The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-10
WANTS AN ARMY
SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO COMMAND
ABOUT $4,000 CUBANs.
No Answer Yet Given by Governor
General B-rOOke-HOw Cuban
Troops VIII he Paid.

HAVANA, May 9.-Gen. Maxine Gomez
is trying to persuade Governor General
Brooke that a Cuban standing army
of fifteen thousand is a necessary adjunct
to the proper government of the island. He
has presented his views in writing, but
without eliciting, as yet, any reply. The
proposition is not likely to receive much
consideration at headquarters. where con-
siderable surprise was occasioned by this
magnificent project which, If adopted.
Gomez doubtless believes, would be placed
under his personal control.
The growing conviction that there is no
need of rural guards EXCEPT in the wilder
portions of the provinces os Santiago and
Puerto Principe is confirmed by the investi-
cations of Captain Hickey, of the Governor
Generals staff, who returned yesterday
from a two-thousand-mile trip through the
provinces east of Havana, which has occu-
pied two months. Captain Hickey, in care
fully written reports to General Brooke, as
serts that, with the exception of a few in
Santiago province, he found no traces of
bandits. political feeling in the country
districts" he declares, lis far less intense
thar in Havana, where the indictments are
gathered. Most of the Cubans of the
provinces favor ultimate independence, but
they are willing to have the American occu-
patton continue for a year at least. as they
recognize that the island revenues are ex-
pended honestly upon betterments."
The rules to be followed in the payment
of the Cuban troops were published to-day.
The article on arms and equipment is as
follows: Arms and equipment received from
Cuban soldiers will be taken. under guard.
IN fho noaract station Ocrllnipd nv 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 Sc
lected 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 condition prece-
dent to payment; yet the commissioners
recognize that there are serving privates
without arms. having sold them or lost
them. Consequently in exceptional cases, the
money will be paid on proof that the appli-
cant actually saw service and made a prop
er disposition of his weapons. The commits
sioners of the Fifth Army Corps will meet
on Thursday to prepare for payment
Thomas r. Dawiey. proprietor of the
locked up in a libel action brought against
him by Charles Curwen. formerly a book
E keeper In hin, his employ Mnp 3. w Tnom aai ne af &c STsfe OF
charges, but talked freely, and Mr.. Curwen
brought the action.
FL Reconcentrado to-day violently attacks
General Brooke's judicial nominees. declar-
ing that they are all docile tools of the mill
tary administration
Army officers i'm Cuba are complaining
that the duties here have become over
arduous on account of the insufficient num-
Der of commissioned officers who are avail
able for service throughout the island. A
States Infantry Regiment. from which half
the officers are absent, making the labors
of those who remain far greater than they
should be in this climate. A majority of the
men in this regiment are recent recruits
and require constant drilling. The officers.
ii is alleged. are. in the circumstances,
that they are so hard worked that they can
not even find time TO enjoy their meals.