The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-26

Americans to be Shown That They arc Re-
| garded as Only Temporary Visitors and
Army will Not be Decentralization.
| Woods Good Work at Santiago,
Santiago, October 25.-The first session
of the Cuban assembly was held yesterday
at Santa Cruz del Sur. A majority of
the delegates are military delegates, each
of the six army corps being represented
| by eight-the first and second corps being
stationed in the Orient DISTRICT the third
| in Puerto Principe. the fourth in Santa
Clara, the fifth in Matanzas and Havana
and the sixth in Pinar del Rios
The sensation of the assembly was tbs
appearance of Cen. Calixto Garcia, as one
of the delegates from the fifth army corps,
O fact which practically renders him SUI
preme at the assembly's sessions
His election to preside over the proceed
ings is considered a foregone conclusion,
as it is conceded that he controls ma
jority of the delegates. The Cespedes fac
tion is defeated. Its leaders now deny
chat they had any desire to diseredit Gen.
Garcia and the attempt to impeach him
before the assembly will probably not bs
| made
The principal question for considera-
tion will be the question of disbanding
the army. 1t is thought the assembly
will oppose disbanding until-in Il
words of one of the military delegates
"Some assurance is received from Presi-
dent Mckinley that he intends to observe
the resolutions of the United States Con-
gress regarding the absolute freedom of
Cuba"
1t being military assembly, the annex
alton party has but a small representa-
tion. One proposition to come up for
discussion is that the army should remain
an armed force for the purpose of polie-
| ing and garrisoning the island from the
beginning of next year when the United
States troops are expected to leave. The
assembly will appoint a committee TO
wait upon President Mckinley regarding
the status of Cuba, consisting of Garcia,
Quesada and Barraga, and 1T is safe to
assume that the assembly will remain in
session and the army, in any event, not
be disbanded until the report OF the COM
mission is secured.
Owing to the scarcity of food and wat
er, however, the assembly will probably
move after a few sessions to Marianao.
Another proposition to be brought be-
fore the delegates Is the division OF Cuba
into four states to be called Orient, now
the province of Santiago de Cuba;
Camaguey, now the province of Puerto
Principe; Las Villas now the province
of Santa Clara, and Cccident, now the
provinces of Matanzas Havana and
Pinar del Rio Between the proposed
states of Camaguey and Las Villas would
be space of land which would be a spec
ial fertile district or territory where the
capital would be built,a new inland town
for this specific purpose.
A delegate will propose the trial by a
court-martial of all tticers in the Cuban
army who have permitted their men to
disband.
In these ways and in others the as
sembly intends to show the world that it
considers the Americans merely tempo
rary visitors whoywill evacuate the island
shortly after the Spaniards.
The Santiago board of trade, represent
ing the commerce of the province, sent
special committee to wait upon Gen.
Wood, military governor of the depart
ment of Santiago and to congratulate
him upon the work he has already done.