Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-10-06


Dor There and Fine Camping Grounds
for the Soldiers and No Friction Likely
with Spanish Military Authority.
Washington, Oct. 2-The war de-
partment is perfecting plans for the
occupation of Cuba Gen. Miles
scheme to divide Cuba into three divis-
ions probably will be carried out Gen.
Lawton will have command of one.
Gen. Wade of another and Gen. Lee of
the third. Gen. Wheeler will have
command of the cavalry to be sent to
Cuba. The cavalry will operate in
whichever division it Is most needed.
There is some talk of making Maj.
Gen. Merritt the commander of all
three divisions. After the conclusion
of the peace negotiations in Paris, if
not before, Gen. Merritt will return
to the United States. On his re-
turn to this country he will be mar
ried to Miss Williams. of Chicago. It
is not believed that Gen. Merritt would
care to take his young wife to Manila,
nor would he be willing to take charge
of one of the military departments in
the United States while there are
more important departments in Cuba
and Porto Rico. Maj. Gen. Brooke
has already been assigned to command
in Porto Rico, and. as he is of equal
rank with Gen. Merritt, there is no
proba ability that he will be shifted.
The only thing left for Gen Merritt
therefore, if he is disinclined
to return to the Philippines,
would be supreme command in
Cuba. There are good reasons for be-
lieving that this command will be
given him. In the first place, it will
be necessary to have some one in SUI
preme command in Cuba. Otherwise,
the major generals in command of the
different districts of the island might
not follow out consistent policy.
This might lead to serious difficulties
in the present state of affairs. The
plan of the department is, therefore,
as near as can be learned, to make each
of the division commanders of equal
authority in his district, but all su bor-
dinate to cOmmander-in-ch chief for
Cuba.
The general expectation in mill tary
circles is, that whatever rough work
| there is to come will be mostly found
| in the Philippines. and it is believed
! those deserving officers who did not
| get to the front, and were anxious to
an opportunity IN the Philippines in
case there should be any outbreak
there following the conclusion of the
| treaty of peace between Spain and the
| United States. In the event that the
! United States and Spain should reach
an amicable understanding as to the
| future of the Philippines, and the in
surgents' attitude should be menacing,
| a large body of troops to reinforce
Gen. Otis will undoubtedly be mob
| ilized at Honolulu. so as to be within
! comparatively easy reach of Manila.
| First Point of OCCUPATION In Cuba.
| Washington, Oct. 2.-Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee recommended yesterday that Ma.
| riel be the point where the United
States should begin the occupation OF
| Cuba. Gen. Lee had been made &C.
quainted with the conditions that con
fronted the Havana commissioners.
By mail from Jacksonville he made
| certain recommendations with refer.
ence to what was apparently the pro.
| gramme. When these recommends
tions were placed before the president
he said that he would like to hear
from Gen. Lee further concerning the
matter. Yesterday Gen. Lees plans,
when explained by him for the send
ing of troops to the northern and
western part of Cuba. so impressed
the administration that he was
asked to put them in writing. This
he did. and in substance they are as
follows: The best place for base OF
supplies for the northern and western
part of Cuba is Mariel Here is an ex.
cellent harbor. A short distance in
land will be found fine camping
L dc ho fol VI
depended upon that soldiers may be
sent here and with the same care and
attention they would receive in the
United States they would be as health '
and remain indefinitely in good condi-
ton. It would be better if they were
marched about Is miles inland and
/ camped on the high lands. They should
be marched in the direction of Havana.
They would be no healthier than nea,
Mariel, but from a government stand
point they would be in better position
The Cubans only need a show of au
thority to be governed In mos,
j places few companies will answer a.
we'll as a regiment or a brigade.
With reference to a base of supple:
for the subsistence department Marie
is a much better place because it i:
small and there will be no friction
with the remnants of the Spanish mill
tary authority, or with the forces OF
the sc-called Cuban government Oh
with the officers of the civil authority
of Havana. Havana will naturally bs
the last place the Spaniards will leave
By sending stores to Mariel it will be
possible to have no interference from
Spanish custom house officers or Other
port officials. 1t will be an easy mat
ter to arrange for complete American
| control of Mariel.