Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-13

1
ate yesterday followed by his appoint
ment today as military governor of Cuba
and commander of the division of Cuba
| in which latter duty he relieves Maj. Gen
| Brooke of the regular army.
| The following order on this subject was
issued at the War Department this after
| noon:
| WAR DEPARTMENT,
December 13, 1899.
| by direction of the President Major
| General Leonard Wood, United States vol
| unteers, is assigned to the command of the
| division of Cuba, relieving Major General
| John r. Brooke United States army Ma
| jor General Wood will, in addition to his
duties as division commander exercise the
authority of military governor of the ISL
| and.
"On completion of the transfer of the
| command Major General Brooke will re-
| pair to this city and report to the adjutant
| general of the army for further orders CT
| the Secretary of War He will be accom-
| panied by his authorized aids
| In relieving Major General Brooke the
| President desires to express his high an
probation Of and thanks for the faithful
ana efficient service rendered by that Off
| Ger as military governor of Cuba.
ELlHC ROOT, Secretary of War"
Looking to Next April.
As has been pointed out by Secretary
| Root in his annual report, a new era in the
| political history of Cuba will be inaugu-
| rated April IL next. That date will mark
| the expiration Of the year allowed by the
| treaty Tor the Spanish population of the
lSland to elect whether they will be Cuban
| or spanish citizens By that time it is
believed, the results Of the census will he
| known, and everything be in readiness for
| the establishment Of local governments in
| the islands, in the hands Of representatives
| erected by the people. These elections are
preliminary to the establishment of a cop
sItuuonal government to which the United
| States will surrender the reins of govern
ineit. In view of the short time inter-
| Sthllls, the administration has practically
| Getefmlneu to make no change IN the ex-
lStlnS military form of government in
Cuba, until everything is in readiness for
| tne transfer of the government TO the peo-
pie of Cuba.
Reducing the Military Force.
| 1t is expected that the military force in
Cuba can be greatly reduced in the near
future, so that while Gen Wood by COM
handing the troops remaining will be a
| military governor, there Will be so little
| left of the military establishment that his
| office will be much more civil than military
| in fact. The reduction in force will en-
| able the War Department to withdraw
| some, or perhaps all, of the general officers
| of the regulars now in Cuba Gen, Wilson
and Gen. Lee will probably be made brjea-
| der generals in the regular army and re-
| tired at once. similar course will prob
ably be followed in the of Gen.
W heeler, who is now in the Philippines
Withdrawing the Troops.
The quartermaster general is making ar
rangements for bringing home the troops
which it has been decided to withdraw
f1Cm further service In Cuba, but the de-
tails of the movement have not yet been
finally cOD1platad Z bac
the battalion of the 18th Infantry consist
ing of tWenty-sx officers and 6T2 men, will
embark at Nuevitas, and will be sent to
Piattsburg barracks, New York The trans
port Sedgwick will probably be used in
taking the troops TO New York city
Four companies of the Sth Cavalry, num-
bering five officers and sixty-eght men,
will also embark at Nuevtas They will
be taken to New Orleans. and from there
sent to Fort Riley. Kansas.
The four troops of the 10th Cavalry will
be shipped to Galveston, whence they will
be distributed along the Mexican border
The fitzpatrick will probably be used for
| their transportation from Cuba to the
United States.
Gen. BroOke's Next Assignment.
Secretary Root said this afternoon that
Gen. Brooke has been ordered to come to
Washington, but that beyond that nothing
had been settled with regard to his future
assignment. His presence in this city is
desired by the President for the purpose of
securing the latest and most reliable in
formation in regard to the actual condi-
ton of affairs in Cuba.
Although Secretary Root would not admit
it, the impression prevails that Gen.
Brooke will be assigned to the command
of the military department of the lakes
with headquarters at Chicago, a position
held by him prior to the outbreak of the
Spanish and known to be agreeable
to him in every respect.
Next to the command of the military de-
partment of the east, held by Gen. Merritt
ii is considered the most important inde-
pendent military command in the Unite ed
States. Brig. Gen. Anderson is now tenn
porarily in command of the Department of
the Lakes. He retires for age next month
so that it will be necessary 10 select his
Gen. Wood to Start at Once.
Gen. Wood called at the War Department
this afternoon and personally thanked Sec
retary Root for the honor conferred upon
him by his selection as military governor
of Cuba. He said that he would start for
Havana at once, and If possible would leave
New York city tomorrow.
To representatives of the press he said
that he did not care to say anything for
publication al this time except that he
purposed to conduct a liberal policy of
government with good order, good roads.
good schools and good courts, and 1t would