The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-12
! |NNUNES NOT IMMUNE
Colonel Ray Has a Scheme to
Replace Them
WITH CUBAN RECRUITS
Other Good Points Claimed
Twenty-Third Kansas

CORRESPONDENCE Of the Associated Press)
Santiago de Cuba, Feb. 1.-THE depart
ment is giving serious attention to the
state OF health of the Third immunes, as
well as to the depletion of the regiment by
sickness and the enormous number of dis
charges that have been granted, and the
proba bility is that they will be trans
ferred before long. Colonel Ray has a
scheme for recognizing the regiment,
which he believes could be made TO work
successfully II is that four companies Of
Cubans could be enlisted, many of whom
have been insurgents during the war. He
would not at first have any Cuban COM
pany officers but would appoint to the
companies officers of his regiment who
have made some progress il the Spanish
language. For each company he would
have an interpreter, but he believes that
the men would very soon learn English,
for all military orders would be given to
them in that language. He believes that
Cubans all over the province would will
ingly join companies thus organized in the
different immune regiments and that the
members of these companies would in
reality be immune, which 1t has been con-
clusively proved that the others are not;
indeed, those enlisted from the gulf states
have succumbed TO fevers and malaria
nun quicker than those who have come
from colder cImes, proving that the colder
climate a man comes from, the better
health he has enjoyed in Cuba. Colonel
Ray himself is an instance of this, for he
has lived for many years where the win
tiers we're very cold, he has been in the
Klondike and similar places. and has not
since his arrival in Cuba suffered from a
single days sickness.
Colonel Ray believes that the term Of
enlistment for these Cubans should not be
less than two years and that they should
be enlisted simply for service in Cuba and
as the troops that he brought down with
him from the states are gradually dis
charged, ne would be in favor of making
fresh companies of Cuban troops, Differed
as before by Americans. The highest
rank TO which Cuban would be eligible
in his plan would be that of sergeant. He
also believes that in six months it would
b e possible TO have his regiment almost
entirely of Cubans and he would make it
compulsory for officers to pass a certain
standard in Spanish within that time,
which, if they were unable to do, he
would ask for their resignation, promoting
in their palces good men who have serv-
ed in the ranks and who viii be given OPP
portunities of passing the linguistic test,
not that he believes in making the ex-
animation a hard one but merely sufficient |
Spanish for them to converse on ordinary |
subjects. and particularly relating to mill |
tary affairs. He would also make pro- |
motion to non-commissiOned officers from
among the Cubans themselves linguistic. |
the men having to pass a course of Eng !
fish.
These Cuban troops, differed by Ameri- |
cans, he believes 10 be the best form OF |
governing Cuba during the military oc- |
cupaton. for the men would very soon |
get to know that their officers were doing |
the best for them that it was possible to |
do, 70 rtheir health and comfort would be |
looked after in ways that were never done |
before, and also that the people themselves /
would become more competent, as the SOL |
diers. though wearing the American uni
form, would be their own race; in fact, |
Colonel Rays idea is very much on the
lines of the Indian regiments which have |
been found so successful under British rule .
in India.
Colonel Ray believes that in the next |
few months at least half of the army Of |
occupation should be immune regiments
enlisted in this fashion. This would save a |
lot Of transportation, would use entirely |
in Cuba the money earned by the men |
and be a boon both to the United States /
and to the island of Cuba
The Second Immunes. stationed at /
Jaibari and Holguin, are enjoying COM