Evening star., 1898-09-30

mendations as to what he needs in the
way of management of the hospitals and
sanitary affairs. He also speaks of the
management of the city under military and
civil authority. The United States officers
have been able to rule the city by a COM
bination of both. The use of military force
mas been avoided as far as possible and
only when the police have been inadequate.
The general continues: 81 am very anxious
to have the schools started in the city
ard get the children out of the streets
also to get the issue of rations down to
such point that we are sure we are not
pauperizing the people"
On the subject of rations Gen Wood
makes some recomme ndations. He thinks
1t would be well to get the rations out to
the small places in the country so that the
Cuban soldiers as they leave the army NAV
be able to get their farms in the vicinity
OF these towns These men could then have
limited amount OF food. from which they
could be supplied while the crops are ma
turing. After the first crop nearly all the
assistance should be brought to an end.
Disbanding the Cubuns
Gen. Wood discusses the problem in Cuba,
Which is well understood here, of getting
the Cuban army disbanded and the men
composing 1t at work. In discussing this
phase of the situation he seems to think
that it will be necessary to discourage the
idea among the Cubans that rations Will
be constantly issued to them, because as
long as men can get a full food supply they
Will not need very much else to get along
Gen. Wood communicates the gratifying
intelligence that all indications now point
to the speedy disbanding of the Cuban
army. He says the feeling of the better
class of Cubans toward the Americans is
very kind, and they appreciate what the
United States is trying to do. The general
Is very hopeful that everything will come
out all right. No one can tell. he says,
how long it will take to establish stable
government, but he thinks it will be quite
a period of time.
The letter from which the above extract
was taken was dated September 8. On Sep
tember 16 Gen. Wood wrote another letter
to Secretary Alger, in which he says:
Continued Improvement
"Since my last letter everything has been
going on smoothly and the Improvement is
continued People have all they want to
eat, and 1 do not think there is hunger, to
any extent, in Santiago. 1 have increased
the number of doctors and the relief sta
tions of food Committees of prominent
citizens in each ward voluntarily make
house-to-house visits daily in addition to
those made by our physicians. and report
in full all cases which command attention
They are authorized to give out diet also
| have located an old artesian well machine
and am going to try for artesian water
near the water front We ought to find it
in basin surrounded by beautiful noun
tainS.
You would be delighted to see the old
bronze cannons and mortars which We have
taken here. Some of them go back to the
middle ages, and were evidently captured
from the French l hope they will be taken
to Washington, where they will be the most
interesting and ornamental in our parks."
In the later letter General Wood sp6aks
in high terms of Aurelius E. Mestre who
has been an official Interpreter and !has
been with General Woods command ever
since they have been in Cuba. General
Wood says he would be very valuable if
given the commission of captain and could
attend to many matters into which he has
to examine. He is an American citizen and a
highly intelligent and educated Cuban.
1t is rather an Interesting coincidence
that General LaWton and General Wood,
who We're the only survivors of the Geroni-
mo campaign in Sc, and were the only off,
GERS with the expedition during the latter
month of its work, should be at Santiago,
representing about the only survivors there
of the first army that went to Cuba.
1t is quite probable that General Wood
will be granted leave of absence some time
during October, and will come to Washing
ton. When he returns to Santiago he Will
no doubt be accompanied by Mrs. Wood.