Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-02
CONDITIONS IN CUBA
Governor Woods Plans for Controlling
the Island.
TIE DANGEROU Us PROVINCES
Reductions to Be Made in Armed
Force and Staff Establishments.
THE NATIVES AS SOLDIERS


Copyright 1900 by J. y. wheplcy.)
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HAVANA, Cuba, January &C. 1900.
If Gov Wood carries out his recently ex-
pressed intention. he w4ll shortly recon-
mend to the War Department some radical
changes in the precent American military
establishment in Cuba. Some of these
changes were talked over with the Secre-
tary of War when Gov. Wood was last in
Washington, but the scheme in detail has
not yet been entire.y worked out In gen.
eral way it contemplates gradual reduc-
ton in the number of American soldiers to
be kept in Cuba and a reorganization OF the
military departments so az to dispense with
at least two Of the four department COM
manders now here. and eventually to pro-
vide place for but one
AT present there are four departments on
the island. The western department of the
provinces Of Havana and PiIlar del ttlo,
THE central department of MatanZas and
Santa Clara. the eastern department OF San
tago and Puerto Principe. and the depart
ment of the city of Havana. In these four
departments there are new nearly 10000
troops. in addition to the 1,:a1 of the Cuban
rural guard. which is Il very effective force
in itself.
The only provinces considered really dan
gerous by Gov Wood are those of Santiago
and Puerto Principe. on the eastern end of
the island, which are now occupied by about
2.4Go men of the 18th and 10th Cavalry and
the 18th Infantry. mounted The other 1919
troops in Cuba are. Il few of them, in the
western department. but most of them are
in and around Havana. Matanzas and the
other places near the center of the island,
where there is little need of them under
present conditions.
Troops and Departments.
inf iS ha,- no
force of American soldiers in Cuba reduced
within a very short time TO about 5000
men So far as he is able. this force will
be entirely mounted. highly organized and
ready to do anything or move promptly to
any poin: at which they may be needed.
AT present there is an entire regiment of
artillery here. but this will also be sent
home with the exception of Il battery or
two necessary to man the Notifications
around Havana.
armed force and the accompanying staff es,
tahlishmcnts the island will be divided
into two instead of four departments. The
department of the city of Havana will be
abolished. and it is probable that the de-
partments of the east and west or the
Orient and tie "Occident," as they We're
Known to the Cuban army. will be organ
lied. Gov. Wood even intimates that be-
fore the end of this year there will be
but one military department In Cuba, with
headquarters at Havana. thus doing away
with all staf establishments except in one
place and requiring but one brigader gen.
eral to command all the forces in The island.
The Brigadier Generals.
There are now three brigader generals
ir command of department in Cuba-Gen-
erals Ludlow. Lee and Wilson. There is a
general impression around headquarters
that Gen. Lee will be retired soon as
this result can be accomplished. There will
be DO vacancy in the list Of regular army
brgadiers until Gen. Merritt retires in
June. 1t is believed that the intention Of
the administration is to give this position
to Gen. Lee and then retire him by act
of Congress. if it can be so arranged and
is agreeable 10 all concerned. Gen. Will
sons unfortunate controversy as TO whether
he was or not antagonstic to Gen.
Wood will possibly render him non per-
soma grata i'll Cuba, and it may be more
comfortable for him TO take another sta
ton. Gen Ludlow, under these ciTcum-
stances. would naturally fall heir to the
place of second in command unless infiu-
ences, which seem to be at work, prove too
potent for him to stem
General Brooke. when in command of
Cuba, was stumbling block in the way
of many influential Adventures vino at
tempted to take advantage Of chaos and
excitement and farm the privileges of Cuba,
and especially the city of Havana for
tt cir own benefit. In this position he was
earnestly, actively and effectively sustain
ed by General Ludlow, and it is due to the
position of these two men that the local Of
ficials then in power in the country did not
let eXtravagant coQtractS at enormously
profitable figures and thus plunge new Cuba
hopelessly into debt at the start. The men
who wanted these contracts had money to
spend, and 1t was difficult to break into
the Spanish custom Of giving away any
thing belonging to the people for suffi-
Gent private cOnsidera ton.
General Ludlow's department, that of the
city of Havana, will be the first one to be
organized out of existence. If 1t Is desired
to remove him from the island this will be
the time to accomplish it the easiest. Ger
tain Havana newspapers are pounding him
all the time. and are aided by those whose
personal dislike or private interests conflict
with his remaining in Cuba. He has had
long administration in a hot bed of noisy
politicians and eXcitable people of many
conflicting interests. In such an admins
traton, during most trying period of re-
construction. many are necessarily bound
to become disgruntled with the supreme
power. General Ludlow's acknowledged
skill in engineering and his knowledge of
sanitary science have proved most valuable
to CubanS and Americans alike, and Gov
ernor Wood expresses great appreciation
OF his abilities and character and the work
he has accomplished. General Ludlow may
be placed in command of the western de-
partment Of Cuba when the first change is
made. and later on may assume control of
the forces of the entire island, becoming
second in command only to Governor Wood
himself. In the ever-shifting play of off,
clal life, however, many individuals pass
before the fOotHghts within a very short
time. and by the time the new positions are
ready to be filled the same thing may have
happened to General Ludlow which has
happened to others. and he may be in COM
mand of one of the departments at home
where the wear and tear OF official life is
confined to the social function.
The Troops Needed.
The theory now held by Gov. Wood as
to the ultimate force of American soldiers
which will be advisable in Cuba year
from now is that three regiments or
about 5000 men, and battery of artillery
will be all that is necessary. In addition
| to this force, however, he has a scheme
| for raising and equipping three regiments,
| OK about 5000 native Cubans, these regi-
ments to be differed by Americans The
| present rural guard, numbering 1900 men,
| will shortly be off1cered by Americans and
serve as a nucleus for the proposed Cuban
| regiments. This final change in the char
| acter Of the military occupation of Cuba
| by the Americans would probably be COIN
| cident with the doing away of all military
| departments except the one with headquar-
| tiers at Havana.
| All of these soldiers would be mounted,
| stationed away from cities, but on lines of
| railroad. where they would he within easy