The Washington herald., 1906-10-12
Why FUNSTON RETURNS
Incurred Enmity Of Cuban
Army Leaders i'll 1897.
JEsERTED THE INSURGENTS
fter Gaining High Rank ns Leader
Against Spaniards, the Buteheries
by Soldiers Compelled Him 10
Leaye-Gen. Bell Ordered 40 Take
Charge-Funsfon 10 California.


Charge-Funston 10 California.
The announcement from Havana that
BRIG. Cen Funston would accompany Sec
eTetary Taft back to this country, instead
OF remaining in Cuba TO command the
nrst exDeditiOnaTy brigade. caused great
zdeal OF surprise, as it was only little
more than week ago when instructions
came TO the War Department from Sec
fetary Taft directing that formal orders
nc prepared for Gen. Funston TO command
-. ne American troops in Cuba. A few days
the President sent for Brig. Gen.
chief of staff of the army, and told
o go to Havana and report TO the
airy of War. At that time Gen. Bell
"a that he did not know what he would
in Havana, or why Secretary Taft
anted him there. It now seems that
Secretary Taft had then decided that
Gen. Funston should return to this eoun-
Try. and wanted Gen. Bell TO take his
place.
Officers Recall Affair.
officers of the army and friends Of Cen
Funston are recalling the circumstances
of Gen. Funst0n's last departure from
cuba when he broke away from the in
surrectionist forces and, against the
" lshes Of the rebels then fighting Spain,
ee.tEe hQmc Gen. Funston was then In
the rebel arsly. It now seems, according
To the reports. that the men whom Cen
sEUnston displcased at the time Of lis dc
parture from Cuba before the Spanish
war are responsible Tor Secretary Tart
decision 10 revoke Gen. FUnstOn's pre-
yiOus orders. pointing out 10 the Secretary
shat some other officer would doubtless be
better able TO manage the situation be-
cause Of the feeling that might be- stirred
up against Gen. Funston.
Went To Cuba in 1897.
Before the spauish-American war. in
-S-. Gen. Funston went from Washing
1o14 sShere he was employed as a clerk
ia the Agricultural Department 10 cuba
,o help the rebels IN their fight against
SPAIN. Many young Americans seeking
excitement did the same thing. Gen.
Funston rose in the rebel army and
obtained q command rank. His services
we're highly valued.
Company Murdered SpaniaFds.
n According to tho story which Gen. Fun
sion himself told when he returned TO
this country. the reason he left was
because he could not tolerate the BUTCH
cry INDUCED in by those under him. As
the story. IS being repeated to-day, Gen.
Funston s command nj one time captured
~ two companies of loyalists under the
Spanish flag. The Spaniards surrendered
iu good faith, and Funston received them
US prisoners of war. Almost Immediately
eltef the surrender Gen. Funston was
compelled to so elsewhere for a day
1r two. when he returned % MS COM
l-and. which had n It's charge the Two
Companies OF prisoners, he found that
d f..r ltlrl
.- murdered This Was altogether too much.
IS and Gen. Funston resolved To quit But
lIt Cuban leaders would not permit him
70 90 So Hc then had only one recourse.
and that Was to leave the country in
euy WY possible. lie was then ia the
central part Of the island. and his best
plan was to make for Puerto PTinciDe
and get sailing vessel from there. He
tried this, but WAS captured 10y the Span
lards. iiis position WAS very culbarrass-
ing. rot to say dangerous and the only
thing he could do To save himself was
t0 say t0 the Spanish officers that ha was
a.r descTtCr from tile rebel forces. Even
under these circumstances Consul Cen
eral lee had great difficulty in obtaining
she soldiers liberty
Gen. BeII SucceedS Him.
In confirmation Of the press dispatches
II yesterday mouing. orders have been is
suci DE- Acting Secretary OF War oliver.
relieving Gen. Funston from the com
tlaDd OF the troops in Cuba. and assign
eins Gen. Bell, Chief OF stan, who is al
ready in Cuba, to succeed him. Gen.
Funston VIII come back with Secretary
Taft and his party tomorrow on the
battleship Louisiana and il is expected
De 1iIl return 10 li% old command, iu the
department Of California.
Officials Of thc War Department were
t36an by surprise by the news of the
generals sudden orders 10 return. but
-the explanation given in The dispatches.
tGJt ir was found Gen. Funston had in
CgTcd the eUimity of SO many leading
Cufaus D.. bis decided stand when there
before. against Tho slaughter Of defense
IcSs -TIs0uCrs. that u was deemed best
go put some one else IN charge Of the
military expedition. The recall is not re-
-ardcd ia any way as a reflection on
cen. Funston.
oer FeH wiz probably be back in
Washington before many weeks because
.r lis duties as Chief of staff which
.s. ROW being taken care OF 10y Gen
Barry Cen r. 7. Wint who has been
directing cbo lmbarkatiOn OF troops from
Newport News, is talked of as his prob
able successor
Last Detachment Leaves.
cen WIurs duties at Newport News
are practically ended, iuasmuch as the
last detachment Of troops. the Eleventh
cavalry. and one pack train left yester-
day ON the transport Zealandia. The
movement of TROOPS has been very rapid
the last few DAYS. q half dozen trans
rorts sailing for Havana on Wednesday.
The Parama and Andes arrived at
Havana Wednesday. according 10 .ad-
vices received from Gen. Funston.