The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-31
CUBAN SOLDIERS
CLAMOR FOR OFFICE.
RIVAL FACTIONS INSIST ON GET
TING ALL THE FAT PLACES.
Gen. Wood Has q Hard Task Mt Nam
xanillO-The InsurEent Officers
Refuse to Permit Their Men to
Disarm, and They Strut About
the Streets. Armed With RcvOlv-

MANZANILLO, Oct. 30.-The visit Of
Gen. Leonard Wood, governor OF the mill
tary department at Santiago, has been in
strumental In bringing all the elements
among the Cubans 10 the front. More
than 2,0o0 insurgents, OF which 500 are off,
GERS, want offices, and their clamor
amounts almost TO a demand. There are
two leading factions, one headed by Gen.
Jesus Rah! and the other by Gen Rios
At present most of the Offices are held by
repuresenta tiyes of the Rabi faction. in
cIuding the mayoralty and customs house
inspectors. Gen. Wood in order to pacify
the Rios faction. has given them SIX posi-
tions in the rural police force. ami turned
over to the other people the lighthouse at
Cape Cruz. together with several other
minor appointments. But neither party is
satisfied. each thinking that it ought 10
have all the offices. Gen. Rios does not
dare express his opinion publicly on Gen.
Rabi, but he feels that this is his division.
as he has had nominal charge OF it for
three years, and that it ought TO belong to
him. so far as. appointments of Cubans to
office are CONCERNED. and all the more so
because he represents Gen. Caiixto Garcia.
The majority Of the insurgents here have
no money. and go about living from hand
TO mouth. wondering what viii happen
next. Armed men are no, allowed rations.
AS the Cubans Will not dishand and will
not work, nothing remains for them but TO
strut about the city with machetes and re-
volvers Some Of them are nearly naked:
others appear in long-legged patent leather
boots. with silver spurs. carrying superbly
wrought Toledo machetes. \ few wear im
maculate suits and Panama hats. They
are for the most part the New York con-
tingent each man now a veritable Bonn
bastes Furioso.
Except when he Is on board the gunboat
Hist which brought him here, Gen. Wood
is hesieged by these seekers for office.
Among the interviews he has had was one
with Gen. Rios, who wanted the mayor Of
Manzanslio one of Rabi's faction. dis
missed and his own man appointed TO the
Ynavoralty. Gen. Wood asked on what
grounds the dismissal could be sustained.
lie said
'Ts not the mayor a competent officer?
Has he not an excellent reputation? Did
he not serve hrayely and effectively
throughout the war;
To all tbs Gen. Rios replied in the at
hrmative. but he insisted that his own
nominee was entitled TO the position be-
cause he was a Rios man. The interests
Of the city and locality were apparently
minor considerations in the mind Of the
Cuban commander. But this appears 10 be
the case everywhere among the Cuban In
surgents.
Gen. Wood ard Col. Petit regard the
outlook as rather discouraglng. Still they
hope that some means may soon be found
10 break up the Cuban army. The MEM
ters Of the rank and file are anxious to so
10 work. bu, the leaders refuse 10 allow
them 10 do 50. and The men do not dare 10
do So as they would certainly be shot II
captured.
Gen. Wood Is hoping that the other towns
he will y.sit or his trip around the prov
snce Will NOT present the same vexatious
conditions as prevail here. where The Cuban
problem Is presented n a very difficult
form, the ncsi difficult he has yet encoul-
tered It was necessary 70 send detach-
u7ent or the Fourth Immune regiment an
der sergean; "a the Eigney plantation II
ort9sr 10 compel the armed Cubans 10 allow
nen - woFk there. Tho undertaking.
however. proved successful and 30 men
are COW regularly employed.
Trf7s latest adyices from Santa Cruz Gel
Sur. the meeting place of the Cuban as
sesrhly. do ret report toe arrival there -
Gen. Maxine Gomez. but there aye per-
s9stent runners tha; the friends of Gomez
uha ara deiezAtes 70 the assembly. will en-
deaxor 70 ernbarrass Gen. Garcia and his
supporters.
Lieut. Young and TIE officers ot The His.
have been most enthusiastically welcomed
here by the Cu6ans. who aTe grateful for
the help many fines extended % than.
the gallant Et.ie beat during TIE war was
as much AT oo3ect ot love 10 tire Cubans
along the coast as fear To the Spanlarsis.
Lieut.. Young has formally claimed. -on
behalf OF tAe United States navy. he
wrecks OF the Spanish ssanssaats thar went
ashore or were sunk ~ the Tnzta. States
ss~aoats II ;AA memorable engA cement
of M2nzan.lse on Jaiy last
After Basl conference with Col. Petit