The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-16
CUBANS ALMOST
READY To FIGHT
AMERICANS
Continued from First Page.

Washington correspondent sends the fol-
lowing: Administration officials are not
feeling at all comfortable over the Cuban
situation. The action of General Gomez
in refusing to further participate in the
distribution of the So 000,0 900 and the dis
armament of the proposed benefcaries
taken in connection with the limitations
of possible uprising, forbodes serious
trouble, it is feared, before the Cuban
problem has been finally solved. Although
General Brooke in his dispatches to the
War Department takes an optimistic view
of the situation, expressing the belief that
he can accomplish the distribution and
disarmament of the Cuban army without
the aid of General Gomez, the authorities
are not a little concerned over the atti-
tude of other Cuban leaders. They fear
that their influence with the rank and
file viii be sufficient to prevent an ami
cable arrangement being reached with
the Cuban soldiers. In view of what has
happened the authorities here think Gen
eral Brooke will have to deal with the
disarmament proposition with irmer
hand than has hitherto characterized the
negotiations. Up to the close of office
hours to-day, Secretary Alger said Cen
eral Brooke had not outlined to him what
his next move would be, but he assumed
ting forth the exact time and conditions
under which members of the Cuban army
would be allowed to share in the allot-
ment, and these conditions would mean a
prompt surrender of their arms.
The authorities will wait for the next
news of General Gomez and other Cuban
leaders before inaugurating any radical
changes in the present cOnciliatory policy.
The first sign of open revolt, however,
will be dealt with promptly and vigor-
TCt n no hi he,
the deathblow to the independence of the
island for, as Cabinet officer expressed
it to-day, the United States would never
consent to relinquish its hold on the
island if the leaders, whom we befriended
in the expectation that they would be
able eventually to manage the affairs Of
the island, openly attack us.
Major General Matthew G. Butler of
South Carolina arrived in Washington
this morning, direct from Cuba. AS a for
mer member of the Cuban Commission
General Butler takes keen interest in
affairs of the island, and his recent visit
was Semi-ofticial in character. Speaking
of the present conditions in Cuba Gen
eral Butler says there is a general feel
ing of uncertainty and distrust as to
Gomez, and unless all signs fail there
will be trouble with the insurgent chief
over the distribution Of the 3d. 900 which
the United States Government sent down
there to be distributed among the Gu
bans.
"One of the greatest mistakes our Gov
eminent has made in Cuba" said Gen
eral Butler, was the sending of that
money there TO be distributed among
Gomez and his followers. Gomez is nat
urally a lawless fellow, who cannot be
depended upon to carry out his prom
ises. He is a professional agitator, and
has among his followers many of a SINH
lar type. They distrust each other and
are striving to gain some personal adj
vantage in connection with affairs on the
island. They are scheming to get the
lions share of the So 100000, and l antici-
pate they will give our people consider
able trouble for long time to come.
Unfortunately some of our officials-I do
not care to mention names-are disposed
to regard Gomez as a great soldier, and
the most influential man in Cuban ranks
With certain element there he may have
considerable influence, but among those
Cubans who are anxious for a peaceful
and business-like solution of the prob
lens there presented he is not popular
They feel that he would not hesitate to
sacrifice their interests to advance his
personal aims and secure for himself and
his immediate followers the larger por-
ton of the So 900 000"