Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-04
SPANISH OUR FRIENDS
COL. CUBILLA MUCH PLEASED
WITH HIS WASHINGTON VISIT.
Copied Machinery at Navy Yard for
Gun Making Plant at Home-Went
to Fort Myer Yesterday.

lery; Mr. William Sloane Accles, inventor
of the Accles cartridge feed for the Calling
gun and Mr.. Louis Labadie briggs of the
briggs Company, who have been in Wash
ington several days, left Washington for
Pittsburg Pa. this morning.
Colonel Cubilla and his party went to
Fort Myer yesterday afternoon and made
an informal inspection of the post. Owing
to the fact that it was Sunday, and the
men are always allowed to rest on that
day, and the fact that at the time of the
visit the crack troop had not returned
from Madison Square Garden, in New York,
it was impossible to give the distinguished
visitors the benefit of an ocular Demon
Stration of the work of the American cav
alrymen stationed at the post. The gentle
men, however, were received informally by
General Andrew S. Burt and Captain Lewis
of the ID Cavalry, adjutant of the post,
and were shown through the reservation
The sta les of the cavalry, as well as the
artillery. were visited and Colonel Cubllla
expressed great admiration of the systemat-
ic manner in which everything was ar
ranged He naturally took great interest
in the artillery detachment, for he is a
prominent officer in the Spanish Royal Ar
tillery, and was on more than one oeca-
sion wounded in action in the innumerable
riots and embroglios in which the Spanish
provinces. He was in the Santiago cam
paign, but was not injured at that time.
Inspected the Hospital.
The American officers took great pride in
showing the foreign visitors through the
model American army hospital that has
been recently completed at Fort Myer. The
visitors showed their appreciation and de-
light by many EXPLANATIONS of commenda-
was as srick and span as could have been
possible. The men looked as comfortable
as possible under their ailments. and the
convalescents We're to all appearances
cheerful and bright. Col. Cubilla expressed
great pleasure a: the fatherly manner in
which Gen. Burt went first from one suf-
ferer to another speaking words of comfort
to the men. and as the general expressed
1t, "mothering" them a little. Col. Cubila
said that under even the most extraor-
binary circumstances the general officers in
foreign armies with which he had come in
contact either did not take the time the
interest for such little attentions 1t Was a
treat to see the sick and injured men light
up and brace up as the little general
moved from cot to cot with a pleasant word
and promise of return visit to each.
AT the conclusion of the inspection trip
the foreigners were entertained at the Off
GERS club, and late in the afternoon re-
turned to Washington.
To Star man who accompanied the for
efgn visitors on the inspection each Of them
expressed the highest praise for the orderly
condition in which they had found every
thing and for the extreme courtesy Of the
American officers who had escorted them
through the post.
In appearance Col. Cubilla is not the typi-
cal Spanish officer, nor does he have the
mannerisms peculiar TO the Spanish He
appears to be deep thinker and a student.
1t was noticed by those in the party that
instead of talking he appeared to be taking
in everything he saw, stopping for a mo-
ment here and there and breaking into a
conversation with a question when he saw
something on which he particularly desired
information. His effectiveness to what in
many instances appeared mere matters Of
minor detail was most marked.
Copied the Washington Plant
Shortly after the war with Spain the
Spanish government arranged for the erec-
ton of a gun-making plant at Trubia ar
senal, at Trubia, Spain. and to Col. Cubilla
was fntrusted the work of putting the plant
into working order. While at that time
there was, of course, considerable feeling
on the part of the Spanish people against
Americans and articles of American make,
Col. Cubilla, knowing by experience the
great value of the American arms, con-
WINGED the Spanish authorities that 1t would
be well to secure American machinery for
the proposed plant at Trubia arsenal. He
was instructed to come to this country and
look at the various plants. At the Same
time he was given authority to make such
purchases of machinery for the proposed
plant as he saw f1t.
The outcome of that trip was that Col.
Cubila returned to Spain after having
made an exhaustive study of the. American
gun making plants and the most improved
machinery used in the construction Of these
implements of war Having with him the
plans and specifications for the plant it was
proposed to erect at Trubta arsenal, he
placed orders with various machine manu-
facturers for duplicate machines of the
sizes wanted by him, and they were ship
ped to Spain.
Our plant is now in successful opera
ton" said Colonel Cubilla to a Star re-
porter yesterday afternoon. Every piece
Of machinery in the entire plant is of Amer
lean make, and our machlnlStS are now
turning out guns up to siX-inch caliber in
the most approved and up-to-date manner.
We make our guns through every stage
from the raw pig iron to the finished pro-
duct. Some parts of our plant are in exact
duplicate of your plant at the Washington
navy yard, and we are really very proud Of
1t. American machin.stS who went across
to Spain have stayed with us in responsible
positions, and have taught our mechanics
to get the most and best work possible out
of your American brains l am in this
country again for the purpose Of looking
over the improvements that have come
since our plant was installed, as it Is my
purpose, with the full and free consent OF
the government, to have the Spanish plant
keep pace as nearly as possible with the
advance of American scientific gun meth
DDS. 1t has been my pleasure, since arrtv-
Ing in your beautiful city, to make a thor
ough inspection of the plant at the Wash
ington navy yard, and 1 have made ar
rangements for placing orders for several
pieces of machinery 1 saw there that /
know will prove of great benefit to our
plant at the Trubia arsenal.
oh. yes" exclaimed Colonel Cubilla. I'VE
feel that Americans are our good friends
and Spain appreciates the friendship thai
we feel will grow more and more as time