The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-02
MUST KEEP TROOPS IN CUBA,
COL. WILLY SAYS 1T IS THE ONLY
SALVATION OF THE ISLAND.

Col. WyIIy Was Military Governor
of the Provinces of BaracOa and
saEua de TanamO-Had Charge of
go Miles of the North Coast of
the Island-The Safety of the
Country Demands the Retention of
the Troops, He Says-CiviI Govern
ment VIII Not Do at This Time.
The Army Method of Dealing
with Bandits.
Lieut.. Col. Thomas S. Wylly, Third
United States Volunteer Infantry, reached
Savannah from New York yesterday. Col
Wylly related last night something of the
experiences through which he passed and
the impressions of the country and people
he gathered during his nine months tour
of duty in the Pearl of the Antilles"
Rays Immunes, as the Third is famil-
iarly called, left Savannah for Santiago
Aug. u, reaching there just after the sus-
pension of hostilities between the American
and Spanish troops The duty they were
expected to perform was important and
imperative, and began almost on the very
day of their arrival. The men fell easily
and readily into the work, and carried it
out with entire satisfaction up to the time
of their departure from the island on the
transport Sedgewick. The regiment was
split up into companies and smaller de-
tachments, and distributed at various
points along the western and northern
coasts of Cuba.
Soon after the arrival of the regiment
Col. Wylly was made military governor
of the city of Baracoa. Soon afterwards
his jurisdiction was extended throughout
the province of that name, and subse-
quent to this throughout the province of
Sagua de Tanamo. He had military SUI
pervision and control of go miles of the
! Cuban north coast, extending east from
the western extremity of the island. His
command consisted of the first battalion
| of the regiment, scattered in small de-
tachments along the stretch of coast.
The ultimate salvation of the island
and it's people, said Col Wylly, Ties
in the retention of the United States troops
! and the continuance of a military govern
ment. The island has been so completely
| demoralized by the wars that have been
/ waged within Its borders, that the people
are untitled for government and need the
| supervision of some power sufficiently
/ strong to quell promptly the first out
/ break of instruction or disorder and with
disposition TO do it without fear or favor
/ This duty the army has admirably per-
formed. officers and men had nothing to
| gain or lose by the execution of any par
tcular policy and simply saw their duty
| and did 1t. The officers had no political
axes to grind and no political friends to
| reward. As a consequence the military
administration has been clean and efficient
! The evils of carpet-bag appoin tine nts
! have been illustrated in the persons of
some of the civil officers who have come
to the island and exhibited a combination
of incapaeity, indifference and meddle-
some interference with the natives and
the military authorities"
| 1.-THE better class of the people dread
the recall of the troops, not only because
| they appreciate and fear the evils that are
| almost certain to follow from the malfeas-
ance of civil appo!ntees, but also because
they realize that the unruly and lawless
spirits among their own people need re-
| preston with strong hand. II is my be-
| lief, based on an Intimate acquaintance
with the people, their peculiarit:es and pre-
| JUDGES, that If the military administration
Is retained for time the people viii grad
ually become fitted to look after their in
terests and their government. My convic-
ton is equally strong that if the troops are
! - NtASA SdOStl-
tuted in their stead, that all the good that
mas ueeh zone VIII De uhdonei and Cuba
revert TO us oid condition OF lawlessness
anu Hi-soNeFhIheht.
.''In the country districts much annoy
ance has been caused by the outrages and
uepreddtohs committed by the bandits.
Ihese are geherahy dlsbanded Cuban sol
u 1n-. VINO nave no uesre 10 Work,and rob,
uestioy ana Hu'uer 'nfough preference To
uee'i WIN 'hese rasca's we organized com
pai 4i's VI r,e'INe selua[fhes' commanded by
.' oiHeS,s' anu tney performed the
uuy u ruulhs the country OF bandits
WIN plonplness anu einciency Their Or
uSi WEE " eaP'uiS or XIII the bandits
"iele t' my were Iounu ana We're obey
4' " .i'I 41aI soy through thelr ex-
et tslois 'ne ou'i i nave peen either de-
49, y. - natasseo ana Kept on the
e',e' az no longer serious
~ 'i1 Peopie oI the island or TO the
- ~ nc seiioai mes are attached
ny "a 49, VI eacn olstrlct and
- P.N iiCiA 'iiS '"Aes anu lIlposts levied