The times., 1899-08-27

i
The officers having charge of the pay
ment OF the Fifth Corps were to meet at
General Brooke's headquarters at FL We
dado on the next DAY to decide the time
and place for the payment of that corps.
Those having charge of the payments to
the Fourth and Sixth corps were TO meet
few days later. The Cuban forces were to
assemble at seaports or railroad towns,
and not more than one regiment was to as
semble at one place at one time. Then
came more trouble. On Saturday, May 13,
ii was reported at Havana that the situa-
ton with reference to the payment and
disbandment of the troops had reached
crisis, and that the relations between
Brooke and Gomez were badly strained
The Cuban generals chosen TO serve with
/ the American officers in the distribution of
the money refused TO act. They held a
meeting and refused 10 have anything to
do with aiding the Americans in appor-
tioning the gratuity. The Cubans objected
to surrendering their arms to the Ameri-
can military authorities. On Sunday after
noon, May IA, 250 representatives of the
Cuban army under the leadership of Gen.
| Mayia Rodriguez met at Havana to discuss
the question of disarmament. Among
those present were Generals Lacret, Leyte,
| Vidal, Secades, and Bolet General Ro-
| driguez and General Lacret declared that
1t was the purpose OF the United States to
gain possession of the arms of the Cuban
soldiers and then force their own terms
upon the people of the island.
After much speech making a resolution
| was unanimously adopted declaring that
the Cubans would not lay down their arms
| and that if an attempt should be made TO
compel this the troops would resist. The
troops in the Province of Santiago stimuli
taneously decided that they would not give
/ ls.lI IL h.
| hostile talk when it was rumored that the
! Cubans were not to yield up their arms TO
! American soldiers, but were to deposit them
| with the alcaldes of the various municipali-
| ties and that these arms were TO be held
] as trophies of the war for independence.
Former Secretary Alger disapproved of the
proposition that the arms should be turned
over to the native civil authorities, and the
attitude of the Cuban generals became very
beIIigerent General Gomez expressed him
self as utterly astonished." He said that
IL the American Government should in
sist that the Cuban soldiers should hand
over their arms 10 American soldiers he
would advise that the $3,000,0O0 be sent
back TO the United States and he would
urge that the Cuban troops retain their
weapons. There was good deal OF bitter
ness expressed on both sides, but on Friday,
Nav &c. il was officially announced from
the HEADQUARTERS of General Brooke that
Colonel Randall would begin the payment
OF the enlisted men of the Fifth Army
| Corps at 10 O'Clock on the morning of May
u. at the foot OF the Prado at Havana.
The fact that the payment would begin
! at La Punta Barracks was widely adVer-
tised. At 8 O'Clock Paymaster Dodge came
ashore from the Burnside with $4,000 un-
der guard OF battalion Of American SOL
diers. He met Colonel Randall at the bar
| racks. where were also Civil Governor Re
yiera and three officers of the stan OF
General Gomez who were present for the
purpose of Identifying applicants The
money was piled high on table, but not
a Cuban soldier was in sight. Several anti
| Gomez agitators stood by to watch de-
velopments. and il is said that the Amer
leans appeared TO be somewhat abashed.
| Al 1890 o'clock a black man appeared.
He was directed by an interpreter TO the
table, where he said he was from San
tlago. Search was made for his name, but
It could not be found on the list. He
said he had been a cook in the Cuban
| army few minutes later 8 man who
claimed to be a sharpshooter under
Mayia Rodriguez, applied for money.
He brought no gun, and his name
could not be found on the muster
roll. Two other alleged Cuban soldiers
i came up without guns. and their names
could not be found on the list. Up TO the
hour OF closing, o'clock, seven Cuban
priyatos accepted SIS each and turned in
their arms. The Spanish and Cuban press
| ridiculed the whole affair
But. as one man got his money and
showed II to his neighbors. others caught
the gold fever. More applied on the NOR
row, and more and more former soldiers
came to the American paymasters, until
mp 10 date. about 81 $50 900 has been dis
bursed and about 81 $50 Cuban soldier.
have accepted the stipend.