The record-union., 1899-03-24
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.
VOLUNTEERS ARE FAST LEAV-
ING THE ISLAND.
General Gomez Arranging For the
Disbandment Of the In
surgent Army.

NEW YORK. March PA special to
the Tribune from Havana says: Inc
embarkation of volunteer regiments
which are to be returned to the United
States for mastering out is proceeding
rapidly. The Olivette on Wednesday
took away two companies of the Sec
ond South Carolina and five companies
of the same regiment sailed Thursday
on the Yarmouth. These two vessels
will make return trips from Tampa for
the rest of the regiment One of the
Ward line steamers which arrived this
morning was also chartered for trip
to Savannah, and will carry to that
port another regiment from General
Lees command.
The camp at Buena Vista is rapidly
diminishing in size, but this is such an
excellent one that some of the regular
troops now quartered elsewhere near
this city will be sent there as the vol
unters are Withdrawn.
1t is said that one of. the results of
Secretary Ayers visit to Havana will
be the consolidation of several of the
present military divisions. In that case
this city and province, now separate
departments, will shortly become a
single command Pinar del Rio might
also be conveniently attached to the
new department established here.
The Secretary of War is expected to
arrive here tonight Thursday or to-
morrow morning. He will spend FRI
day in consultation with commanders
stationed in the neighborhood, and on
Saturday will start on a Pullman car
for a short trip to Pnar del Rio, Ma
tanzas, Sagua and possibly Cienfuegos.
AS a result of fresh conferences be-
tween General Brooke and General Co
mez, Colonel Carlos Cespedes started
this morning for the eastern end of the
island to arrange with the army chiefs
of the first and second corps for the
disarmament of the soldiers Colonel
Cespedes is an intimate political and
personal friend of General Gomez, and
resigned from the Military Assembly
ten days ago when that body abolished
the Generals post as Commander-in-
Chief of the army. During the war he
served as Civil Governor of the Eastern
Department, and he is consequently
familiar with conditions there He will
visit Manzanillo, Santiago, Guantana-
mo. Bayamo and Tunas, returning in
about three weeks.
General Betancourt of Matanzas pro-
vince, Pedro Diaz of Pinar Del Rio,
Gonzales Robau and other chiefs who
favor immediate payment of the troops,
have had another meeting, and it is un-
derstood that they are now ready to
cooperate with the Government Pay
masters in making the distribution. 1t
is probable that payment will be made
in Spanish silver instead of gold, Amer
lean silver and United States currency
In Spanish silver the total to be dis
bursed would be SO, 951 ,219, a much
larger apparent allowance to each man.
The Military Assembly held a meet
ing at Cerro this Thursday afternoon
and passed the resolution offered on
Tuesday by Gaulberto Gomez for re-
organization of the army pending the
discussion of the question of dissolu-
ton The radical Assembly leaders
hope to be able to retain in a sort of
standing army about 5000 or 10000
men, and the proposed reorganization
looks to the possible re-enlistment and
maintenance of a portion of the army
which will be paid off under the terms
Of the Despaigne resolution. to be vot-
ed on next Saturday.