New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-16
GEN. GOMEZ WITHDRAWS.
CUBAN COMMANDER WILL NOT NAME
OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
BROOKE TAKES CHARGE OF SOLDIERS
PAYMENT FORCIBLE DISARMAMENT
MAY BE NECESSARY - FORMER
ASSEMBLY MEETS.

MAY BE NECESSAk1 rOhMEH
ASSEMBLY MEETS.
Havana, May 15-General Maximo Gomez IN
formed Governor General Brooke to-day that ne
must withdraw from the plan for distributing
the S3O0OOOO appropriated to the payment OF
the Cuban troops to the extent that he VIII not
name other Commissioners to replace those
originally named by him, who have refused TO
serve.
General Gomez added that he had arrived at
this decision with great reluctance and with the
most friendly feelings toward General BROOKE
personally and officially. but he felt that
cabal, composed OF many Of the subordinate
commanders, existed to oppose, and. II pos
sbe. defeat the plans for apportioning the
money. He explained that former members OF
the Cuban Military Assembly, led by Maya
Rodriguez, Manuel Sanguily. Juan Gaulberto
and other malcontents had. apparently, organ
lied majority OF the officers against him.
General Gomez communicated these views to
General Brooke at an interview which began
at Vedado at o o'clock. and lasted an hour ana
half The Cuban General was attended by
Colonel Carlos Cespedes. son Of the former
Cuban President Of that name who has been
mentioned as a candidate for the Presidency ot
Cuba.
Gomez and said he regretted the position ne
had taken but. the American commander added
II the decision was Interchangeable. he would
proceed TO deal with the question alone.
General Brooke is determined not to be triied
with. He has the rolls Of the privates and non
comm, ,ssioned officers who are willing TO accept
SIS each and this amount will be offered on the
conditions previously laid down. A forcibe dis
armament Of the Cuban troops Will be the uti-
mate procedure provided the events or the next
two or three weeks show that such action Is
necessary.
BROOKE TAKES CHARGE OF PLAN.
Governor General Brooke is to go ahead with
new plan. Gomez remaining in an attitude OF
friendly inactivity General Brooke will Issue
an order for Cuban privates and non-commis-
stoned officers to meet at specified places on
specified dates to receive payment. They are 10
be accompanied by their company officers fof
the purpose of Identification. Both General
Gomez and the Governor General feel that the
nr,vates ought not TO lose their share in the
American gratuity merely because the schemes
OF certain high officers in the Cuban army nave
interposed obstacles. The belief among tne
Americans is that the company officers VIII as
sist in this way General Brooke's order Will De
disseminated through the newspapers. placarded
in the postofflces. and have the widest circuia-
tion practicable.
This afternoon General Gomez wrote story OF
his relation to the army payment question. 1t
includes the correspondence that has passed De-
tween himself and the Governor General, and 1t
is intended to make his position clear to the
public and to contrast his conduct favoraoly
with that OF other Cuban leaders J~
MEETING OF FORMER ASSEMBLY.
The Society OF Veterans OF independence.
which is merely the old Military Assembly under
a new name. held it's first meeting last night
under the presidency of General Fernando
Freyre de Andrade. who acted as President OF
the Assembly at which Generals Lacret Csne-
ros. Juan Gomez. and Leyte. Vidal and others
were present. The proceedings were devoted to
drawing up an agreement that Is to be proposed
at meeting held this evening. In the an
nouncement of to-nights meeting. which APP
peared to-day the promoters say that their call
is made upon all who assisted in beginning the
revolution agents. emigrants, deportados poll
ticians and conspirators,' but that none can en-
ter the meeting unless members OF the So
ciety.
La Union Espahola' publishes to-day a let
ter from General Jose Verona TO General Gomez.
asking II it be true that Marshal Blanco offered
independence to the Cubans on condition that
they would cooperate against the United States
The paper says that Gomez replied in the affirm
ative but wrote TO Verona that no answer was
given to Blanco. Spain had deceived the
Cubans often that they could not trust her
again. second letter from the Captain-Gen-
eral to the same purport was received. and this
also went unanswered. Finally Blanco, accord
ing to La Union Espahola," sent a messenger
to Gomez to repeat the proposition. but the
Cuban commander refused to consider 1t.