The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-02-04
CUBANS OPPOSE GOMEZ.
Declare He Had No Right to Ac-
oept MoKinley's Offer.
SOLDIERS DO NOT WANT CHARITY

Leading Onicers of the Cuban Army
Declare That the Cuban Assembly
and Gomez's Colleagues should Be
Consulted Before Agreement.
Havana. Feb 4-Among the Cuban
leaders who have given expression to
their views on the subject 1t is as
serted that General Gomez was not
authorized to agree to the disbandment
of the army without consulting the
Cuban assembly and obtaining its per-
mission Indeed, when the report ar
rived that General Gomez had accept
ed Mr.. Porter's proposition on behalf
of the president many doubted 1t, re-
fusing to believe that he would act in
this fashion. A prominent Cuban said:
IF the news Is true the Cuban as
sembly will have grounds for proceed
ing against General Gomez. The idea
of $4,000. 600 as a gift from the United
States to the Cuban soldiers is repug-
nant, and wounds the pride of Gu
bans"
A number of interviews obtained with
prominent Cuban generals will go to
show the feeling in the higher military
circles. General Laya Rodriguez COM
mander OF the Cuban forces in the
provinces Of Pinar del Rio, Havana,
Matanzas and Santa Clara and Sec
ond in command in the Cuban army,
said:
"I think the Cuban army should con-
tnue to aid in preserving order in the
island until certain important matters
have been clearly decided, such as, for
taghn fe fn n
the numerous and unnecessary Ameri-
can army of occupation-Cuba or the
United States General Gomez does not
hold the power to disband the army
without the authorization of the Gu
ban assembly and until after consul
tation with the generals"
Generals Leyte Vidal and Perraza
concur in the views of General Rodri-
guez
General Enrique Coleazo said: 1.-THE
Cuban army cannot and should not
accept a gift or charity from any ma
tion. We asked for what is rightly
ours. That which Cuba owes to her
defenders in arms should be delivered
up to no one, because no one has van
quished US. Our allies cannot and
should not exact such useless and
painful sacrifice. The Cuban army is
not a danger to Cuba, but a guaran-
tee Of order"
General Lacret said: IT think Mr..
Porter must have assured General
Gomez most convincingly of our ap-
preaching independence before he
would have been willing to express
himself as is reported AT the proper
time General Gomez WI express his
ideas of the people of Cuba"
General Mario Menocal formerly Gu
ban commander in Havana province
and now chief of police in Havana city,
said: ''I doubt the truth of the state
ments attributed to General Gomez.
II they be true 1 can simply say that
General Gomez is not authorized to
solve this problem unaided. The Gu
ban army does not ask and cannot ao-
cept charity from the American gov
ernment. The country has asked a
loan to facilitate the payment of money
rightly due to the army"
All the generals interviewed were in
clined to be guarded in their state
ments, pending the receipt of word
from General Gomez. The general feel
ing in Cuban military circles is that
the commander-in-ch chief will have an
explanation. upon his arrival here,
of conduct which to many is remark
able, and even incomprehensible.
While there promises to be trouble
with the assembly some declare that
General Gomez will be able to sway the
deputies to his will, and to secure the
disbandment Of the army. 1t is sig
nificant, however. that the Cubans who
have already been engaged as members
of the Havana police force had to de-
poslt their arms and ammunition with
the officer commanding the regiment
to which they belonged, inform him as
to their new residence and give a
pledge to return to the army when call
ed upon to do so by the Cuban as
sembly.