The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-30
WITHDRAW Al
OF TROOPS
FROM CUBA
Heavy Reduction in the
American Garrisons on
the Island.
NO FEAR OF REVOLT
General Wood Says Practically All
of the Cubans Have Turned
in Their Arms.
Special Dispatch TO The Call.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 29-General Leon
ard Wood, who reached Washington last
night. had a two hours conference with
the Secretary OF War to-day. After the
conference Secretary Root announced that
his recommend atoms as to the removal Of
troops from Cuba had been approved. and
that orders would be issued putting them
into effect.
General Wood says that in his opinion
all the rumors of impending trouble in
Cuba were groundless; that there was no
real prospect of a revolt, and that what
ever friction and discomfort did exist
among the Cubans was due TO the recent
talk Of civil government on the island.
When asked about the report of his Sc
lection for this position, General Wood
said:
II do not know a thing about H. | have
learned nothing of the plan for a civil
governorship other than what have seen
in the papers. II has not been offered 10
me, and 1 have not been asked for any
suggestions on the subject Whatever dis
content may have arisen among the
Cubans on this subject grows / think
from their misunderstanding of the term
civil government ! rather take IL that
they understand IL to mean permanent
American government for the island This
is only speculation, however. for / heard
nothing of these rumors in Cuba before
i left.
81 can speak OF my own department.
there is no indication OF trouble there.
over 5000 rifles. Adding to these arms
that have been retained for the -ural
guard and those the natives have kept
for the protection of their own homes in
the outlying districts, think YOU will ac-
count for all the arms in the province"
When asked IL there were any possibIl-
ity of an outbreak among the rural guard.
General Wood said:
mo more than there is Of an insurrec-
ton"
he said that IL was merely for consuta-
ton about the reduction of the American
force on the island
II have recommended a reduction of
about 20 per cent of the force in my de-
partment," said he: that is to saw. the
recall of the Fifteenth Infantry and the
perfectly feasible. When say that SAN
tiago is quiet. It is a pretty fair indica-
ton of the condition throughout the is
land. Every revolution that has started
there has started I'm Santiago province
and In the last war 20 per cent of the
troops were drawn from that province
Regarding the general conditions in his
department. General Wood said that they
were favorable; the courts were being adj
ministered under as mild an American
supervision as was consistent with keep
ing diligently at work and preventing de-
lays In the administration of justice: the
people were being kept reminded that in
case of palpable NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
through reversion to the old Spanish
methods they had always the right to
appeal and have any matter thoroughly
ployed and the detailed reforms OF the
petty courts and the lower school system
were things that would come eventually
through patient work and local educa-
1t is said that the President has de-
cided on the reward TO be allotted to
in Cuba is over. 1t is said on good au-
thority that General Wood is Slated TO
succeed General George NJ. Sternberg as
surgeon general of the army when the
latter retires by law In June OF the COM
ing year. II has been reported several
times that General Wood would receive
brigadier generalship. as he has been
urged for this by some OF his friends In
recognition of his services in the Santi-
ago campaign and afterward as Governor
OF that province. The President has been
milton on him, but II is well understood
that the gift of a generals commission
In the line would cause a great deal OF
feeling among the officers OF the regular
establishment. many Of whom are General
Woods senior by many years. The same
objection may hold to lesser extent on
friends of General Wood that he has
proved himself eminently capable in adj
ministrative work. 1t is said that when
he was last in Washington the matter
President. and that General Wood was
offered the place and accepted 1t. al
though his preference was for place on
the line. This was at the time he re-
fused a very flattering offer from the
street railway syndicate here. a refusal
hardly likely from staff captain, unless
with some very definite prospect of fin
ture preferment in view
The surgeon generalship would place
General Wood at the head of the medical
over 35 years of age, making him the
youngest officer ever holding this resnon-
sible position 1t would leave him twenty
nve years OF active service II he so de-
sired in position carrying with n greet
prestige IN the profession, both at home
General Wood has taken a house I'm
into which he has moved with his family
and IL Is thought that this is another in,
dlcation that he will make his perma-
date. '