File No. 838.00/1373.
[Inclosure—Extract.]
Admiral Caperton
to the Secretary of the
Navy.
On this day I received a radiogram from the Department stating that
the Department was impressed with the number of Haitians killed;
that it feels that a severe lesson has been taught the Cacos and it
believes that a proper patrol can be maintained to preserve order
and protect innocent persons without further offensive operations.
The Department directs that, should these
[Page 496]
measures prove inadequate, I inform the
Department before taking steps that would result in loss of life on
either side, except in case of urgent necessity.
November 21, 1915.
At 30 minutes past midnight, November 21, Colonel Waller directed all
the forces in the North to suspend operations except patrolling,
pending further instructions; and at 12.30 p.m., November 21, he
communicated the Department’s instructions to the forces in the
North and gave instructions accordingly.
November 22, 1915.
Later reports from North Haiti indicate that when Fort Rivière was
rushed by the 5th Company of Marines, 29 Cacos were killed in the
mêlée. Many jumped over the parapet and attempted to escape. These
were attacked by the remaining companies and 22 were killed. It is
not known how many escaped or how many were in the fort when the
attack was made. My radiogram 12018 was in error relative to the
captures made at Fort Rivière. There were none captured there. 42
prisoners were captured that day, but elsewhere.
November 25, 1915.
On this day, President Dartiguenave called at the French Legation and
formally apologized for the violation of that Legation on July 28,
1915. The Haitian shore battery fired a salute of 21 guns to the
French flag. This salute was returned gun for gun by the French
Cruiser Descartes with the Haitian flag at
the main. At 12.40 p.m. the Descartes got
under way and stood to sea.
November 29, 1915.
North Haiti continues to be patrolled by the marines. This country
remains quiet. Captain Campbell’s company, which went to Hinche,
found the population there and en route apparently delighted to see
our troops and that vicinity quiet and orderly.
November 30, 1915.
Colonel Cole, commanding the 1st Regiment of Marines at Cape Haitien,
reports that entire North Haiti is quiet, though there are a few
scattered outlaws who commit depredations from time to time between
Le Trou and the border. Our patrolling continues in North Haiti.
December 11, 1915.
The situation in Haiti remained unchanged on this day, except that a
small band of 16 armed bandits, under a leader named Tijacques,
pillaged the town of Gross Roches the night of 9–10 December. Marine
patrols have been sent out to capture them. There is considerable
unrest on the Dominican side of the border in the vicinity of Monte
Cristi and Dajabon.
December 13, 1915.
The situation on this day remained unchanged, except that part of the
band implicated in the pillaging of Gross Roche were overtaken by a
marine patrol. These bandits refused to surrender and broke for the
bush, firing a number of shots. One bandit was killed, several
wounded, and five taken prisoners by the patrol. Two of the
prisoners afterwards escaped. The Haitian authorities at Perches
captured two Cacos charged with looting and turned them over to the
patrol. These affairs are of very minor nature.
