The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-20
THE CUBAN ARMY PROBLEM
HAVANA rs AGAIN THROWN INTO A
FERMENT.
Caused by the Idea That tho Washing-
ton Administration Has Determined
to Take the Arms o f tho Cuban Tro0ps
and Retain Them in Military Posses-
aiOn-An AttaCIx 0r AIrer

and Retain Them in Military Posses-
siOn-An Attack ON AIger
Havana, May 19.-Havana Is In a fer
ment again over the idea that the
Washington administration has deter
mined to take the arms of the Cuban
troops and to retain them in military
possession. This view Of the latest
news from Washington has been tele-
graphed to the various cities. Governor
General Brooke is thus far unaware,
save through the press kilograms, Of
any dissatisfaction on the part Of Sec
retary of war with his (Gen. Brooke'sJ
plan to have the arms deposited in the
care of the mayors of the municipali-
ties; nor has he received any other ink
ling of the secretarys purpose to lay
the matter before President Mckinley.
Consequently, unless instructions to the
contrary are received from the Wash
ington administration, the governor
generals order respecting the distribu-
tion of the s3,OO0,O0O as modified, will be
issued tomorrow The secretary OF
war has been informed as to the sub
stance of this order in the usual course
of business.
Havana paper comment editorialfy
upon the order. AS the point about
where the arms are to be kept appears
to be thought of Importance in Wash
ington, the conviction is announced
there that the mayors cannot be trusted
with them in a case of fresh discomfort,
just at the moment when the various
complications appeared to be unravel- ~
ling. The mayors are the appointees of
the governor general and when the mill
tary assembly dissolved they were madd
its representatives to receive the arms.
Article four of the agreement between
General Gomez and Robert P. Porter,
President McKinley's special represen-
tative, runs as follows "The Cubans
shall surrender their arms to the Gu
ban assembly or to it's representa-
tives.'
General Gomez, who at the time of
comingto an agreement with Mr.. Porter
had not quarrelled with the assembly.
insisted upon this point. Since the
quarrel he has again raised the point
repeatedly, saying also that Mr.. Por-
ter brought full authority from Presi-
dent Mckinley and agreed that the
arms should go to the assembly. At
Monday nights meeting of the society
the veterans of independence, organiz-
ed by former members Of the assembly.
the speakers dilated upon article four.
asserting bad faith, the presidents
having agreed to depos-
it the arms with the representatives Of
the assembly while through the con-
nivance of Gomez they were to be sur
rendered to the American army.
La Discussion says: Secretary Alger
appears to wish to provoke a conflict
here. He is more distinguished in the
United States as business man than
as a politician and his relations with
certain syndicates are well known. He
opposes everything that Cuba wants
and favors everything that would cause
feeling and provoke excitement. His
attitude prompts the question: what
does he want? Does he desire a war
here similar to that in the Philippines?
We are forced to believe that he only
approves what is unsatisfactory to
Cuba"
The manifesto of General Gomez IS
sued last evening is unsatisfactory to
the military administration because its
author failed to disband the army. He
had been asked to include a paragraph
directing the various commanders to
dissolve and had said he was in doubt
as to whether he was authorized to dis
oand the army, promising to reflect up
IN the matter. His attitude at head
quarters yesterday was quite different
rom his previous bearing and 1t soon
became obvious that he wished to dis
continue giving any advice, even on
he subject Of the payment Of the
roops.