The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-01-27
|GREENE'S REPORTS ON CUBA.
Duban Troops Well Disciplined, Intelligent
and Would Be Efficient as Part of
the Local ConstaDulary.

Francis V. Green's report concerning |
,he duties assigned to him in Cuba.
Speaking of an inspection which he
made of the Cuban troops, Gen. Greene |
found them to be of all colors, mulatto |
and white. They were an able bodied |
lot of men, although smaller in stature
than the Americans. They had |
been Injured to hardships dur
ing the last three years, seemed |
well disciplined and so fully controlled |
by their officers that, although their |
sufferings for lack of food were very |
great, no cases of pillage had been re-
ported. Their equipment was wretch |
ed. The officers impressed Gen. |
Greene most favorably. For the most |
part they were intelligent, educated |
men, well mounted and well dressed. |
Gen. Greene gives it as his opinion that
this force possesses the elements of a
fine body of native troops, provided they
are properly organized, equipped and
their regimental and possibly battal-
ion commanders selected from Ameri-
can officers. 1t is his opinion that the
organization of these troops should be
begun at the earliest possible moment,
otherwise there is danger that the
force may disintegrate and turn into
brigands.
Gen. Greene believes that this officer
and the men under him. under proper
discipline, would be very efficient as
part of a rural constabulary. The
roaming life they have led for several
years has disqualified them for the
work of peaceful farmers. 1t would
be possible to get from 10, 600 to 10, 600
such men who would be suitable for
military service. About ), 600 men suit
able for military service could proba-
bly, be obtained from the discharged
Spanish soldiers.
The remaining half Of the Cuban
forces about ten to fifteen thousand,
who are not especially adapted to the
life of soldier and are peaceful labor
ers and farm hands, seemed anxious to
return to their homes. But as their
homes have been destroyed, their fam
lilies having persisted in the recOncen-
centratiOn, their fields grown up with
weeds, and as they have no money to
purchase implements for farming pur-
poses, for the time being this is i'm
practicable. 1t is of the ut
most urgency to provide work
for these men Immediately. In Gen.
Greene's opinion money could be put
Immediately into the hands of the
starving labOring class by employing
them in the construction and repair of
roads, and the rebuilding of hospitals,
| asylums and public buildings.
In few months, by pursuing this
course they would be enabled to
return to their homesY and start
life over again. Money thus dis
bursed would find its way through
the ordinary channels of trade.
This would relieve business, money
would accumulate in the banks, from
whence it could be loaned to such
planters as could give reasonable Sc
curity. This would also enable them
to restore the damages done to their
plantations and enable them also to
purchase cattle and farming nipple
ments and to begin planting.
The prosecution of this work and
the prompt payment of wages will gain
same time enforce respect for the au-
| thority and the government of the
United States. Nothing would more
sharply indicate the difference between
the Spanish and American methods
than the prompt payment of wages in
good coin, the faithful carrying out of
| the government obligations and the
prompt suppression of anything
tending to disorder. The food sent by
the Bratton was distributed along
the north coast and that sent by the
Comal was distributed along the south
coast. A small portion only was dis
| tributed to the insurgent troops, the
bulk going to the recOncentradoes.
| The latter are in such a debilitated
condition that their stomachs can not
assimilate hard bread and bacon and
Gen. Greene recommends that if fur
Their supplies are sent they should con-
sist of rice, beans, coffee, sugar and
canned meats.
The most important question affect
ing the future of Cuba is the care and
education of the great number of or
phans whose parents persisted in the
recommendation. The estimates of NOR
tally during the three years since
Weyler's RECOMMENDATION proclama-
ton was issued vary from 4O0,-
600 to 600, 900 persons, or from
80 to 40 per cent. of the population
of the island. The number of orphans