The Red Cloud chief., 1899-05-19
A CRISIS IN CUBA IS NEAR.
Havana Correspondent Describes
the Situation as Alarming.
TALK OF AN ARMED DISPLAY.
Csban Soldiers Say the Americans
Have Trapped Thsm-Rssa,s to Give
~Rdaay-Gomes without Innusnce.

Mauy-Gomes without InHasncs.
New YoRK, May I7.-The Havana
correspondent Of the New York Her
aid says: 1.-The situation here has be.
come most alarming. To all appear
ancc the Cubsns are about TO make
armed manifestations against the
United States and It's mode Of govern
Ing the island, although the conserva-
tive element still hopes for peaceful
arrangements. This state Of affairs,
which was brought abruptly TO q head
last Saturday by a partial quarrel be.
tween Gomez aud Governor General
brooke, has been forming for the last
two months. The trst move has been
made by the army. II will probably
DO supported by many Cubans.
"The army which is really repre-
seutcd, although many dispute his
suthority-by General Gomez, Is par
ticularly bitter against Governor
Brooke and his policy. The soldiers
declare they have been miscrably
fooled and trapped by the Americans.
They look upon the exchange Of a gun
for SIS as an ignominious transaction
for them, rs they have not been de.
fcated by Americans, and consequent
ly they refuse TO exchange.
"Some persons say the determine.
tion OF the army not to surrender
arms Is an outcome OF General Brooke's
refusal to sanction General Gomez's
plan for a Cuban militia. At the
Cuban headquarters the statement is
Indignantly denied, In particular by
Gomez, who, however. refuses to dis
cuss the present situation. One Of
9omex's most prominent officers said:
"'Gcncral Gomez was brought to this
city through the influence of Mr.. Por.
tor. He was told ct that time he was
wanted in Havana to help General
Brooke establish a government for the
Cubans which would have no other
basis than freedom aud independence.
He was miserably foolcL.
"'He has been ridiculed for 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 bson a traitor to their
cause.
This was part OF Brooke's scheme.
He wished TO ren1er Gomez useless, in
order that he might with further ease
follow ont his orders from Washing.
ton.
~" Gomez aud his men are disliked
and unpopular Ia. day. lie has no In.
ouence. A recommendation from him
does more harm than good. Cubans
imagine he has been working for an
uexation. He will prove the contrary
this week, when he publishes letters
which have been exchanged between
him, General Brooke and President
Mckinley.
"'After he has done this the gen.
sral will probably leave the island.
He has o n penny. He lives on
charity. In fact, we are all doing the
same. Gomez was forced to dismiss
his staff, rs he did not even have food
for them. They are oil looking for
work. One colonel has been made a
policeman, with a salary Of co. n
month. All Gomex's enemies have
splendid positions, while his officers
and men starve.'"
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Despite the
insistence Of var department officials
that the situation In Cuba holds
nothing Of q threatening nature, II Is
known that the latest advices from
move the apprchensions that have
arisen over the obstinacy exhibited by
the Cuban military leaders. Gomez's
withdrawal from oil participation In
the preliminary work Of disbursing
the funds and the dissolution of the
troops Is q source OF uneAsiness II II
be true a. reported by General Go
men, that the leading members OF
che Cuban assembly, composed OF gen
eral officers Of the army who served
under Gomez, have succeeded in in
nuencing his former comrades against
him, IL Ia feared tho same influence
may be successfully cxerted to in1u-
ence the men who still retain their
arms TO revolt against the United
States. The voluntary withdrawal Of
Gomez leaves General Brooke alone TO
act In the decision OF the important
matters relating to the dissolution OF
the Cuban army and the disbursem ent
Of the %, 600, 0oo.
There lisa report that the War de
partment authorities are far from sat
Isied with the administration OF Gen.
eral brooke and are inclined To the
belief that his orders In relation TO
the suppression OF the usual customs
Of the people OF Havana and other
cities have contributed to this discoa.
Q a that is SO prevalent. The orders
Of General Ludlow, ~forbidding bull
sighting, closing places Of amusement
and the like, and his orders proscrib-
Ing that the laborers on the street
must be clothed In certain garments
that they have never before worm, Is
regarded - a mistake which should
aever have been made, and an arbi-
trary exercise Of power not warrant.
cd by existing conditions.
Moreover, thu procrastination OF
General Brooke In o%ealing with the
question OF dissolution of the Cuban