The times., 1899-02-14
ATTACK ON GENERAL BROOKE.
Many Violent Speeches in the Cuban
AsscmbJx

Assembly
Havana, Feb. 1S.-The extraordinary
meeting of the Cuban Assembly. which
was held Saturday evening 10 consider the
action of General Brooke in requiring the
Assembly to march in the Garcia funeral
procession OF Saturday behind the Ameri-
can commanders staff and escort, ad-
journed at l o'clock Sunday morning the
Assembly later Withdrawing 10 Ell Cano,
where a general session will be held on
February Is to further discuss the situa-
tion. Many violent speeches were deliv-
cred against the Americans and General
Brooke in particular. but finally n con-
ciliatory speech by Manuel Sanguilly had
the effect of quietng the more violent
members and inducing them to consider
the matter calmly. Upon Sanguilly's mi
tiative committee was appointed TO in
vestgate and report whether there was
really any just cause to complain against
the course of General Brooke. The COM
mittee appointed is composed of General
Jose Miguel Gomez and Senors Roberts
and Aguerro.
The Assembly also decided to advise
Secretary of Justice Lanuzo and Secretary
of State Capte not to resign, as they had
declared their intention to do on account
of General Brooke's alleged insult to the
Cubans.
General Brooke informed your corre-
spondent that he was not advised from
Washington concerning the arrival of
General Garcias body in Havana. When
/ the body arrived on Thursday he cabled
to Washington asking to be instructed how
TO act in regard to the funeral. The War
Department replied by instructing him to
bury General Garcia with full American
military honors
The mayor of Havana had already ar
ranged a funeral programme. which it
would have been impossible TO carry out
under the instructions received from
Washington. In order to give General
Garcia an American military funeral it was
necessary that it should be conducted by
the Americans and in accordance with the
arrangements made by the American Com
mander-in- Chief.
Mayor La Coste's programme was,
therefore, countermanded. The mayor, in
view of the short time for preparation,
the military authorities to set aside the
Cuban plans and to make other arrange
ments in conformity with the regulations
of the United States Army. General
Brooke made no suggestion concerning his
own place in the parade, but was willing
to accept the place allotted to him by the
civil authorities. At the palace the Cuban
committee suggested to General Brooke
that he follow Immediately behind the
casket
General Brooke said he thought that the
first mourners should be the sons of Gen
eral Garcia, and that he should be in sec
ond place. The Cuban generals and MEM
bers of the Assembly who were to follow
the American officers asked General Lee,
through Secretary LanuZo. if he objected
TO their preceding him. General Lee re-
piled that it made no difference to him.
The Cubans then tried to get between
General Brooke and his staff. An Ameri-
can generals staff is an integral part of
himself and always follows him. when
the staff closed up to General Brooke's
carriage the Cubans crowded up and tried
to get between them and the general.
This occurred three-quarters of an hour
after General Brooke and his staff had
taken their positions. The Cubans evi-
IDENTIFY did not see the difference between
General BroOke's staff and the troop of
cavalry at the rear. In addition TO the
staff officers there were present near the
general three orderlies and a corporal to
do any special duty that might be neces-
sary and to hold the officers horses when
they dismounted.
The above is General Brooke's own ex-
planation of the incident. Among the Gu
bans opinion is divided. Colonels Ayalos
Miyores and Arrange and Majors Azpeitia
and Castellanos do not support tine action
of the Assembly. They told the CORE
spondent that the assembly had no right
TO act as it did. Ii had never done any
thing to better the condition of the Cuban
army and 1t had no business TO interfere
with the army now. They added that Gen.
Maximo Gomez was the man to give orders
TO the Cuban army, not the Assembly.
There is no questioning the fact that Co
mez is far more popular than the Assem-
bly,.
Inspector of Police Luftien has been
killed while bravely fighting against three
negro criminals, one of whom he killed be-
fore he lost his own life. Superintendent
McCullagh. who organized the police force
here subscribed $50 TO a fund for the ben
eft of Luftien's widow and paid the funer-
al expenses.
Col. Carlos Garcia, son of Gen. CaliXto
Garcia, has written a strong letter TO the
Assembly regarding its action in withdraw
ing the Cuban troops from the funeral pro-
cession of his father He says that his
father was abandoned by the Cubans and
that their action was cowardly. He adds
that the action of the Assembly was an in
suit to the memory of man whom Cuban
soldiers and the Assembly ought to re
spect.
The. Whftcwnsh pnuers.