Evening star., 1934-08-05

BRANDT, nOfuS the TANK O1 IlldJot III bAC 0oAAc
dHaiti, as head Of the Coast Guard He is
assisted by Chief Boatswain william G. Baker.
who holds the rank of acting captain, and chief
machinist's mate, Salvatore F. Russo, who is
first lieutenant in the Garde. Natives with
a penchant for the water are trained at Bizo-
ton and a number of deteriorated craft have
been reconditioned there. Soon Haiti's navy
will be turned over entirely to the natives.
Brig Gen. Louis Mccarthy Little commands
the brigade of Marines quartered at Port
Prince. Soon this outfit numbering around
$50, will sail with those Americans who are
On duty with the Garde dHaih. for the home
land And so there viii not be a solitary
Marine or naval officer or enlisted man left
in the whole of Haiti.
Quietly the process has been going on.
until here recently the Americans were found
only at Cape Haitien in the north, at Jacmel
In the south, at Ouaniminthe in the east and
in the capital. The rest Of the nation has
been "Haitienized." In command now at Cape
Haitien is Lieut.. Col. Edwin N. Mcclellan, who
has just left Washington after spending many
years here in the writing of the history of the
Marine Corps, from the earliest times
And when the Marines go the United States
will present to the Republic of Haiti their bar
racks, garages, warehouses and other perma-
nent structures, as well as arms and radio
eldIlOIl, py courtesy OF congress mere.
1t is a dramatic tale that leads from the
turbulent days of 1915 up to this tranquil pres
eEt In January, 1915, Rear Admiral william
B. Caperton, United States Navy, was ordered
to proceed with the U. S. S. Washington TO
the West Indies and become acquainted with
political conditions in Santo Domingo, Haiti
Cuba and Mexico He sailed from Portsmouth
N. H., and made his way to Cape Haitien.
Gillaume Sam, a northern chieftain had won
a wide following and was threatening the
prestige of President Davimar Theodore of
Haiti This was in January, when Sam strode
forward in his drive for power He marched
southwark, scattering the government forces
and, when he reached Port au Prince. took the
capital, made himself President and Theodore
fed aboard the Dutch steamer Prins Frederick
Hendrix.
Sans uncle, it was said gave him $50 600 10
make him President, so the nephew could fol-
low In his footsteps Launching forth to his
goal, Sam styled himself "chief of the executive
rower," and three armies-one under Hilaire
another under Zamor and third under Sam
closed in on Port Prince, from east, north
and south, February 21, 1915.
Theodore, the departing chief executive, had
barely enough funds to buy his ticket. but with
two three of his cabinet, with long frock
coats and silk hats marched down the street
to the wharf to take passage. He went to santo
Domingo.
vilbrun cillaume Sam, to give him his fun
name, was in the saddle about six months when
he decided to shoot prisoners in the jail Revolu-
ton was brought to head. Although an army
was marching in from Arcahaie it was too late
to save Sam. He took refuge in the French
legation, but an infuriated mob searched it and
the President of Haiti was slain, his body cut
up into some 200 pieces and dragged about the
streets on pieces Of string. Thus perished the
indomitable Sam, who six months before was
lord of Haiti. From 1911 to 1915 Haiti had
seven presidents
On July 2s, 1915, the o. s. s. Washington,
flying Admiral Caperton's flag, was anchored
In the harbor of Port au Prince. The admiral,
looking through his binoculars from the Amer
;can warship. saw the mob ashore dragging an.
object through the streets. He sent his officers
on the beach to determine what was amiss.
They discovered that 1t wss the mutilated body
of President Sam.
Under command Of Capt George Van Orden,
u. s. NJ. c., on the afternoon of July %, 1915,
the Marines landed at Port au Prince.
committee Of public safety assumed charge
of the civil affairs of the disturbed republic.
Years later, Stenio Vincent now President of
Haiti, said in surveying those hectic days Of
1915: Throughout this affair the life of not
a single American citizen or foreigner was taken
or jeopardized. No property was destroyed.
And although there was for the moment no
government, there was no burning or killing or
robbing. Quiet was promptly restored and o
committee of public safety assumed responsi-'
bility for order until new government should
be elected. It must be borne in mind that
there is not a single instance of an American,
or, indeed, Of any foreigner, having been killed
or molested in Haiti prior to the American
occupation"
The Marines landed at the south edge of
Port au Prince and other forces landed in Cape
Haitien IN the north, taking possession of these
key cities. Amid this turmoil, NJ Dartiguenave,
president Of the Haitian Senate, was chosen
President. with the majority of the members