The evening times., 1899-09-30
REPORTS ON WORK IN CUBA.
General Wood and Others Tell of
Many improvements

The annual reports of the different mill
tary department commanders have all been
reoeived at the War Department except
thai of General Otis. The reports include
those of the department commanders of
Cuba General Wood in his report says:
THE Cuban army in the province of
Santiago at the time of the surrender
numbered about IL 600, of whom some g.
600 were in the vicinity of Santiago. No
difficulty was ever experienced with these
troops, and they disbanded during the
months of September and October. At the
end of October there were no Cuban SOL
diers under arms anywhere in the prov
ince."
The general explains that the idle ele-
ment was enticed from the seaport towns
by the distribution OF INDECENT rations at
points in the interior. He adds:
THE courts were re-established and
schools opened in nearly all of the towns.
Every effort was made to improve sanitary
conditions. with results already reported.
The rural police organized has done excel
lent service. Civil affairs have been con-
Quoted as far as possible through civil au-
thorities, who have shown ability and es-
tablished friendly and cordial relations
with the people. Political agitators have
been the only element of friction The end
Vi lHe year 1850 iOuuu Tue province peace
ful and the people, generally speaking
at work. very friendly feeling exists
between the inhabitants of this portion of
the island and the American troops.
1.-TWO squadrons of cavalry and two bat
talions Of infantry are all the garrisons
required. The others should be sent home
to establish depot battalions where recruits
can be obtained. The squadrons and bat
talions on duty should be kept at their
md nlxr drtrir
November. December, and early in Janu-
ary TO give them five or six months in
which to acclimate them before the hot
season. Troops should be maintained in
Cuba a number of years, as they must un-
dergo the acclimating fevers before being
thoroughly seryiceable With the eXcep-
tion of troops stationed near large towns
all should be mounted, including infantry.
Transportation is abundant, mules straying
during the war having been gathered up"
General Wood gives a description of the
permanent improvements made at Santi-
ago, and explains that the water supply
has been doubled, the streets improved
modern sewerage and water systems in
troduced and the death rate reduced one
half. Surveys have been made for a great
ly increased water supply. The depart
ment has been equipped with modern ap-
pliances, all swampy lands have been fill
ed in, an emergency hospital has been es-
tablished, and public buildings have been
improved. An ice plant has been built
What has been done in Santiago has
been done to lesser extent in Manzanilo,
where Colonel Petit improved the sani-
tary condition of the town. His faithful
and intelligent work has been rewarded by
a great Improvement in the health of the
people and a marked diminution OF the
death rate. The same is true of the work
of Colonels Hood and Grubbs at Holguin of
Colonel Wylly and Captain ChatfeId at
Baracoa, and of Colonels Ray, Sargent, and
Hooton at Guantanamo. In fact, wherever
American troops have been stationed, the
policy has been to have their occupation
marked by improvements such as men,
toned above.
The wretched roads In the province have