New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-23
THE HAVANA POLICE.
THOUGH REORGANIZED. THE FORCE NOT
ALL 1T SHOULD BE-
AFRAID OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND SPANISH
VOLUNTEERS BUT STRICT WITH THE
SMAI3 BOYS.


sMAIs. BOYS.
Havana, April $40 the American eye no
figure in the rich and picturesque street life OF
Havana wears so homeike an air the omni-
present municipal policeman Uniformed,
equipped and organized after the American
model this functonary introduces a strangely
familiar value into an otherwise distinctly alien
scheme of local color The traditional guardian
OF the peace who fits this scheme may still be
found patroling the streets in some of the
smaller Cuban cities. But in the main his gen.
darIne sword and swagger survive only the
local Spanish stage. and his place here has been
taken by the buecoat armed with club and
pistol who. but for his smaller size and
swarthier complexion. might be accepted any
where as an accurate realization of the Ameri
can police type.
In the reconstruction of the police force Cen
eral Ludlow has perhaps broken more COM
pietely with Spanish and Latin traditions than
in any other of his experiments at Americana
ing the methods Of local government. The vent
ure begun under Major John Gary Evans and
General Mario Menocal has. therefore a genuine
social and political interest. for it measures in
a striking way the capacity Of those elements
which the city must rely for security to main
tain order along the lines of non-corrupt
ana vigiiant administration insisted upon by
the United States as an essential feature Of its
trusteeship. SO far the experiment has been a
fairly successful one, fully justifying the rea-
sonable expectations OF the Military Governor
For. though many minor defects have been de-
velOped after two months Of trial, the present
police force has shown commendable efficiency
and progress. and to-day it will compare salts
factorily with any similar body exercising con-
troll in city of equal size in the eastern or west
ern tropics.
CLEAN SWEEP TO BEGIN WITH.
From the first circumstances favored the or
ganzers Of the new police force. In this depart
ment that clean sweep Of Spanish officials was
possible without which few thorough reforms in
administration have been so far effected. Major
John Gary Evans. Provost Marshal of the
city was put at the head of the municipal force.
and to assist him in building up a wholly fresh
organization two experts from NewYork were
employed. ex-Superintendent McCullagh and
Detective Sergeant Michael Crowley. General
Mario Meuocal, Cuban soldier with a brilliant
record of service. chosen Superintendent
Of Police and the chief places under him were
filled with other Cuban soldiers. many Of them
of excellent families, and most of them under
thirty-fve forty. For the rank and file ad-
nnirabe material available-Cuban and
Spanish soldiers chiefly. with few Americans
mustered out Of the Rough Riders and other
volunteer regiments Less than thousand
policemen were to be selected but fully three
thousand men Of good quality offered them
selves. Physically the Havana force is picked
body. and with their natty uniforms and clear.
brOnzed skins the make in their way as
effective an appearance as do the stawart
guardians of the peace who are the pride OF
communities further north Self-control and
vir no tuhir he (t,I
police have yet to learn. and exc;abity and ex-
plosiveness have marred much of the work the
present force has been called upon to do.
The troubles of the new police began with the
popular demonstrations against the Military AS
sembly just after the deposition Of Gomez from
the post of General-in- Chief Of the Cuban
Army The Chief Of Police and the Civil Gov
ernor. both OF whom accused of sympa-
thizng with the Assembly. endeavored to
force the old Spanish law against public poti-
cal agitation, and dispersed number of gath
erings by force. General Brooke promptly an
nulled the law. but the anti-Assembly majority
felt bitter against the police for its interference
and brought all sorts Of charges against both
officers and men. 1t was said that policemen
had dubbed women and children. but had
begged abe-bodied men TO move on with the
most scrupulous Castilian Difference. Hints at
personal cowardice were also heard; but these
were withdrawn when. a week or two later. dis
orders broke out in certain quarters OF the city
and before they were quelled three or four po-
licemen had been killed and more than twenty
wounded Nobody questions now the personal
courage of the force though where two classes
of the present population of Havana are con-
cerned the average guardian Of the peace is dis
rosed 10 think discretion the better part of