The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-09-07
CUBA'S MILITARY GOVERNOR.
He Will BE in Large Measure Law
unto Himself.

Whoever is appointed by the United
States to be Cubas Military Governor
will have control over more soldiers
than any other authority in time Of
peace on this continent. IF $4,000
men form our army Of occupation and
pacifcation the force will b. twice as
large as the army of the United States
has been when on peace footing and
it will be third again as large as the
total military forces of the Dominion
of Canada.
This is entirely apart from the vast
civil power which will. rest in the
hands of the Military Governor. AS
yet there is no law for the guidance
Of the man who, for several months,
will lead Cuba into pleasanter paths,
but the President and Secretary of
War will give him his instructions as
they laid out the work for Gen. Merritt
in the Philippines. Later it is likely
that Congress will enact such law.
The Military Governor will have a
staff Of about a dozen officers. If the
army Of occupation contains $4,000
men there will be brigadier general
for every three regiments, or 5000
men. This will necessitate seventeen
brigadiers, one of whom will have only
two regiments. For every three bri-
gadiers there will be major general
to command the division so formed,
but, as in the case of the brigadiers,
one major general will have command
of division made up Of only two
brigades. Lastly, these six divisions
will be organizedinto two corps, which
will be commanded by major generals
also,
There are six provinces in Cuba,
each Of which will be under the COM
mand Of a major general, perhaps de-
tailed in addition to his command, and
with the title and work Of Lieutenant
Governor.
Over all will be the major general
selected for the post Of Military Gov
ernor. Thus, it seems likely that
there will be thirty generals in Cuba,
each with staff Of from ten to dozen
officers. The administration of the
Spanish Captain Generals was almost
entirely military, and the Yankee ad-
ministration, it will be seen, must be
almost as much SO in its character.
The military staff Of the brigadier
general apd that Of major general
differs only in the rank of the officers
composing it, with the exception that
the major general is entitled to three
aides, usually lieutenants, while the
brigadier has only two.
First Of all on the staff is the adju-
tant general. Through him all orders
are issued and to him reports come.
He is the same to his general as the
adjutant is to his colonel. Then comes
the Judge Advocate, and this person,
or persons-for there will be thirty Of
them-is highly important person
age. All questions Of law are referred
to him, and in the administration Of
the Military Governor and his deputies
for the provinces there will be many
knotty points to consider. In the
course of affairs in Cuba the next most
important staff officer probably will be
the surgeon. On him will fall not
only the problem Of keeping our SOL
diers in health, but Of bringing back
health to one of the most unhealthful
and at the same time most beautiful
regions on the earth. The lowered
death rate in Santiago so far shows
what can be accomplished by American
officers working with American brains.
Then each general must have chief
quartermaster and chief commissary.
On these two departments will fall
much work outside of the usual range
in the military, for the starved Cubans,
for whom the Americans fought and
bled, must be fed with our army ra-
tions, which must be transported from
the base Of supplies to the points Of
consumption.
The paymasters will have the hand
ling Of the money which will be paid
to our army. Besides, there are signal
officers, ordnance officers, inspectors
of rifle practice and engineer officers.
The Cuban, being Of Spanish extrac-
tion, is an impressionable creature,
and it may be necessary not only to
give him the idea of force, but to show
him all the marks Of rank that officers
on duty usually forego wearing reg
ularly in their own country. The
Cubans will be ruled largely by infu-
ence, and if we hope to have and keep
any influence over them our officers