Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-07
Hoover Asks Congress to
Send Commission ImmedI-
ateIy to Formulate New
Policy Toward Republic.
MORE TROOPS RUSHED
COPE WITH SITUATION
Small Band of U. S. Forces Uses
Guns to Scatter 1900 Men Arm
ed With Machetes and Clubs
After Parleying Peaceably for
Hour-20 Are Wounded.

News that blood had been shed
in a clash between United States
Marines and Haitian bands at Aux
Cages and an urgent request from
Brig. Gen. John H. Russell, Amer
lean high commissioner on the
island, that a cruiser be rushed
Immediately to Port au Prince
reached washington today just as
President Hoover delivered a spe-
cial message to Congress on the
Haitian situation. Five Haitians
were killed and 20 wounded yes
terday by a small Marine patrol
as a mob of 1900 crudely armed
men attempted to invade Aux
Cayes. Meanwhile 500 Marines
were at Norfolk in preparation for
departure to Haiti this afternoon.
President Hoover urged Congress to
appoint without delay commission 10
60 to that country to review and study
the difficulties in an endeavor to ar
rive at some more dennlte pohcy imam
is at present possible.
The President requested Congress to
appropriate for this purpose S5O,OOO.
He mentioned that 1t is his intention
to include one or two members from
each house of Congress on this COM
mission.
News of the clash at Aux Cayes
reached washington while the Prest-
dents message was being read to Con-
gress on the situation that has
prompted the dispatch Of more Ameri-
can troops to the island republic.
At the same time. Secretary Stimson
announced oficially that 500 Marines
had been dispatched to the island last
night.
the island.
Describing the situation which grew
out of a strike of students october 81,
as distressing" Stimson said he would
deal with the problem, which he added
was a dificult one, with franknesS and
full publicity of the information re-
ceived by the State Department from
Brig. Gen. John H. Russell, the Amer
lean high commissioner.
In the message the President also
advised Congress that, in compliance
with the request made by the high COM
missioner at Haiti additional Marines
have been ordered dispatched to
strengthen the force already in Haiti.
Gen. Russell requested that the crui-
ser Galveston be ordered Immediately
from the Guantanamo naval base to
Port au Prince, IN Haiti.
In q dispatch to Secretary Stimson,
the commissioner said that the oppo-
sition press and agitators had in
famed" the country and that since the
situation is not clearing as rapidly as
had been hoped, he suggested the send
ing of reinforcements.
Russell added that it was rumored
that the people are in revolt around
the city of Jacmel, where papers show
ed that many automatic pistols had
come into ths.eountry from Guatemala.
The telephone line from Gobedere To
Jacmel and the line from Gonaives To
Grosmorne have been cut.
The cruiser Galveston will be dis
patched to Jacmel upon its arrival from
Guantanamo.
A report of the incident at AUX Cages.
In which five Haitians were killed ano
"a wounded. was received today from
Gen Russell The report said that the
Marines had been forced to fire into the
mob at the city after exercising great
self control and after firing into the
air several times.
He disclosed that he has arranged for
the evacuation Of American women and
children from the port today by steamer
Details Are Given.
Details of the clash at AUX Cages
were given the State Department in
dispatch from the American high COM
missioner to the island, who said the
Marines first had tried to dispen the
mob by firing into the air.
His dispatch follows:
Information was received at garoe
(constabulary) commander at Cayes
that a mob was moving on the city.
Garde guarded tine city, while Marines
were at the garde barracks at the
entrance to the town.
Marines we're sent by the patrol
with the Garde commander out 10 meet
the advancing mob about 200 yaros
from the barracks. Leaders OF the moo,
totaling about 1.500. demanded 10 enter
the city to assist strikers.
They we're told strikers were PACK
at work. but as they would not believe
Capt. Roy C. Swink, the leaders were
allowed to pass through the line, enter
the town and confer with strike Leaders:
They returned later and demanded
the release of three prisoners; other
wise threatening to advance on the
town. Their request being refused
thev advanced down the road toward
the patrol and through the cane felds
on each side Of the road.
THE patrol of 20 Marines f1red over
their heads and the mob halted. but