The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-04
GENERAL WOODS REPORT.
Military and other Matters in Cubn
Reviewed at Length.

Reviewed at Length.
| General Wood yesterday forwarded to
the War Department copy of his an
| the troops. The document covers more
| than 500 pages. and includes reports on
the geographical and physical features OF
| the island. census, mineral resources, and
other matters
feature OF General Lees report given
by General Wood Is the result of prac-
teal test OF the Army canteen which re-
| ceives General Lees endorsement. the test
showing better condition of the health
Oh the troops having the canteen system.
General Wood says in part:
mere has been steady diminution in
the strength of the garrisons of the island
since December. 1899. In January the Fiji
teenth Infantry was relieved from duty In
the Island and the Home Battalion of the
Tenth and Eighth Cavalry were sent to
the United States: also the Home Battal-
ions of the First, Second. Eighth, and
Tenth Infantry and Second Artillery; in
the month Of July, 1900. the First, Second.
Fifth, and Eighth Infantry were relieved
from duty in The island.
THE general reduction in the garri-
sons resulted in the abandonment CT the
posts of Baraooa- Gibara, Nuevitas,
Caibarien, Cardce@s, Sagua La Crane,
Placetas. sancti Spiritus. Trinidad. Pr
mar del Rio. IA G,lanajay, and the
abandonment of flany temporary sta
lions and the concentration of tine
troops of the remaining regiments into
comparatively large garrisons. the Sew
enth Cavalry being assembled at Camp
Columbia. the Second Artillery CARR sons
the 6efences OF Hayana, and enc light
battery a. Columbia Barracks. The tn
tire Second Cavalry has been assembled
at MatanZas, headquarters and one bat
talon of the Tenth Infantry at Glen
fuegos, the remaining battalions being
stationed at Moro Castle. Santiago"
General Wood recommends that all
troops in Cuba be mounted. He says:
"All troops intended for service in Cuba
should be mounted. Infantry engaged in
active work in Cuba Curing the hot and
rainy season, and even during the winter,
will suffer from malaria. heat. aid ex-
haustion. whereas mounted troops can
perform hard service without bad Ie-
suits.
THE posts in the division are in good
condition to shelter troops. After two
years service in the island / think 1t can
be said that our troops can serve here
without difficulty. The health nf the en-
tire command is excellent.
The general conduct of the troops has
been most admirable and 1t may be said
that complaints against the troops from
the civil authorities and individuals have
been OF extremely rare occurrence. The
general conduct of officers and men has
been such that the military occupation has
been free from scandal or evil reports re-
fecting in any way upon the service. Spe-
cial attention has been given to military
instructions ard the fne appearance OF our
soldiers, their efficieLcy in drill and high
state OF their discipline are conclusive
proof that officers have given careful and
personal attention toward attaining this
degree of efficiency"
General Wood has also transmitted to
the War Department a copy IF the report
OF Secretary of Public Works VillaIcn,
which deals largely with the proposed
construction of new reads in Cuba. The
projects contemplate principally the
opening of transportation from the in
terror of the important cities so as to
give the Cubsns facilitieP of reaching
the markets with their produce The re-
port shows that the expenditure Of
s., o52. eco is proposed for projected roads
in the province of Pinar del Rio; s1.032,-
coo in Havana province; 1912 eco in Santa
Clara province; s2.c52, coo in Matanzas
province; $4,000 in Puerto Principe
province. and s1.243,OoO in Santiago
Secretary Villalon says thai in the
Island of Cuba $40 kilometres of
roads is now under construction at the
estimated cost of 81 SCI, 041; 923 kilome-
tres have been surveyed. the. cost Of con-
struction of which would be S2,9jS. 800,
while the projected reads cover 1 347 kill
opetres at cost of $S,076, eco, making
grand total of s13,625. 81 to be expended
on roads in the island One ot The roads
proposed is to run from Managna to b.
tabana and thence connecting with reads
into Havana. This wiz enable cat IL
dealers in Camagney to get their cattle
to Havana independently Of the railroads.