The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26
Think They Have the Best Of the
Game, and Are Cracking Jokes AT
Expense OF Comes and Brooke.
SENIOR DESPAIGNE'S VIEWS
SAYS THE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REC
OGNIZED By AMERICANS.
Duel between Cubans-The CONNER
ciaI Company's Petition Denied by
Attorney General Griggs.

HAVANA, March 25.-The muster rolls OF
the Cuban army are still locked up in the
desk OF Senior Rafael Portuondo, chairman
the executive committee OF the Military
sembly. and the 100000 sent by the
led States 10 pay the Cuban troops re-
aims in unbroken packages on board the
/ transport Burnside, the military administra-
ton being unable 10 apportion the cash
among the ragged battalions until they can
obtain the muster rolls. The thirty generals
composing the Assembly crack jokes at the
expense OF General Gomez and the Ameri-
can authorities, thinking for the moment
that they have the better OF the game Gov
ernor General Brooke only defers adopting
forcible measures to gain possession OF the
rolls, because he wishes 10 consult regard
ing the matter with Secretary Alger. who is
due 10 arrive here tonight. The Assembly
wants 10 use these rolls as a lever 10 obtain
some kind of Official recognition from the
military authorities. which recognition, how
ever the authorities will not give.
Senor Despaigne, a prominent member OF
the Assembly, who framed the motion pro-
viding for the disbanding OF the army and
the dissolution OF the Assembly. which was
introduced on Tuesday, said to-day: THE
Assembly will give the rolls to the military
authorities as soon as they are asked 10 do
so, but emphatically decline to hand them
to General Gomez This cannot be done
honorably, in view of General Gomez's re-
cent deposition. The Assembly is an ad-
ministrative, authoritative body OF the
present Cuban army. and the rolls are IN
our possession. where they should be- We
| understand that Governor General Brooke
| does not wish officially to recognize US. Well
and good. TO ask US 10 deliver the rolls
| would not carry recognition of the Assem-
| bly, as the body representing the Cuban
| people. but only recognition as the elected
head of the Cuban people in arms, which
| undoubtedly we are. We have not been d.
rectIy Informed that the Americans want
| the rolls. request has come indirectly
through General Gomez who told Inspector
| General Roloff to procure them. and General
| Roloff spoke with Senior Portuondo regard
| ing the matter. II directly requested 10 sur
render the rolls L am confident the entire
| Assembly would vote TO give them up. as
| well as any other documents in their pos
session which would facilitate the payment
| of the troops"
WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED.
The military authorities will not ask the
! Assembly to deliver these rolls. They have
dealt in the past in the matter OF the rolls
with Gen. Gomez. and. subsequent TO his
| deposition, with Inspector General Rolon.
who had the rolls in his possession and was
| on the point of delivering them 10 the Amer
| leans when the Assembly, through its exec
| utive committee. ordered him 10 turn them
| over 10 that body, which was done. The
| rolls are considered public documents and
the authorities will not request indiy1d-
| ual or a body OF individuals 10 surrender
| them, their retention by such body Is
| irregular.
| Since Jan. the only army In Cuba has
been that of the United States. the cubans
| I'm arms not constituting an army. The
| Americans consider them simply as a body
| of armed men, and hold that neither they
themselves nor their elective head can be
recognized. Upon this point the Assembly
and the military authorities split. the for
mer posing as the head OF the Cuban army
and the authorities declaring that the Cuban
army ceased to exist on JAN !. The Assem-
bly, to-day admits that IL is without hope OF
| obtaining a loan for the payment OF the
Cuban soldiers. The members say they
have done everything in their power to pro-
tect the best interests OF the men IN their
charge, and all their efforts have been un-
| avaiing. Unprejudiced observers say that
il the Assembly honestly wanted 10 serve
the unpaid liberators OF Cuba. IL their ef-
forts were dsinterested, they would not
stand in the way OF the payment OF the
$4,000 by the United States. IL being clear
that 10000 only is obtanable. The Cuban
| generals held a meeting at Msrianao this
| afternoon.
| Military circles are thinking only OF Sec
| retary Ayers arrival. Maj. Gen. Ludlow.
military governor OF the Department OF Ha-
vana, will officially welcome the secretary
| upon his arrival and Governor General
Brooke will visit him tomorrow morning.
| The department. generals and their stats
are congregating in Havana preparatory 10
! holding conferences with Secretary Alger.
BANDITS AT-wORK-
Advices from Guanajay report that a par
| ty OF bandits stole three oxen. two mules
and one horse at cayajabos to-day They
drove the horse and mules away and
slaughtered the oxen. cutting the carcasses
up and dividing them among the members
Of the band IL is asserted that the band
came from Havana province on the raid
They were well mounted and could not be
overtaken by the cubans who started in
pursuit because OF the inferiority OF the
horses Of the latter.
This afternoon a duel was fought in the
! outskirts OF Havana between Carlos Agulrre
and Ramon Hernandez. bosh former police
officers. The weapons used were small
swords. Aguirre was seriously wounded.
The duel was the outcome Of criticism BY
Hernandez OF Aguirre's reason for resign;ng
from the police force.
Brig. Gen. Henry +. Hasbrouck has ar
rived here. Maj. Gen. ]. II. Wilson. mill
tary governor OF the Department Of Natan-
zas, viii arrive here to-day.