New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-19
QUIET REIGNS IN CUBA.
SENSE OF SECURITY GROWING IN THE
ISLAND.
SOLDIERS TO BLAME FOR MINOR DISTURB
ANCES-BRIGANDS KILLED AND
CAPTURED-CHANGEs IN
LEGAL SYSTEM.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


Havana, April lS-Now that the Cuban army
Is on the point of melting away and the political
agitations OF which the Military Assembly at
Cerro was so long the centre have been effect
lively quieted little remains to check a rapidly
growing sense of public tranquility through the
island. In the last ten days much has been
made Of certain clashes between the police and
the American soldiery here in Havana. and OF
various reported outbreaks of brigandage in this
and other provinces. but these disturbances are
purely of minor and accidental Importance.
Two American soldiers have been killed in the
riotng which has taken place In Vedado and
other suburbs where United States troops are
ouartered. 1t has uniformly been found, how
ever that in cases where American soldiers
have come in conflict with the police the soldiers
have been clearly to blame. There have been
hundreds of instances In Havana in which
drunken soldiers have resisted arrest and COM
,nitted all sorts Of offences against the munici-
nal law and such conduct has been aggravated
bv The common feeling among the troops that
the local guardians of the peace had not the
COURAGE to use their arms against offenders in
American uniforms Such occurrences as those
y, the last few days may have a salutary effect
in restoring the status of the policeman as d
guardian OF public order.
SUPPRESSION
As to the recent alleged appearances OF brig
spds in this province the military authorities
remain more or less sceptical. In an open and
populated country like that around Havana
professional brigandage is impossible one
rsginoent of American cavalry could stamp it
ont in @ week In Santiago Province, the home
Of professional bandtu for generations, the
wild and inaccessible character of the back
country lends itself to all forms OF lawlessness.
At Holgun two weeks ago, there was serl-
Gus outbreak of brigandage. but under Generai
Woodss skilful management disorder was sup
pressed in seventy-two hours by putting few
American officers at the head OF the rural
guard. The band of robbers was quickly
brought to bay. and eight bandits were Rlileu
and over forty captured. The rest came INTO
Santiago and asked to be put in jail, onerlng at
the same time TO turn States evidence against
one another No Cuban brigand cares 10 carry
on his business in the teeth of a well-organized
rural guard. The opinion is growing mere tha'
the crime committed at Maranao last FRIDAY
was the work, not of robbers, but Of local WHITE
caps satisfying some private or poliucai 1euo'
WORK ON THE ARMY ROLLS.
Work Mt General Brookes headquarters on the
rolls of the Cuban army is proceeding satis-
factorily After Winnowing out the names Oh All
those who entered the service after July H.
1898. % 604 are found TO be entitled TO payment
in the two army corps.
General Gomez issued a proclamation to-day
70 the country. in which he accepts his recent
reinstatement as head of the Cuban forces. and
announces that he will represent the army In
arranging the details of bendment The Gen
eraI will remain here Of course. His son and
daughter are to start on Thursday for visit to
San Domingo
The news from Washington that the PRESIDENT
Rad consolidated the Pinar del Rio and Havana
denartments under General Lees command and
.he Matanzas and Santa Clara districts under
General Bates's had been already discounted IL
is thought that a further consolidation VIII DE
made in the eastern end Of the island, Puerto
Prncipe being Joined with Santiago, under Cen
eral Wood
4 vigorous agitation here for certain REFORMS
IN the criminal and civil law has had the effect
Of drawing out an unexpected protest from the
Spanish and Spanish-speaking lawyers or Ha-
vana At meeting Of this influential element
Of the bar held on Sunday 1t was resolved 10
take steps to defend the excellence of the Latin
law over the English, which, In the view or
those assembled, is to be attempted to be intro
duced sooner than many people think This
protest throws some light the difficulties so
far encountered by the Military Government In
revising the present legal system.