The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-17
Americans and consequently they refuse
To eXchanra

Americans and consequently they refuse
to exchange.
Some persons say the determination of
the army not to surrender arms is an out
come Of Gen. Broolkes refusal to sane
ton Gen. Gomez's plan for a Cuban mil
ltia At the Cuban headquarters the
statement Is Indignantly denied in par
ticular by Gomez who, however, re-
fuses to discuss the present situation
One of Gomezs most prominent officers
said:
Gen. Gomez was brought to this city
through the influence of Mr.. Porter He
was told at that time he was wanted in
Havana to help Gen. Brooke establish a
government for the Cubans, which would
have no other basis than freedom and
Independence. He was miserably fooled.
He has been ridiculed in the manner
in which he has been treated by Brooke.
He has, on account of his intimacy with
the American general, lost popularity
with the Cubans, who say he has been
traitor to their cause. This was part
OF Brookes scheme. He wished to
render Gomez useless In order that he
might with further ease follow out his
orders from Washington. Gomez and his
men are disliked and unpopular today. He
mas no influence. A recommendation
from him does more harm than good. Gu
bans imagine he has been working for
annexation. He will prove the con-
trary this week when he publishes let
tiers which have been exchanged between
him, Gen. Brooke and President McK1n-
ley After he has done this the general
will probably leave the island. He has
not penny. He lives on charity. In
fact, we are all doing the same Gomez
was forced to dismiss his staff, as he did
not even have food for them They
are all looking for work. One colonel
has been made policeman, with salary
have splendid positions, while his Of
fcers and men starve''
WASHINGTON, May 16--Gen Brooke
has not reported to the war department.
any serious situation in Cuba, and it is
not believed at the department that anv
alarm need be felt regarding the condi-
ton OF affairs. No advice is given Gen
Brooke. as 1t has been the policy of the
president to clothe the officers in COM
mand in the islands with plenary pow
ers to deal with situations as they arise
and hold such officers responsible The
confidence of the war department in Gen
Brooke was strengthened by the visit Of
Secretary Alger to Cuba. What had been
done and what was going forward seemed
TO Secretary Alger to be for the best in
terests of all the people Of the island 1t
is said to be the policy of Gen Brooke
to deal mildly with the Cubans and tn
avoid, as far as possible, any action
which will tend to irritate them; but
that he will be firm when it Is necessary
and the disturbers will be made to under
stand that no overt act will be permitted.
Communications that Gen. Brooke has
made to the war department regarding
the situation are not given to the public,
but the officials understand that the
source of the present trouble is that the
generals" Of the Cuban army are dis
appointed because they are not likely to
realize as much out of the money appro-
priated for the army as they think thew
should. These generals all believed
that they would secure a proportion of
the money equal to their rank, and their
| own estimate of their service The whole
trouble regarding the payment of the
| money and the delay may be traced d.
rectly to these officers, who as mem
bers of the assembly, or as supporters of
Gomez, have constantly raised obstacles
in the way of a peaceful disarmament of
the Cubans and the settlement of the at
fairs of the island. One thing is as
sured beyond all other considerations, the
United States will remain for the present
in absolute control of the island and the
orders of the officers in command will
be sustained by the government at Wash
ington.