Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-04-20
WAR NOTES,


The Cuban generals recently waited
upon Gen. Maxine Gomez officially and
informed him that they desired him to
represent the army in any negotiations
with the u. 5. military authorities In
Cuba. Gen. Gomez accepted the trust,
after which all waited upon Gov.-Gen.
Brooke to discuss with him the details
of disarmament and payment. During
the interview Gen. Gomez said that he
desired to withdraw to foreign coun-
try or to any part of Cuba, there TO
spend the remainder of his days; that
we must recognize that the only power
today in Cuba is the power of those
who have interviewed, and, therefore,
for the present thoughts of Cuban
independent government can be no
more than dreams.
The military administration would
like to compliment Gen. Maxine Co
mez in some substantial way His SER
vices have been and are exceptionally
useful to the Americans. No suitable
official position is visible, even If he
would accept one, neither does it APP
money. He can live as long as he
pleases at the Quinta de los Molinos,
the ramshackle old summer palace OF
former Spanish captains general,
where rations for his staff and forage
for the horses airs provided out of the
u. S. army supplies. The general is
understood to have only very slen-
dor income from his interests in Santo
Domingo.
General Rios SPANS principal com
mander in the Philippines, cables that
Mai. Gen. Otis has granted him safe
conduct for his chief of staff and an
other officer whom he is sending to
Aguinaldo, with a letter demanding
the liberation of the Spanish prisoners
in the name of humanity and interna-
tional law. In the event of refusal
the commissioners will ask Aguinaldo
for definite decision in order that
they may acquaint the civilized world
with his attitude. Gen. Rios has en-
powered them TO offer to surrender to
Aguinaldo 1000 Filipino prisoners,
who have been placed at the Spanish
commanders disposal by Gen. Otis.
The state department at Washington
has published report from L. 5. Con-
sui Williams at Manila in which he
refutes the statements regarding the
health and climate of the Philippines.
During the last year he says he heard
of no temperature in the islands be-
low 81 degrees and none above 95 de-
grees in the sun. The city of Manila
is swept by sea breezes and has an
abundant and good water supply. The
death rate is small and with proper
care one may be entirely healthy.
/ Twelve generals and many other of
ficers of the first and second army corps
of the Cuban forces met at Bayamo re-
Gently and decided to name Gen. Max
limo Gomez as the representative of the
/ Cuban army to the q. 5. with full
powers to treat for the army. There
were 120 votes in favor of Gomez and
! IL against him. At the same meeting
it was decided to eXterminate the ban
dts of the province of Santiago.
Gen. Lawton estimates that 100, 900
troops will be necessary to pacify the
Philippine islands, and adds: 1.-THE
difficulties in the way are those of
fighting guerrillas in tropical coun-
try. With my brigade could force my
way from one end of the islands to the
other if did not have to hold the ter
ritory traversed. But leaving gar
risons behind would soon eat up the
whole force"
The expedition under Maj. Gen.
Lawton are sweeping The second
day the army moved IL miles farther
into the interior in the face of a de-
termined resistance. Five American
scouts, who ventured too near the rebel
trenches, were killed.
Gen. Lawton's expedition to the
Laguna de Bay district have returned
to Manila, and preparations are now
being made for an important land
movement against the Filipinos.
All the launches seized by Gen. Law
ton will be restored to their original
owners-that it to say, they will be
given back to the persons from whom
Agninaldos soldiers took them.