Evening star., 1899-10-14
OCC PATION=O =OF CUBA
General Brooke Reports ebnduot of Troops
Generally Very Good.
Army Improperly C1Othed-RIue Cloth.
ing and Drnb HATS Should
BE Given Up.


Maj. Gen. Brooke. mill Itaryl governor of,
Cuba, has made a report to the War De-
partment' covering the military operations
on the island since the United States took
possession on the 1st of January last. The
formal and complete evacuation of the
island by the Spanish army was accom-
plished February 6, 1899
The conduct of troops in Cuba"
says Gen. Brooke, among a people not
speaking our language and with habits
totally dissimilar to those of the Ameri
can soldiers, has been generally very good,
sustaining the reputation of their native
country. They have cheerfully borne the
restrictions necessarily imposed upon them
since the advent of the sickly season, and
with the exception of Santiago and Puerto
Principe, there have been but sporadic
cases of yellow fever. In some 1t is trace
able to the indiscretion of the soldier at
tackled, and in others where the men were
exemplary in their habits It's source has
been a mystery. Thus far, with the eX-
ception of the cases at the two points men
toned, we can say there has been, prac-
tically, no yellow fever among the troops.
Shelter for the Troops.
Every effort has been made to provide
suitable shelter in safe places for the
troops, and wherever Spanish barracks
have been used they have been thoroughly
renovated and disinfected In many places
where the Spanish barracks have not been
sufficiently large to adequately accommo-
date the troops stationed at such points
new shelters have been erected. The un-
fortunate delay in the arrival of material
has prevented the entire comp elton of the
shelter planned at Pinar del Rio Guiana jay,
Camp Columbia and the cantonment east
of Cabanas fortress; but this is progress
ing as rapidly as the material is received.
Fortunately the weather has been In our
favor and no sickness has resulted as yet
from the DELAY.
Work of the STAFF.
81 desire to call particular attention to
the enormous amount of work done by the
staff officers in Cuba, which has been sue
cessfully performed in all cases. so far as
l am Informed. In fact. the military part
of our duty in Cuba is comparative!y but
little trouble, 1t being performed by pro-
tessional officers well versed in their du-
ties, and there has been very little infrac-
ton of discipline. 1t is the civil part of
our duties such as sanitation, which covers
a VIDE held, and the supervision and man
agement of civil affairs which covers a still
wider field, that has been difficult and
caused great labor This, however viii be
treated in special report on civil affairs.
Attention is invited to the reports of com
manding generals OF departments and to
the officers of my staff in which will be
found the details of the service under their
respective commands and supervision. and
especially to the remarks of the ad,utant
general of the division in regard to cloth
ing and equipment of the army In Cuba
in which l concur.
1t seems scarcely necessary, after the
experiences of the past eighteen months to
urge the necessity of a REORGANIZATION of
cur army. The matter of army organiza-
ton has been urged for many years with
out effect. What could have been accom-
p1shed with a well-OrganiZed7 army of 1OO,-
go men was exemplified by the battles
around Santiago in June and July, 1885,
deslre to express my appreciation of the
able assistance rendered me by the several
department commanders and particularly
by my staff officers, in the transaction of
the military portion Of our duties in The
division of Cuba, and to invite attention TO
their report
Army Not Properly Clothed.
The following is the portion of the report
of Col. W. V. Richards. adjutant general
OF the division, referred to by Cen Brooke:
THE army in Cuba is not properly cloth
cd It's equipment seems to be all that is
to be desired. The undergarments shoes
and leggns are as good wanted, but the
outer garm ents and head dress are deficient
Light outer garments are wanted bur of a
quality very much superior to anything
furnished. The kahki clothing sent to the
troops is of miserable texture, all colors
and OF eXecrable manufacture. Good kahki
clothing is what should be issued in this
climate for all seasons. If warmer cloth
ing is needed the additional warmth should
be obtained in the underclothing. The new
IltiIltl anu d fdId1nd straw nat only
should be used for headgear; rubber boots
and rubber cape for foot troops and pom
mel slicker for mounted troops should be
furnished. The dark and sky-blue clothing
caps and drab hats should not be issued in
| the tropics, but unless the kahki clothing
| is of good texture and well made it looks
| sloveniy and dirty, and the neatness and
| shapeliness required of. and necessary to- a
| soldier, cannot be obtained, and | submit
| that without good appearance you cannot
| nave good discipline. The supply of cloth
| ing for the troops of this command has also
| been deficient.
The health of both volunteer and reg
| ular troops since the military occupation
| tas been remarkably good. Three cpl
| oemics have existed among the regulars
| one Of typhoid fever. at Puerto Principe
and later one of yellow fever at the same
| place. The death rate from typhoid was
| severe; that from yellow fever Slight one
| at Santiago, which was vrulent at first
with large death rate of officers and nen
| These are now virtually under control