The Washington herald., 1920-10-06
LE JEUNE FINDS
HAITI FRIENDLY
Report to Daniels Tells Of
Gratitude for Kindness
Of Marines.
CITES FEW FRACASES
Reports Of Cruelty Declared
Foundless by Navy
Secretary.
CITES FEW FRACASES

Strong sentiment of gratitude
toward the United States Marines
working for the welfare of Haiti Is
being expressed everywhere on the
island, according TO the report OF
Maj. Gen. John A LeJeune, made
public through Secretary of the
Navy Daniels yesterday.
Gen. LeJeune's report comes after
a personal tour of the island. during
which he was in conference with
many high Haitian government OH
cials, including the president and
his cabinet
Summarizing a detailed report OF
conditions as he found them during
the last month, Gen. LeJeune de-
clared that the manner and actions
of thousands of people in the towns
and on the roads of the interior in
dicated a very kind and friendly
feeling existing toward persons
wearing the uniform Of the United
States Marine Corps"
Daniels Defends Marines.
In making public the report Sec,
retary Daniels declared recent re-
ports Calculated to convey the i'm
preston that Marines charged with
responsible duties there had been
cruel and inhumane" were regret
table, since from the day Marines
first landed in Haiti. officers and
men had carried out in letter and
spirit the order to set an example
in helpfulness and kindliness in the
! discharge of a difficult duty"
Daniels statement, coming wi.h
Gen. LeJeune's report, may be taken
to indicate that the State Depart
ment's announcement that John A.
MCIlhenny, financial advisor to the
Haitian government had been sum
moned home for a conference, does
not contain behind il the suggestion
that mismanagement and disorder
are ruling on the island. The State
Department claims McIlhenny is
coming to confer with government
officials on a loan sought by the
Haitian government in this country.
Secretary Daniels, remarking on
Gen. LeJeunes report, said. In a
few instances the orders Of the Sec
retary of the Navy and the head
of the Marine Corps were not car
ried out, but in those few cases
orders were given as soon as in
formation reached Washington for
full investigation and punishment
for wrongs done or any crimes coin
mitted by any American officer or
man"
Tells Of stabbing ARRAY.
Gen. LeJeupe, in his report
touching on the relations between
the Marine Corps and the civil pop
ulation. says:
There have been, of course, some
cases of ill-feeling between indi-
viduals; for instance, while 1 was
in Port au Prince two Marines.
while walking along a city street
| at night, were seriously stabbed
from behind by Haitians, who sue
ceeded in making their escape, and
/ found in the guardhouse there
several Marines who had been tried
by court martial for engaging IN
brawls with Haitians. Affairs of
this kind are. of course. very re-
grettable, but are, nevertheless. un-
avoidable and are liable to occur
at any place-at home or abroad
4 where troops are stationed.
The French priest at Hinche
with whom 1 had a long conference
stated that he had been stationed
there for thirteen years. and that
conditions at HinChe, which had
been a center of bandit activity
were better than they had ever
been during his ministry in Haiti
1t was easy to see by the man.
ner and actions OF the thousands of
people we met in the towns and
on the roads in the interior, that a
very kind and friendly feeling ex-
lists toward persons wearing the
uniform of the United States Mar.
/ rine Corps"