The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-25
Native Police at Santiago Are
Afraid of Americans.
They Fear to Make an Arrest
Though Backed by Authority
AND NUMBER 2 TO I.
Gen. Wood Will Appoint 12
American PatrOlmen.
Forms an Advisory Council of
Leading Cubans.

Santiago de Cuba, Oct. 25.-Genera1
Woods, military governor of the de-
partment of Santiago, although salts
fed with the workings Of the Cuban
committee of so recommending appoint
ments and offering suggestions for as
sistance In the work of civil administra-
ton, has decided to simplify this fea-
ture by appointing eight of the most
prominent members of the committee as
a permanent council to the governor.
This council will meet Gen Wood
thrice week to consult as to improve
ments in the province, and the other
members may go to different points to
consider local applications for Office.
The members of the council will re-
ceive salaries. though the amount has
not yet been decided upon. Probably
the position will be more one of honor
than of profit.
One of the first matters to be consid-
cred by Gen. Wood and the advisory
council will probably be the reOrganiza-
ton of the police force of the province,
Gen. Wood intending to enlarge it. His
idea is to make the entire police force
one semi military organization in COM
mand of an inspector general with the
rank of lieutenant colonel, having head
quarters at Santiago. There will be
four inspectors, with the rank of major,
with headquarters at Santiago, Guam
tanamO, ManZanillO and HOlguin, and
Sub-iuSpectOrS, with the rank of cap
tain, at important places, and smaller
places will have lieutenants. The whole
service will be thoroughly drilled. The
mounted police will be armed with car
blneS and reVOlVerS and the foot con-
stabulary with machetes and revolvers.
Gen. Wood believes that in less than
six months he will have a complete and
well drilled body of men. There will be
reduction in the number of the police
at Santiago. but Gen. Wood contem-
plates adding y American patrolmen
for districts specially frequented by sol
al love TOO
". Apparently no men of the present
force dare to arrest an American, even
when the police Outnumber the Offend
ers seven to one
Several wealthy Cubans have offered
Gen Wood a quantity of land to enable
him to carry out his plans of furnishing
work for any one who desires it.
Such applicant will be given for one
year the use of a piece of land, imple-
ments, seeds and ratiOns until his crops
grow to enabl him to supply the San
tiago market with vegetables, fruit,
fowls or pork. General Wood believes
that no fewer than 500 men will accept
this. He is confident that not only the
men themselves, but the city generally,
will benefit by this arrangement.
Lieutenant Rooney has gone with $50
pack mules to Bayamo, distributing ra-
lions along the roads. He carries q, 900
rations.
Today two committees called upon
General Wood. The first consisted of
members of the school board with a re-
quest to have the limits of their au-
thOrity defined. General Wood inform
ed them that they were virtually vested
with full power, subject in all matters
to himself, but he assured them that
he would carry out all reasonable plans
proposed, adding an expression of hope
that nothing would occur to shake the
confidence he now had in them. The
other committee, composed of influential
Cubans, called to express thanks for
General Woods effort on behalf of the
city. The spokesman of this committee
assured him. that the Cubans, who now
made complaints, were for the most
part those living in the United States,
with whom, throughout the war, the
ma jOrity of Cubans in the island had
little sympathy.
Six companies Of Colonel Hoods Sec
ond immune regiment. left today for
Gibrara where they will stay until No
vember 10, the date fixed upon for the
evacuation of HOlguin.
General Wood has accepted the offer
of the owner of a coffee plantation
without capital to find work for fifty
men if the United States authorities
will supply the rations for two months.
Rations will be given weekly in proper
ton to the number found actually at
work