Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-25
TO SETTLE IT SOON
BROOKE AND GOMEZ AGREE ON
CUBAN ARMS QUESTION.
PAYMENT BEGINS SATURDAY
Native Soldiers Will Hand Over Their
Arms to Province Governors or
Alcades and Then Receive Their
Pay-Some of the Men, However,
Will Retain Their Arms.

Havana, May 23.-The Cuban arms
question is apparently nearing a COM
plete and rapid settlement. The pay
ment and dispersal Of half of the armed
bands that have been voluntarily quar-
tered on the country viii begin, accord
ing TO the present program, next Sat
urday in this city. Monday Gen.
Brooke and Gen. Gomez had what both
consluer final interview on the ques-
ton Of the surrendering of the arms.
The Cuban commander, on Brooke's
invitation, called at the headquarters
and the two generals with Col Carlos
Cespedes and Maj. Kennon, of Gen.
BrOoke's staff, went over the payment
order, which was signed by the govern
or general on Saturday but not pub
Ished. Every word and phrase was
re-examined and nothing was changed.
At the end of two hours and a half de-
voted to the examination Gen. Gomez
said that he was entirely satisfied and
felt convinced that the order met all of
the objections which had been raised
not only by himself, but also by those
outside of his councils. The text Of
the article disposing of the arms is as
follows:
The arms and equipments of the
Cuban soldiers will be turned over to
the civil governors or to the alcades of
the municipalities, either at the place
Of residence Of the soldiers, or place
of 10
GERS in charge. The said civil govern
nOrs and alcades are hereby charged
with the proper storage of the arms
IN the Cuban arsenals at Havana and
Santiago, as already arranged Re-
ceipts will be given to the soldiers FOR
the arms turned in, and the civil gov
errors and alcades will forward to
headquarters report of the number of
arms in their charge. Where 500 are
stored in one place an ex-Cuban SOL
der will be employed as armorer and
shall be paid for his services by the
general government The name of
such person shall be sent to the head
quarters to be placed on the rolls tor
the proper and prompt payment of his
services
The other parts of the order deal
with the necessary details respecting
the hiring Of officers, guarding Of
money and giving of receipts. The
American commissioners named are
Lieut. Col. VIM. G. Rafferty,, 1st U. S.
artillery, on behalf of the fourth CORPS
in the province of Santa Clare; Lieut..
Col. George M. Randall, of the Sth u. S.
infantry, on behalf of the 9Th corps, in
the provinces of Havana and Matan-
zas; and Lieut.. Col. VIM H. Bisbee,
LIST U. S. infantry, on behalf of the 9Th
corps in the province of Pinar del Rio.
A supplementary order will be issued
later affecting the Puerto Principe and
Santiago provinces. Col. Acea, who
was at one time member of the staff of
the late Gen. Antonio Maceo Monday
disbanded his force of 300 men, who
had been stationed near AlquiZar.
province Of Pinar dial Rio, the men go
ing quietly to their homes with their
arms, resolved neither to accept money
of the United States nor to wait longer
IN condition of suspense. A meeting
of the Cuban chiefs in the occident, or
western provinces, has been called to
the situation and will proba-
bly, decide to adopt the same course. |
The staff officers and generals who |
composed the late military assembly
still say that they do not want money
and will not surrender their arms, but |
their assertions are not regarded as |
significant. Gen. Julio San
gully said Monday: Our officers and |
men realize the impossibility of re-
'lsting the Americans if they resort to
force, but they earnestly wish to re-
tain their arms which are rightfully
heirs, and it will be a source of ami
mostly if they are not allowed to do
So"