Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-10
DELUS|ON OF BANDITS
Some Cuban Thugs Think to
Scoop Special from the
United States.
TABLES ARE TURNED ON THEM

Given n High Testimonial When He
Comes Home Major Wounded Near
IhniIa-CoIorado's Governor Repudi-
ates an Interview.
Santiago de Cuba, May 1o.-Maurice
Baldwin, an American newspaper cor
respondent, and three Cuban compan-
ions were attacked Monday near Bay
amo by seven bandits. Baldwin made
feint as though soldiers were ap-
preaching. and so distracted the atten-
tion of the bandits. Then he and his
companions quickly covered the ban
dts and ordered them to drop their
arms. One of the bandits, resisting,
was wounded in the leg. The entire
party Of seven was captured and turned
over to the gen d'armerie. Baldwin and
his party are highly commended. Two
of the captured bandits have been rec
ognized as recent employees of the gov
ernment who were discharged on ac-
count of the stopping of work on the
highway.
Gomez Would Have $4,000 Soldiers.
General Maxine Gomez is trying to
persuade Governor General Brooke that
a Cuban standing army of 1900 men is
a necessary adjunct to the proper gov
u.
presented in writing. but without elicit
ing as yet any reply. The proposition
Is not likely to receive much considera-
tion at headquarters, where considerable
surprise was occasioned by this mag
nificent project, which Gomez doubtless
believes would be placed under his per-
sonal control. if adopted. The growing
conviction That there is no need of rural
guards except in the wilder portions of
the provinces of Santiago and Puerto
Principe is confirmed by the investiga-
tions of Captain Hickey, of the govern
or generals staff. who has returned
from a 2,000-mi trip through the prov
inces east of Havana which has oc-
cupied two months.
Hickey Can Find No Bandits.
Captain Hickey. in carefully written
reports to General Brooke, asserts that
with the exception of a few in Santiago
province he found no traces of bandits.
Political feeling in the country dis
tricts." he declares. lis far less intense
than in Havana, where the malcontentS
are gathered. Most of the CubanS of
the provinces favor ultimate independ-
eIce, but they are willing to have the
American occupation continue for a
year at least, as they recognize that the
island revenues are expended honestly
upon betterments."
Payment of the Cuban Troops.
The rules to be followed in the pay
ment of the Cuban troops were published
yesterday. The article on arms and
equipment is as follows: Arms and
equipments received from Cuban SOL
diers will be taken under guard to the
nearest station occupied by the United
States troops, from which they will be
transported to Havana or Santiago,
where they will be kept in an arsenal of
souvenirs and cared for by armorers
selected by the commander-in-chief of
the Cuban army. This question has been
the principal cause of friction. The rules
require the surrender of arms as a con-
dition precedent to payment; yet the
recognize that there are
some deserving privates without arms.
having sold them or lost them. Conse-
quentIy, in exceptional cases, the money
will be paid on proof that the applicant
actually saw service and made a proper
of his weapons.