Evening star., 1898-08-15
Questions That Will Confront the
Military Commission.
RETENTION OF THE SIDE ARMS
The Volunteers Should at Once Be
Oisarmed.
EXPEDITION IN AUTHORIZATION

New questions arising over the evacua-
ton of Cuba by the Spanish troops are
arising daily, but II is expected that the
military commission will be able to settle
them without friction. The protocol pro-
vides that the commissioners shall meet in
Havana and arrange and execute the de-
tails of the evacuation. AS between Spain
and the United States the powers Of the
commission limited to this one thing.
1t is likely. however, that in carrying out
their duties the American representatives
will give careful attention to the future
situation. Their observations and possibly
their recommendations may have some
thing to do with the policy that will be fol-
lowed in the military government of the
island. Indefinite and conflicting opinions
are still held regarding the garrisons that
will be needed. The commission from the
United States will probably be able to de-
termine with reasonable accuracy how
many soldiers will be needed to prevent
turbulence, though it will hardly be able
to judge how long the garrison will be
needed. The fear that the establishment Of
peace would expose the Spaniards in Cuba
TO the vengeance of the Cubans and
that large force would be needed to pro-
tect the former is no longer entertained.
To Retain Side Arms.
The officers of the Spanish army in Ha-
allowed 20 retain their side arms, as was
cone at Santiago. There is no need that
the private soldiers be deprived OF their
arms. yet it is not certain that they viii
be permitted to retain these and return to
Spain with them. This is not customary
when army surrenders, but the point
which may be made is ;hat the Spanish
troops outside of those under Gen. Torars
command in Santiago have not surron-
dered, and that in carrying out the terms
OF peace they are entitled to keep their
equipments. If this is done. many thou
sand Mauser rifles will not come into the
possession of the United States The reg
ulars returning TO Spain might he pcr-
mitted to keep their arms, though that is
not certain, but a more delicate ques tiOn
will arise over the Havana volunteers
This organization, while not part OF the
Spanish army, was Incorporated into the
defensive forces 10y Gen. Banco soon as
war began. The volunteers numbered
$4,000. but the new recruits sweled the
number by several thousand. Many of
these were boys. The organization has al
ways been an unruly one, feared by the
government, but its members were fun OF
patriotism. and they had TO be utilized.
Lately they are reported to have been on
the verge of revolt against Blanco. The
point about the volunteers is that thew
own their arms. Each one provides him
self with gun and accOuterments. The
Spanish government was never able to dis
arm them, and as there Were no armories
In which their arms were stored. 9: was
never able to seize them, though a coup of
that kind was discussed at various times.
Now ii is probable that the volunteers Will
object strenuously to giving up their arms
which are their individual property Such
a course, however, will be necesssr ~.
Though Spain tolerated it the United
States would never permit an armed force
of 1000 or 5000 men to continue as an
independent organization. If 1t did Ha-
vana would require four times the garri-
son that will otherwise be needed The
volunteers have in their ranks a consid-
cradle number of substantial property
owners, who will readily acquiesce in
whatever arrangement is made. II IS pIob-
able that with the knowledge of the power
of the American army. gained by recent
experiences, the organization as a whole
will not be disposed to violence. but the
disarrling of the members will be one of
the first essential conditions.
spain's Domestic Troubles.
The report that the Spanish government
wants to delay the return of its troops TO
Spain for fear they would support a Car
list uprising probably has some basis,
Though the fear is exaggerated. The
American military commission is expected
to be considerate as possible of Spain's
domestic troubles, so that when the Paris
commission agrees on the treaty of peace
the Madrid government may be sure of
support in ratifyiEg it. At the same time
it Is expected that the evacuation of the
delayed, and more expedition will be shown
than IT has been possible to exercise at
Santiago. The number Of soldiers to be re-
turned is SO much larger that the depor-
tation will have 10 be conducted a
broader scale. The assumption is that the
members of the Spanish military commits
sion will be able to arrange so that the
portion oe the army which may be tainted
with Carlist leanings will be the last TO re-
turn. At the conclusion of Spain's internal
war several years ago an agreement was
made by which portion of the Carltst SOL
diers were sent to Cuba. During their stay
on the island these have shown no pro-
ncunced leaning to the pretender"