Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25
CUBAN UPRISING
PROVES NO JOLLY
Insurgents Are Active in the
Provinces.
WITHIN 5 MILES OF HAVANA
Rout of Palma Troops Near Guanes
Described.
EVERY MANS RACE FOR LIFE
Battle With Pino Guerra Expected
Soon-Cabinet Crisis Averted-
Talk of Peace Plans.
5 MILES OF HAVANA
Rout of Palma Troops Near Guanes
Described.
EVERY MANS RACE FOR LIFE

Talk of Peace Plans.
HAVANA. August 25.-The village of Ar
royo Naranjo. five miles from Havana. was
occupied by force of seventy insurgents
last night
A detachment of mounted city and pro-
Vincial police proceeded to Arroyo NaranJd
early this morning and the insurgents who
had occupied that place scattered as the
government force approached.
An American describing the rout of tho
government recruits near Guanes, province
or havana. yesterday, says that no orders
were given after the government force en-
countered the rebels except every man for
himself" and that the rout became in real.
ity race for Havana
Colonel Bacallao, with $50 artillerymen
and 80 recruits. left San Juan De Martinez
this morning, moving in the. direction of
Guanes. Pinar del Rio, in the expectation
of giving battle to Pine Guerra, the insur.
gent leader who was reported to be only
five miles distant. A severe engagement Is
expected.
Cabinet Crisis .Averted.
The cabinet crisis, it is officially an.
nounced, MAS been satisfactorily arranged.
Senor O'Farrill, the acting minister of the
interior and secretary of state and justice,
has consented to retain his own position
(secretary of state and justce), withdraw
Ing from the interior department Senior
Font Ste.ling and Gen. Montalvo will con-
tlnue ad interim in charge OF the ministry
Of the interior When Gen. Ruiz Rivera.
Cuban minister to Central and South Amer
lean countries, who has been cabIed to re-
turn Immediately to Cuba, reaches this
city he will resume charge of the interior
ministry.
Talk Of Peace Settlement.
Among the suggestions made with the
view to bringing about peaceful; settle
ment of the insurrection is that of conced-
ing to the liberals the annulment of the De-
cember elections and holding new ones, in
which both political parties, the moderates
and the liberals. shall participate fairly and
freely. Another is that a commission be
appointed by President Roosevelt to investi-
gate the matters in dispute, and 1t is also
proposed that commission composed of
government supporters and insurgents, of
which the American minister here shall be
chairman, be appointed to decide upon q
basis of settlement None OF the plans ap-
pears practical. The government Is wholly
unlikely to begin negotiations of any sort
at this stage. but it is suggested that prom
inent men from each province be summoned
to Havana to consult Jointly with the Pres-
ident. Even this is unlikely. 1t is SO neg
essary to take active measures to suppress
the insurrection that it is impracticable to
spend time in discussion.
Gen. Rodriguez, commander of the rural
guard, and Gen. Rojas, commander of the
artillery. had long conference this morn
ing with President Palma, at which the
campaign plans were discussed.
Skirmish Reported.
HAVANA, August 25.-It was an
nounced at the palace this afternoon that
Col. Bacallao's force, operating against
Pine Guerra, had skirmish with a band
of rebels near San Luis station, Pinar Del
RIO, today, with the result that the rebels
were dispersed. and that the troops cap
tured five horses.
Whether the artillerymen, who are in
reality infantry, and the fifty raw recruits
will be able to fight a successful battle
against Pine Guerra's forces is a question
rapidly nearing solution, though the exact
whereabouts of the insurgents is not
known. While it is believed that the con-
centration of Guerra's forces is incomplete,
he undoubtedly has been fully informed re-
garding Col Bacallao's movements.
1t is now realized by naval officials that
IL may become absolutely HectSSdIy u
warships to Cuba for the protection of
United States interests, even If it is not
done for the preservation of peace and good
order The department is somewhat em-
barrassed in the matter, however, as such
action would necessitate either the with
drawaI of some of the warships now pa
trolling the waters of San Domingo or the
dispatch of some of the vessels from the
large fleet being assembled in Long Island
sound for the grand review by President
Roosevelt on Labor day.
Most of the vessels in San Domingo are
in need of repairs and will shortly be sent
north for docking At any rate they are
not regarded as suitable for the work
required in Cuba. All the available war
ships in home waters are under orders
to take part in the Labor day review, and
If 1t becomes necessary to send any Of
them to Cuba it will require general re-
vision of the naval program at oyster
Bay.
The Cuban situation is receiving much at
tention from State Department officials
who are keeping carefully in touch with
the developments in the little republic. The
department receives no dispatches today
throwing any additional light on the sftua-
tion but 1t is admitted that the general
character of the revolution shows clearly
that ii has outside financial support Of the
sort not possible with movement which
is not thoroughly organized.
So far the State Department has shown
mo disposition to interfere in any way In
Cuban affairs, and, moreover, omcials at
the Department do not expect that II Will
be necessary for this government TO aid the
Cuban government in putting down the IN
surrection. However, the state Depart
ment is showing far greater interest IN
Cuba's unsettled condition than ii did sew
eral days ago.