Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-09-29
TO GARRISON CUBA.
It Is Thought That $4,000 Men
viii Be Enough for the Purpose.
ILLNESS AMONG IMMUNE REGIMENTS
The Movement for the Evacuation Of the
Island Likely to Begin Toward the Lat.
ter TART Of October and Concluded
kO0n After New Year Commences.

Washington, Sept 81. Commander
Eaton, OF the Resolute, has been given
additional duty in connection with
the American military commission at
Havana. The exact need for this is not
known at the navy department, the
order having been made at the request
OF the commission, but 1t Is supposed
that Admiral Sampson wishes the
officer to make an examination OF the
Spanish naval properties scattered
among the various Cuban ports out.
side Of Havana. The naval authorities
are deeply concerned as to the dispo.
sition Of this property to be made by
the commission and, owing to its pecu'
liar status, being not captured yet
actually subject to the disposal OF the
commission, it is not easy for them to
foresee the outcome OF the commissions
deliberations on this point
Nothing has been heard from the
commission itself since the cablegram
relative TO the Comal The auth0ri.
ties here feel that, by consenting to
the entry of the vessel with relief sup
plies, the Spanish officials in large
measure ridded the question of evacu-
alton of the urgency that attached to
1t. So long as the Cubans, starving
and naked, were denied the relief
that might come from the United
States government and the Red Cross,
this was Il powerful reason for insist
ing upon the immediate evacuation OF
Cuba by the Spanish government otl-
cials, in order that, taking possession
ourselves we might succor the dis
tressed Cubans. Now, however, that
our government is free to do this un-
der existing conditions, there is not
the same necessity for haste, and the
war department will not be obliged to
force American troops in numbers into
Cuba in the very worst part Of the sea-
son, so far as health conditions are
concerned
The daily reports that come to the
department from Santiago make 1t ap-
parent that even In the immune regi-
ments, made up, as some Of them are,
Of negroes, supposed to be almost ex'
empt from attacks OF climatic fevers,
much sickness prevails, and it is only
fair assumption that the ordinary
troops would suffer more were they
now sent to Cuba. Therefore, while
the American and Spanish commits
sioners at Havana are still seeking to
reach an agreement as to the time to
be allowed for evacuating the island,
II may be said that the president ex-
poets that the result will be compro-
mise between the details mentioned
on each side, and that the movement
will begin toward the latter part of
October and be concluded soon after
New Year. This will accord very we'll
with the plans of the war department,
rs 1t will enable 1t TO avoid sending to
Cuba any considerable number of SOL
ders until the healthful season is we'll
under way.
II Is the present purpose TO make the
replacement of the Spanish forces in
detail, not sending over any large OK
pedition, but establishing a garrison
at one point after another, beginning
probably at the western end OF the
island. The authorities have reached
the conclusion, in view of the spirit
shown by the Cubans, as reported to
1t, that it will not be necessary to
have nearly so large force to garri-
son the island as was at first antci-
pated and " is thought now that no
more than %, 900 men will be required.