The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-16
DANIELS STARTS
TO DELVE INTO
lHAYTI KILLINGS
Secretary Of Navy Says Gen.
Barnett's Statement Is
First News to Him,
STIRRED BY CRITICISM
Seeks to Put Plan of 'Pacifi-
cation in Better Light
Before Public.
FIRST REPORT Is 'LOST'
Illegal Execution Of Bandits
and Other Natives Known
to Generals.
STIRRED BY CRITICISM
FIRST REPORT IS LOST
spsc.al Despatch to THE NEW yosK HERALD.
Nov York Herald Bureau,
washington, II. C.. Oct. Is.

SD<ciui Despatch to TIN NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, u. C., Oct. Is.
spurred to action by public criticism
Of the Governments course in Hayti,
where approximately one out Of every
400 natives he's been killed in the
Governments programme of pacifica-
ton, Secretary of the Navy Daniels
took action to-day to put the Govern
ment in better light.
The Secretary named q special COM
pittee to investigate the reports of
the 'indiscriminate killings" mentioned
IN the report of Gen. George Barnett:
made public the full report of Gen.
Barnett; added explanations of his own
and submitted the lost report of Gen.
X II. Russell and the reports OF Gems.
Butler and Lejeune to public inspec-
ton.
The charge Of the indiscriminate kill
ipgs Is the one the Secretary showed
peculiar constituencies over, and said
positively that Gen. Barnett's report is
TIC Al 81 liz ilds IltdIQ "a titSe litCAuculS
The reports OF Generals Lejeune and
Butler call attention to evidence of this
lSInd and show that in the northern sec
tons OF Hinche and Nissiade enforced
labor on roads under the 'corvee" sys-
tenn was continued after being abolished
elsewhere. and adnits that natives were
Illegally Killed. For these actions the
commander in charge was transferred
hut no further action was taken.
All News to Daniels.
The complete report OF Gen. Barnett
Il voluminous and gives the story of the
american occupation in detail, with the
correspondence which Gen. Barnett had
Nth officers on the island relative to
reported illegal executions. In spite OF
the fact that 1t appears il was generally
Known that Irregularities were going on
the Secretary OF the Navy insists the
story has just come TO him.
The special committee consists OF Adj
Jural Henry T. Mayo, Admiral J. III.
Oliver and Brig.-Gen. Pendleton. This
spmrnittee Is instructed to take up the
report OF Gen. Barnett. particularly the
statement relative to 'indiscriminate
lsilines" and other alleged wrongdoings
.;eid to have been committed by Marines
and the Haytian gendarmerie. Tho
Navy Dope --.nent's announcement says:
They win be empowered to send for
persons md papers and TO slit evidence
10 the end that any men In American
Uniform guilty Of wrongdoing should be
brought to trial and punished
The Secretary OF the Navy adds: IT
have also approved OF the special repor'
OF Gen. Lejeune and Gen. Butler made
after their recent return from Hsyti and
directed the Judge Advocate General 10
IN oceed against the parties believed 10
lave been guilty
Cen. RusseIi's Report Lost.
The Incidents leading up to the in
ves,igation OF the Killings show a pc
clliar nixup ia the sending OF reports,
that OF Cen. j. II. Russell made in April
having baen lost and only recently
brought 10 the attention OF the Depart
nient in the form OF copy.
Secretary Daniels. explaining that
Gen. Barnett's report contained the first
intlmation of 'indiscriminate killings"
that has come to his attention. said
THAT expression was contained In let
ter marked 'confidentiar written by
Gen. Barnett to Gen. Russell. Gen.
Barnett reported to me on January 1c,
1920. that apparently certain marines in
Hayti had been guilty OF unlawful acts
in the latter part of September. 1919.
On tho day he brought this reprehensi-
bic conduct to my attention he recon-
mended an investigation"
Mr.. Daniels said he Immediately d.
rected this investiga ton to proceed
The reference in Gen. Barnett's re-
port to "indlscriminate killings which
Secretary Daniels says is the FIRST inti-
nation he has had OF such occurrences.
Is contained In the statement that late
In September. 1919, the cases of John
son and McQull]<en for unlawful execu-
tions' came to his attention and October
-. - fr4sr f4nr.N -.
Gen. Russell In that letter ne said
The court martial Of one private for
the killing OF native brought out q
statement by his counsel which showed
me that practically indiscriminate kill
ing OF natives has gone on for some
time"
In answer Gen. Russell made n report
In March. but it was this report which
was unaccountably lost. Gems Butler
and Lejeune were then ordered TO Hayti
and brought back a copy OF Gen. Rus
seli's report and that made by them
selves.
Major Wells Is Blamed.
Cen Russell's report did not 20 into
the details OF the reported "indlscrim-
inpte Killings" but referred 20 bad con-
oitions existing in the northern part
of Haytl In tho Einche- Missiade Sec
luctantly forced TO the conclusion that
Major Clarke III. Wells. former gendar-
merle department commander. was re-
sponsible for conditions IN northern
Hayti. Gen. Russell expressed doubt
"a 10 whether the situation justified a
court-martial. as many changes had
taken place in the gendarmerie. and that
nearly all Interested parties had re-
turned to the United States or had been
discharged. He suggested that the whole
matter be referred TO the Office OF the
Judge Advocate General
According 20 tho reports OF Gems. But
Ter and Lejeune. Il appears that forced
labor on tho roads had been abolished
~ the Haytlan Government to stop on
October i, 1916. This order was not
. nbeyed NJ Hinche and Miasindo Tina
authorized 'corvce" continued until
. March. 1919. when it was stopped By
-rre.r OF Brig Gen. A. W. Catlin. who
tfnede a tour OF investigation Of the dis
trict.
This situation probably had much 70
10 In bringing nbout q disturbed condl-
sion In ths section named during tho
winter of 1918 and 1919. The depart
rbeut commander reported everything
,utet while on the contrary there woro
rfe0uent collisions with bandits. The
Expert significantly adds:
Some evidence indicates that his
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