The times., 1898-10-30
GEN. LAwToN's OPINIONS.
Force May He Needed to Perfect DC.
cupntiOn&of Cuba.

cupntfOMOf Cuba.
Maj. Gen. Lawtoh, who has been in
command of the department of Santiago,
called upon President Mckinley yester-
day. His call was H,oredh the nature of
conference than anything else. There
was present at the conference besides
Gen. Lawton, Secretary rAlger and Adjt.
Gen. Corbin. issE
The President was desirous of obtain
ing from Gen. Lawton all the informa-
tion possible as to the condition of the
army at Santiago and the affairs In gen.
eral on the island of Cuba. This infor-
nation was desired by the President for
the purpose of making arrangements for
sending the army of invasion to Ha-
vana, Matanzas and other of the larger
Cuban cities.
Gen. Lawton gave to the President a
detailed statement as to the condition
of affairs in the province of Santiago.
as they existed there when he left the
Island about two weeks ago. He in
formed the President that everything was
| moving along in satisfactory manner,
and was warm in his praise of the con-
duct of Gen. Wood, now military COM
mander of the surrendered territory.
AS result of this information. the
President will soon be able to formulate
his plans for the occupation of the island.
The reports from the Military Commits
| sion now in Cuba indicate that Spain will
surrender the custom houses on the lst
| of December and evacuate the island on
the 1st of January. The President hopes
this agreement will be carried into exc
| cution without any further trouble or
| complication
| The opinion seems to prevail in military
| circles, however. that 1t is doubtful II
| Spain will surrender the custom houses
on the day named, or will be ready 10
| remove all of her troops from the island
| BY the 1st of January. Some are inclined
| to the belief that 1t may be from one 10
| three months later before this plan is
! perfected.
| Gen Lawton is impressed with the be-
| lief, and, it is stated. so told the Presi-
| dent, that If the army OF occupation were
sent Immediately to the principal cities OF
Cuba it would be comparatively easy to
maintain order and discipline there. He
said that in the rural districts there was
| a great deal of lawlessness by men who
took pleasure in defying all military au-
thority. and suggested to the President
the formation of corps of semi-military
and semi-local functionaries, correspond
ing with that OF sheriff and deputy
sheriff in this country.
Gen. Lawton does not expect any trou-
BILE from the Cubans rule. He says
they are a gentle and peace-loying peo-
Pile There are however, extremists
among them, and from these great trou-
BILE may come.
| According to Gen. Lawton, the Spanish
are intensely hostile to Americans. They
are, he says. apparently proceeding upon
the theory that they are best pleasing
their masters and rendering their coun-
try the greatest service by manifesting
obstinacy about yielding anything that
the American commissioners are demand
ing.
Gen Lawton also gave as his opinion
that the length of time ne >essary for mill
tary occupation to pacificate the island
and start its goverpmental machinery
would depend largely upon the promptness
Of this country in sending troops and fore
ing. II necessary. the Spaniards out of the
island The Spaniards. he, says, have SC
generally robbed the people and devas
tated the country, and are even now car
rying on these methods. both against the
Cubans and Americans, that needy Gu
bans are even deprived Of the food thai
was sent them by the generous people o.
the United States.
Gen. Lawton does not expeat to. go will
the first detachment of the army of occu
patton. He is now on a two months leav,
of absence and will not. return TO tn,
island until the time OF his leave has ex
pired. He will depart in a few days FOL
. the West, where he will spend the re
mainder of the time of his leave visiting
his family.