The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-16
REBELLION.
Cuban Discomfort About to
Take the Form
Of Armed Resistance to Ameri-
can Authority.
GOMEZ AND BROOKE.
Quarrel Between the Generals
Precipitates Trouble.
Cuban Soldiers Say They Have
Been Fooled.
Will Not Surrender Their Guns
Eor 2zS EooE,
GOMEZ AND BROOKE.
Will Not Surrender Their Guns
For $75 Each.

| 4NtN AOAh' may 4o--71 He EIeIdlQ
| Havana correspondent telegraphs as
| follows:
! THE situation here has become most
alarming. To all appearances the Gu
bans are about to make armed manifes-
| tations against the United States and
its mode of governing the island, al
though the conservative element still
| hopes for peaceful arrangements. This
state of affairs, which was brought
abruptly to head last Saturday by a
partial quarrel between Gen. Gomez
and Governor General Brooke, has been
forming for the last two months. The
first move has been made by the army
It will probably be supported by many
Cubans.
The, army, which is really represents
ed, although many dispute his author
ity, by Gen. Gomez, is particularly bit
ter against Governor Brooke and his
policy. The soldiers declare they have
been miserably fooled and trapped by
the Americans. They look upon the
exchange of q gun for SIS as an igno-
minious transaction for Them as they
have not been defeated by Americans.
and consequently they refuse to ex-
change
Some persons say that the determine
alton of the army not to surrender is an
sanction Gen. Gomezs plan for a Gu
ban militia. At the Cuban headquar-
ters the statement is indignantly denied,
in particular by Gomez. who. however.
refuses to discuss the present situation.
GOMEZ DECEIVED.
One of Gomez's prominent officers
said: Gen. Gomez was brought to this
Ieeity through the influence of Mr.. Porter.
He was told at that time he was wanted
in Havana to help Gen. Brooke estab-
lish a government for the Cubans, which
would have no other basis than freedom
and Independence. He was miserably
fooled.
. He has been ridiculed for the man
ner in which he has been treated by
Brooke. He has, on account of his in
timacy with the American general. lost
popularity with the Cubans who say
he has been a traitor to their cause.
" This was part of Brooke's scheme.
He wished to render Gomez useless.
in order that he might with further
ease follow out his orders from Wash
ington.
Gomez and his men are disliked and
unpopular today. He has influence
A recommendation from him does more
harm than good. Cubans imagine he
has been working for annexation. He
will prove the contrary this week when
he publishes letters which have been
exchanged between him, Governor
Brooke and President Mckinley.
After he has done this the general
will probablS leave the island He has
not a penny. He lives charity. In
fact, we are all doing the same. Gomez
forced to dismiss his staff, as he
did not have the food for them. They
are all looking for work One colonel
has been made a policeman with a SAL
ary of $62 a month. All Gomez's enc
mics have splendid positions, while his
officers and men starve'
ALL LEFT TO BROOKE
Washington. May 16.-Gen. Brooke
has not reported to the war department
any serious situation in Cuba and it is
not believed at the department that
any alarm need be felt regarding the
condition of affairs. No advice is given
Gen. Brooke, as it has been the policy
of the president to clothe the officers in
command of the islands, with plenary
powers to deal with situations as they
arise and hold such officers RESPONSE
Bile. The confidence of the war depart
ment in Gen. Brooke was strengthened
by the visit of Secretary Alger to Cuba.
What had been done and what was
going forward seemed to Secretary AL
ger to be for the best interests of all
the people of the island.
1t is said to be the policy of General
Brooke to deal mildly with the Cubans
and to avoid far as possible, any
action which will tend to irritate them;
but that he will be firm when necessary
and the disturbers will be made to un-
derstand that 10 overtacts will be per-
mitted-
Communications that Gen. Brooke has
made to the war department regarding
the situation are not given to the pub
lie but the officials understand that the
source of the present trouble is that the
generals of the Cuban army are dis
appointed because they are not likely
to realize much out of the money
appropriated for the army as they
think they should These generals all
believed they would secure a proportion
of the money equal to their rank ande
their own estimate of their services.
The whole trouble regarding the pay.
ment of the money and the delay may
be traced to these officers, who as mem
berS of the assembly, or supporters
of Gomez. have constantly raised OBJ
stacles in the way of a peaceful dis
armament of the Cubans and the set
tlement of the affairs of the island
One thing is assured beyond all other
considerations. The United States will
remain for the present in absolute con-
troll of the island and the orders of the
officers in command will be sustained
by the government at Washington.
Weather Indications.