The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-08
GARRISON SITE AT HAVANA.
POINT SELECTED BY BOARD ABOUT
EIGHT MILES FROM THE CITY.

Col Hccker strongly Advises
Against Quartering Troops in Per-
mnnent Structures which May he
Infected-DOelss Being Erected to
DiSembarIS Soldiers-Americnns 10
BE Kept From Direct Contact with
the Clty--Guarda CiVilia Likely 10
Police the city.
Washington, Nov. 7.-Col. Hecker. with
Col. Lee of the board which was sent
to Cuba to select sites for the American
army of occupation, has reached wash>
ington, and has had several conferences
with the President and Secretary Alger.
During Col. Hecker's absence in Cuba he
made several reports by mail, and al
though he probably will supplement these
by another report. he has already COM
Secretary Alger the salient facts of the
forthcoming statements.
Acting on this report arrangements are
making for the reception of the troops.
Secretary Alger has approved the locations
selected by the Hecker board for the prln-
cipal garrison, which will be in the neigh
borhood Of Havana. The place selected
lies about eight miles south Of Havana
in the neighborhood of, but not directly
in, the town Of Mariana for Col. HeclSer
advises very strongly against the quarter,
ing of unaccllmated troops in permanent
structures which may be infected with
fever Two camps will be pitched at this
point one on either side of the splendid
aqueduct which supplies Havana with
water. This aqueduct viii be tapped and
the wafer drawn by steam pumps from IL
to supply the camps which will be pitched
on plateau about 100 feet above sea level
The greatest care has been given to sound
hygienic conditions.
AT the nearest point to the camp, on the
sea beach, a dock Is being constructed
and while It will not reach water dean
enough to permit the accommodation Of
large transports IL will serve 10 receive
good sized lighters. The troops win he
landed al this point and marched directly
10 ire camp, the purpose being TO avoid
exposure to possible infection in Havana
The work on this dock is being pusbed
with The greatest energy, and its construc-
ton has given employment to about 800
insureent soldiers, who were glad 10 re-
ceNe the opportunity to make peaeeable
living by toll.
Col. Bliss, who was a member ar the
camp site board has been left i'm Havana
10 carry out the orders OF the department
IN the execution Of the boards plans. He
viii see to IL that before single soldier
reaches camp, water connections win be
provided, transportation routes opened up.
board floors placed, and tents pitched
Similar arrangements are making In the
neighborhood of Puerto Principe, which
will be the first point TO be garrlsoned the
principle being observed there, as in the
case of the Havana garrison, of keeping
the troops from direct contact with the
towns. This Is done under the best medi-
cal advice, but one consequence of the
adoption of the rule is to oblige the gov
ernment TO look to some other power than
the military to police the towns Col
Hecker has been able TO make a most fiat
terlng report as to the good qualities of
what is known as the Guarda Clvilia in
Havana for this work The men compos-
ing this force are usually chosen from
the best men in the army, and at any rate
all are picked for the physical and intel
lectual qualities. They are able to COM
mand at once the respect and obedience
of the rather restless Havana population
even better than soldiers II is not doubted
that they would be willing to continue In
the discharge OF their duties when the
United States takes military possession Of
Havana, and II this can be arranged the
government will feel that a great load Of
responsibility has been lifted.
Already numerous incidents have hap
pened in some of the towns, not only In
Cuba, but in the Philippines, which have
come into the possession of the United
States, to show that the United States
soldier is utterly untitled for the task of
policing towns in time of peace, this unfit
ness being not only ignorance of the GUS
toms of the people, but a strong repug-
nance to that kind of duty.
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