The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-02-08
CUBAN ARMY
TO DISBAND.
GEN. GOMEZ ACCEPTS
THE OVERTURES Of
THE PRESIDENT.

Will aid in Getting Cubans
to Return to the Pursuits
Of Peace.
Remedies, Province of Santa Clara
Feb. l, via Habans, Feb. 2.-Gen.
Maximo Gomez, the commander-in-
chief of the Cuban army, placed him
self squareiy in position to-day as an
active ally Of the United States gov
ernment in the work of reconstruc
tiop of Cuba:
as result of the conference
which Robert P Porter, the special
com missioner of President Nick inley.
has had with Gen Gomez, the latter
cabled to President Mckinley this
afternoon assuring him of his coope-
ration in disbanding the Cuban army
and in distributing among the Cuban
soldiers the $s,00u.00o appropriated
for the purpose of enabling them to
return to their homes Gen Gomez
also telegraphed to Maj Gen Brooke
saying he would accept the latter's
invitation to go to Habana
The success of Mr Porter's mis-
sion greatly simplifes the returning
of military Cubans to the pursuits of
peace.
In view OF. Gen Gomez's supposed
prior attitude of hostility toward the
United States, MIR. Porter came here
clothed with absolute authority and
the tender of $3,0O0,000 was practi-
cally verbal ultimatum Had it
not been accepted no more ultima
tnms would have been made.
Mr.. Porter made plain the purpose
of the government and was grati6ed
at the ready response ofGen. Gomez.
The conference took place at the
house here occupied by the Cuban
general as his headquarters since
coming to town
When MIR. Porter arrived here last
week he was accompanied by Senor
Gonzalo de Quesada, the special COM
missioner of the Cuban junta at
Washington: Capt. Campbell. of
Gen. Brooke's staff; Lieut. Hanna,
of Gen. Woods staff, and CORES
pondent Of the Associated Press
The Cuban commander was cordial
in greeting Mr.. Porter, and opened
the interview by referring to the
change for the better which had
taken place in Cuba since he was
last here 10 September he also laid
stress on the fact that some people
were asking where was Cuba's
promised liberty.
"Tbe answer to this" said Mr.
Porter. is that Cuba now has com
mercial and industrial liberty and
that President Mckinley has directed
me in framing the Cuban tariff to
make 10 discrimination in favor of
the United States in the manner that
Spain favored herself. Cuba ia free
to-day to buy in the cheapest market
People are returning to the pursuits
of peace and our military govern
,nent will give way to the civil gov
ernment as fast as possible :"
MIR. Porter also said that the pur-
pose of the American government is
to lay "a firm foundation of stable
government for Cuba, to give the
Cubans all the liberties they had
fought for, and that Gen Gomez
mus: remember that and more still
For instance, there are 25,000 or
$4,000 Spanish soldiers at Cienfuegos
who have not left Cuba, that we bad
only been month on the island, and
that President Mckinley needed and
was entitled to the cooperation of all
interested in the welfare and future
of Cuba and that he needed the CO.
operation of Gomez above all others
The first problem, Mr.. Porter then
pointed out, was the disbandmept of
the Cuban army aod the return Of the
Cuban soldiers to work. This was
the specific mission which had
brought Mr.. Porter TO Remedies and
in which President Mckinley expect.
ed Gen Gomez's aid.
The Cuban commander replied that
he was willing to give the aid
required, but asked how he could
do so.
To this Mr.. Porter replied that
President Mckinley would be glad
to have him 60 to HabaDa and CO.
operate with Gen. Brooke in disband
ing the Cubans and in paying over
the $3.0o0,000 appropriated for that
purpose.
o. al. >~.,.l -.,