The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-04
CUBANS OPPOSE GOMEZ
Declare He Had No Blight to Ac-
...-.. cept MoKinley's Offer. -s.4
SOLDIERS DO NOT WANT CHARITY

Leading Officers of the Cuban Army
Declare That the Cuban Assembly
and Gomez's Colleagues Should BE
Consulted Before Agreement.
Havana, Feb. 4.-Among the Cuban
leaders who have given expression TO
their views on the subject 1t Is as
serted that General Gomez was not
authorized to agree to the disbandment
Of the army without consulting the
Cuban assembly and obtaining its per-
mission. Indeed. when the report ar
rived that General Gomez had accept
ed Mr.. Porters proposition on behalf
of the president many doubted 1t, re-
fusing to believe that he would act in
this fashion. A prominent Cuban said:
IF the news is true the Cuban as
sembly will have grounds for proceed
ing against General Gomez. The idea
of $3,000,OOO as a gift from the United
States to the Cuban soldiers Is repug-
nant, and wounds the pride of Gu
bans"
A number of interviews obtained with
prominent Cuban generals Will go TO
show the feeling in the higher military
circles. General Laya Rodriguez, COM
mander OF the Cuban forces in the
provinces Of Pinar del Rio, Havana,
MatanZas and Santa Clara and sec
ond in command in the Cuban army,
said
~ think the Cuban army should con-
tinue to aid in preserving order in the
island until certain important matters
aIa Il, IantIn1
instance, who is to pay the cost OF
the numerous and unnecessary Ameri-
can army of occupation-Cubao or the
United States. General Gomez does not
hold the power to disband the army
without the authorization of the Gu
ban assembly and until after consul
{ tation with the generals"
Generals Leyte Vidal and Perraza
concur in the views of General Rodrl-
guez.
General Enrique ColeazO said: THE
Cuban army cannot and should not
accept gift or charity from any ma
tion. We asked for what is rightly
ours That which Cuba owes to her
defenders in arms should be delivered
up to no one, because no one has van
QulSnSu nS. ouT Nuhh'e e>.
should not exact such a useless ana
painful sacrifice. The Cuban army IS
not a danger to Cuba but guaran-
tee OF ORDER
General Lacret said: II think Mr..
Porter must have assured General
Gomez most convincingly of our ap-
preaching independence before he
would have been willing to express
himself as is reported. At the proper
time General Gomez will express his
ideas of the people Of Cuba
General Mario Menocal, formerly Gu
ban commander in Havana province
and now chief of police in Havana city,
said: "I doubt the truth of the state
mcnts attributed to General Gomez.
RI they be true I can simply say that
General Gomez Is not authorized to
solve this problem unaided. The Gu
ban army does not ask and cannot ac-
cept charity from the American gov
ernment. The country has asked
loan to facilitate the payment of money
rightly due to the army"
All the generals interviewed were In
cllned to be guarded in their state
ments, pending the receipt of word
from General Gomez The general feel
ing in Cuban military circles is that
the communicative chief will have an
explanation, upon his arrival here.
of conduct which to many is remark
able, and even incomprehensible.
While there promises to be trouble
with the assembly some declare that
General Gomez will be able to sway the
deputies to his will, and to secure the
disbandment Of the army. 1t is sig
nificant. however, that the Cubans who
have already been engaged as members
of the Havana police force had to de-
post their arms and ammunition with
the officer commanding the regiment
to which they belonged. inform him as
to their new residence and give a
pledge TO return TO the army when call
ed upon to do SO by the Cuban as
sembly.