same Constitution it IS provided that a
council of state shall exercise the legis-
lative powers until a legislative body is
elected. There can he no Legislative
elections until 1922. II is admitted that
the United States seized the Gu stom
House before the convention Of 1915 was
in effect.