The times., 1899-07-08
ARMY AFFAIRS IN CUBA
Things Praised and Criticised by
General Breckenridge.
Objection TO Letting Divisions Dom
Inate Depnrtments-Betfe Tcntuge
for sicl, Troops Recommended-A
Favorable View of the Canteen-
a satisfactory Hospital Service.

a satisfactory Hospital Service.
The War Department has just made pub
iic a report by Brigsdier General Breek-
iuridge on his tour of inspection in Cuba.
This report describes conditions observed
by him in the district of Holguin, at Bar
acos, Guantanamo, Soledad, and aJmaica,
San Luis. Manzanillo. and Santiago. Re
ferring TO the change of policy now being
instituted by which divisions dominate
department affairs. the report says that
this possibly causes some delays either in
remittances or authority for action.
Though" says General Breckenridge,
1t may not Intentionally limit the condi-
tions of action in this nor the other de-
partments, nor districts, this district COM
mRnder, from his conversation with Cen
eral Wood, apparently had expected some
$4,000 .0r works of internal improvement,
but had just learned that $1,000 was au-
thorized instead, and that the money for
this would hardly arrive in time for a
prompt payment of the expenses incurred,
much of it for services for which the citi-
zens greatly needed their pay. The energy
of the district commander and other Off
GERS and the good effect they had done,
especially building roads and stamping out
disease like the smallpox, and re-estab-
fishing public order, public schools, and
comforts of civilization deserves encour-
agement."
General Breckinridge makes many ref
IN to he aGEff nf
providing the troops in Cuba who are not
in barracks with tents of several thick
nesses OF canvas. He says that, at Sole
dad he found several sick men with only
a single thickness of canvas sheltering
them from the baking heat, and they were
suffering from malarial fever. which Lad
greatly sapped their vitality. By pitching
another tent over the one occupied by the
sick men, the temperature in the hospital
tent was reduced forty degrees. He also
remarks upon the scarcity Of cots at sew
eral of the places visited. Regarding the
general hospital at Santiago, he says that
il was in such condition of cleanliness
and modern management as seemed hard
ly possible with the small allowance which
had been received by Major Hayard and
the officer in charge.
THE women nurses" says the report,
'were evidently doing their work in the
General Breckenridge found that there had
been a gradual diminution in the number
OF rations issued to the INDECENT Cubans.
This he considered a very encouraging
sign. He remarks that the volunteer SOL
diers seemed to find some difficulty in
effecting an exchange from one article OF
diet to another more preferable, and also
calls attention TO the infrequency or off
fculties in the issue OF onions and po-
tatoes. General BreckinTidge discovered
in his investigation of the company kitch-
ems. shortage of supplies on hand, but
the subsistence officer was quite positive
that the full allowance had left the COM
missary depot for the soldiers. In Man
zanillo district he found that the cots
used by the troops were generally make
shifts or hunks. The bread was being
baked at the regimeutal bakery. and was
not specially commendable. The officer in
charge of Manzanillo district at that time
was Colonel Petit, who has recently been
appointed a colonel of one CT the new
Philippine volunteer regiments. General
Breckenridge remarks, regarding the chap
lains tent of this department:
1T was pitched inside a large frame
building the other end of which was used
for the storage OF empty bottles from the
canteen. and the colonel had decidedly
favorable views that the canteen was bene-
fcial-'
General Breckinridge relates the diff
Guilty encountered by the United States Of
ficials in selecting Cuban mayor for Man
zaniIlo. jose NJ. Guerrero was recommend
ed by General Rabi, and Colonel Ray ap-
pointed him mayor of the city. He is
about thirty years old and comes from Ma
tanzss. Not being a resident of ManZa-
milo, some prejudice was manifested and
five months later a petition was filed re-
questing Colonel Petit to appoint another
mayor, as Guerrero is considered too
young. Former President Masso was Of
fered the mayoralty. but declined it.
Regarding the troops Of the Fifth In
fentry located in Santiago Barracks. Cen
eral Breckinridge says that despite the
men being SO excellently housed and ad-
mirably cared for tone of anxiety as TO
their continued health seemed to prevail,
and it seemed to- be held that their fire.
Quent change of station TO a more health
full climate was the only absolutely secure
method of insurirg the continued health
tulnesE of the troops. He furnishes a
statement showing the strength of COM
manGs of this regiment to be an average
per month of 572 men The number en-
tered on the sick report per month was
about 3G2 men.
General Breckenridge suggests that the
hygienie question can be handled with
special skill by the present department
commander of Cuba. He says: I'm other
directions. too, as in guarding against
stRrvations and disorders by much needed
public works and sanitation, and from the
tactfulness with which conflicting inter
ests and the asperities which are apt to
follow war have been handled, il is evident
that much praise is due, and an especially
free hand can be wisely given"