The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-16
Gen. Brooke Determined to Pay the
Insurgents and Disarm Them by
Force, If Necessary.
TROUBLE At CIENFUEG0s
FIGHT BETWEEN POLICE AND A
GANG OF DOCK LABORERS.
Second United States Infantry Called
Into she City to Patrol the Streets
situation I'm Cuba Serious.

HAVANA, May 15.-Gen. Maxine Gomez
informed Governor General Brooke to-day
that he must withdraw from the plan for
distributing the 100000 appropriated to the
payment of the Cuban troops to the extent
that he will not name other commissioners
to replace those. originally named by him
who have refused to serve. Governor Gen.
eral Brooke Is to go ahead with a new plan,
Gomez remaining in attitude Of friendly
inactivity. General Brooke vii issue an or
der for Cuban privates~ and noncommis-
stoned officers to meet at specified places on
specified dates TO receive payment. They
are to be accompanied by their company off,
GERS for the purpose of Identification. Both
General Gomez and the governor general
feel that the privates ought not to lose
their share in the American gratuity merely
because the schemes of certain high officers
in the Cuban army have interposed OBJ
stacles. The belief among the Americans Is
that the co-oficers win assist in this way.
General Brookes order will be disseminated
through the newspapers. placarded in the
postoffices and given the widest circulation
practicable.
This afternoon General Gomez wrote
history Of his relation to the army payment
question. 1t includes the correspondence
that has passed between himself and the
governor general. and 1t is intended to make
his position clear TO the public and to con-
trast his conduct favorably with that Of the
other Cuban leaders 1t is reported
that in his interview with General
he could no longer represent the Cuban
army. because cabal. composed of many
OF the subordinate commanders, existed to
1lfc ~,fo 60
partitioning the money. He explained that
former members Of the Cuban Military AS
sepbly. led by Mayai Rodriguez, Manuel
Sanguilly, Juan Gaulbertto and other mall
contents. had organized a majority of the
officers against him, apparently, and that,
though he (Gomez) might persist and posi-
bly, carry the payment to a successful con-
cIusion, he was disgusted and wished TO
wash his hands of the whole business.
Therefore he thought that If he left General
Brooke free, the latter would be able to act
with equal effectiveness alone.
General Gomez communicated these views
to General Brooke In an interview which
continued for an hour and a half. The Gu
ban general was attended by Colonel Carlos
Cespedes. son of the former Cuban Presi-
dent OF that name, who has been mentioned
as a candidate for the presidency of Cuba.
General Brooke expressed sympathy with
General Gomez and said he regretted the
position he had taken. but the American
commander added If his decision was un-
changeable he would proceed to deal with
tie question alone.
VETERANS OF INDEPENDENCE.
The Society Of Veterans of independence,
which Is merely the old Military Assembly
under a new name, held an inaugural meet
Ing last night under the presidency Of Gen.
Fernando Freyre de Andrade, who acted as
president of the Assembly, at which meet
Ing Generals Lacrete. Csneros, Juan Gomez
and Leyte Vidal and others were present
The proceedings were devoted TO drawing
up an agreement TO be proposed at a meet
ing to be held later. In the announcement
which appeared to-day the promoters say
tnat their call Is made upon all who assisted
IN beginning the revolution, agents. emf
grants. deportados. politicians and con-
spirators, but that none can enter the
meeting unless as members OF the society.
La Union EspanoIa publishes to-day a let
ter from Gen. Jose Varona To General
Gomez asking IL IL be true that Marshal
Blaroo offered independence to the Cubans
on condition that they would Cooperate
against the United States The paper saws
that Gomez replied in the affirmative but
wrote to varona that no answer was given
to Blanco. as Spain had deceived the Gu
bans so often they could not trust her again.
"A second letter from the captain genera!
TO the same purport was received, and this
also went unanswered. Finally Blanco. ac-
cording to La Union EspanoIa, sent a mes
senger 10 Gomez TO repeat the proposition
but the Cuban commander refused to con-
slider IL.
Colonel Reid has been making an inspec-
ton OF the forts around Havana preparatory
TO report TO General Brooke. He saws
that enormous sums were spent by the
Spaniards upon defenses that are now ut
teriy worthless Cabanas fortress alone cost
originally sA.ooo.ooo. but two three WE'LL
directed shot almost demolished II. and the
same Is said TO be the case of all the rest
Of the fortresses. including MORO Castle
Colonel Reid says that one sharpshooter
stationed on the roof OF the Tacon Theater
with an ordinary service rife could prac-
tically render any Havana fort untenabIe
"A single artillery shot could In many in
stances make whole wall crumble into
dust
A dispatch from Puerto Principe says five
armed men have attacked a store at Ouinta
Navales. half league from Puerto Principe
killing the storekeeper. Ysdor Fernandez
severtng his head from his body with a
machete. The store keepers assistant. Juan
PARADE. In defending Fernandez. received
four machete cuts. from which he will die
The store was sacked OF everything valuab bic
and a quantity OF money. The advices from
Puerto Principe also record the appearance
OF several bands OF armed men on the estates
r4Es4r he F.f<ffFs A. IT, 49,
inces OF Puerto Principe and Santiago de
Cuba A detachment OF 300 cayalrymen and