Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-25
REPORT ON CUBAN TROOPS
Gen. Greene Found Them Disciplined and
Injured to Hardship.
Should He Organized and Would Be
Efficient as a Rural Com
stabuIary.

gave out today a synopsis of Maj Gen.
Francis V. Greene's report concerning the
duties recently assigned to him in Cuba.
Speaking of an inspection which he made
of the Cuban troops Gen. Greene found
them to be of all cocrs, mulatto and white.
They We're an ab}e-bodied lot of men, al
though smaller in stature than Americans.
They had been Injured to hardship during
the last three years, seemed well disciplined,
and fully controlled by their officers
that, although their sufferings for lack of
food was very great, no cases of pillage
had been reported. Their equipment was
wretched..
The officers impressed Gen Greene most
favorably. For the most part they were
intelligent educated men, well mounted
and well dressed. Gen. Greene gives it as
his opinion that this force possesses the
elements of fine body of native troops,
provided they are properly organized,
equipped, and their regimentai. and pos
sibly, battalion commanders selected from
American officers.
1t is his opinion that the organization of
these troops should be begun at the earliest
possible moment, otherwise there is danger
that the force may disintegrate and turn
into brigands. Under the existing condi
tons of lack of food and clothing it will
be difficult to hold them much longer. The
chief of one of the cavalry regiments. Col.
Delgado was in his youth the most noted
brigand in Pinar del Rio province.
Efficient as Rural COnstabulary.
Gen. Greene believes that this officer and
the men under him, under proper discipline.
would be very efficient as part of a rural
constabulary. The roaming life they have
led for several years has disqualified them
for the work of peaceful farmers. 1t would
be possible to get from ten thousand to fif-
teen thousand such men, who would be
suitable for military service. About five
thousand men suitable for military service
could probably be obtained from the dis
charged Spanish soldiers.
The remaining half of the Cuban forces,
about ten to fifteen thousand men, who are
rot especially adapted to the life of a SOL
der. and are peaceful laborerS and farm
hands, seemed anxious to return to their
homes. But as their homes have been de-
stroyed, their families having persisted in
the RECOMMENDATION, their fields grown up
with weeds, and as they have no money to
purchase implements for farming purposes
for the time being, this is impracticablc.
1t is of the utmost urgency to provide work
for these men Immediately In Gen.
Greenes opinion money could be put imme-
diately into the hands of the starving la
boring classes by employing them in the
construction and repair of roads and the
rebuilding of hospitals, aSylumS and public
buildings.
Enabled to Start Life Again.
In few months by pursuing this course.
they would be enabled to return to their
homes and start life over again. Money
thus disbursed would find its way through
the ordinary channels of trade. This would
revive business, money would accumulate
in the banks, from whence it could be
loaned to such planters as could give reas-
enable security. This would also enable
them to restore the damages done to their
plantations and enable them also to pur-
chase cattle and farming implements and
to begin planting.
The prosecution of this work and the
prompt payment of wages will gain the
gratitude of the Cubans and at the same
time enforce respect for the authority and
government of The United States.
Nothing would more sharply indicate the
difference between the Spanish and Amer
lean methods than the prompt payment OF
wages in good coin, the faithful carrying
out of the government obligations and the
prompt suppression of anything tending to
disorder. The food sent by the 'Bratton
was distributed along the north coast and
that sent by the "ComaP' was distributed
along the south coast. A small portion
only was distributed to the insurgent
troops, the bulk going to the reconcentra-
dos. The latter are in such a debilitated
condition that their stomachs cannot as
simulate han d bread and bacon, and General
Greene recommends that if further sup
plies are sent they should consist of rice,
beans. coffee, sugar and canned meats.
There are many thousands adults in the
hospitals, who are unable at present to do
any work and who are in a starving condi-
ton These 1t would be necessary to sup
port for some months until they either
gain their health die.
Care of the Orphans.
The most important question affecting
the future of Cuba is the care and educa-
ton of the great number of orphans whose
parents persisted in the reconcentra ton.
The estimates of mortality during the
three years since Weyler's recommendation
proclamation was issued vary from 40O,
900 to 100000 persons, or from thirty to
forty per cent of the population of the is
land TIE number of orphans cannot be
even approximately estimated, but there
must be great many thousands of them
They are found in every town and village,
and in q semi-starving condition, and iy-
ing on a precarious charity. If they are
not cared for they are liable to grow up
as Vagabonds and prostitutes.
By reason of an investigation made of
the western part of Pinar del Rio province,
General Greene states, that, as the climate
is entirely different from that of Havana,
being dry and salubrious at all seasons of
the year, the hills three miles west of the
town, which rise to an altitude of about
1000 feet, would be the best spot for the
location for a general convalescent hospital
for Of all the troops on the island. The
transportation facilities are good, the
climate healthy, yellow fever unknown,
and an attitude of from 200 to 1900 feet.
The heat is said to be not excessive even in
the summer months.