Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-19
MARKET GARDEN OF THE WORLD.
Gen. Wood Speaks at Length on the
Resources Of Cuba.

Gen. Leonard Wood continued his testi-
money before the Senate committee on
military affairs today, dealing especially
with the requirement as to troops in the
Island of Cuba. He explained at some
length his estimate of $1,000 as the num-
Der of troops necessary to be kept in the
island, saying that he had placed the num-
Der so high because the effect of the eli
mate is such as to render a large percent
age of American soldiers there ineffective
for aggressive action. Malaria is the pre-
vailing disease and, as rule. while not
more than twenty per cent may be on the
actual sick list, not to exceed thirty-five
or forty per cent will, as rule, be found
capable of effectual action. A days ac-
tive exercise would cause half of any force
to drop out of any military force.
OF his present force he did not believe
that to exceed one-half was now fit for
effective service.
No Troops Escape.
As matter of fact, it could almost be
said that no troops stationed there had
escaped the diseases due to the climate
This fact accounted for ahe aggressive
character of the Spanish campaign in the
island, and, he thought, explained why
as many as 100000 Spanish soldiers were
required in the seEHice\ there. He had
found that the Spanish were affected by
the climate just as the Americans are and
also that the Cubans themselves were I'M
der constant liability to malaria Often
as many as sixty per cent of the Cubans
were disabled.
1t was yet too early to say. whether
our troops in the isfand would become so
acclimated that they would be able to re-
-s1St disease. This was an important point
and if decided in the negative would re-
qu1re the frequent change of troops. He
Nv, al. how
sanitation in the island, Il improved condi-
tons might be secured just as Great Brit
ain had produced an Improvement in ia
maica Still 1t might prove as it had in
India that Cuba was not a white mans
country. year or two at least would be
necessary to decide this problem.
Railway to Havana From Santiago.
Replying to question from Senator
Proctor, General Wood said that it was
feasible to construct a railroad line be-
tween Santiago and Havana, and that a
Santiago firm had agreed to guarantee the
funds for the enterprise. The most practi-
cable route would be along the central
platea of the island. and the general
thought the enterprise would be a great
ciViiZer.
1T would" he said, afford EMPLOYMENT
to many men in the interior, whose present
principal employment is that of carrying
guns"
he SPOKE at considerable length in this
connection in regard to the resources of
Cuba saying that it could be made the
market garden of the world. He thought
tnat TINS government should grow there
the vegetables used by the army in Cuba
and said he meant to confer with the Sec
rotary OF Agriculture on this question
Speaking of the timber of the island, he
SAID, the cross ties of the railroads and
the Wharves at Santiago We're composed
largely of mahogany and other more val
liable woods.
General Wood also expressed the opinion
that the native Cubans might be used to
an extent as soldiers in the United States
army.