The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-16
CUBANS NOW IN UNIFORM.
Elk POST FA0TO ARMY ~ GROW
ING RAPIDLY,
One Demand for q Pensien Already EIled
Havana 10 Crowded with Veterans
-G;en. Castillo tho Most PICTURESQUE
OF the Many Figures on Parade.

HAVANA; Dot. o.-The rebel army has
now been pretty thoroughly disbanded.
1t has also been raised to a peace footing.
II Ls Just as profitable to be q soldier Ia
Cuba when there isn't any fighting as
when there Is, and a trife less perilous.
because II there's fighting there's always
an outside chance that some stray bullet
may glance of a rock MT wing you. But
now that the dove OF peace II on her perch
again the worst you can get h a black eye
or a bloody nose, in case you, being a Mod
crate, should call a Liberal a traitor.
But there isn't much chance sven Of that,
for in most districts the foes OF three weeks
age are the intimate md particular friends
Of to-day. The mAchetes are sheathed
and kisses have taken their PLACES. II
you were to refer to -the enemy to-day
nobody would know whom you meant.
The entire population OF the island is now
composed Of amigos.
Only Palma and three or four Of his closest
advisers nave fallen Outside the breast
works" 1ne publication at Washington
OF State correspondence showing that
ne secretly sought Intervention early In
September has turned the wrath OF both
friends and foes upon the ex-President.
He ID denounced upon the street corners
and reviled in thenewspapers. W hich picture
him as a covering traitor booted from
the Presidential chair by the husky foot Of
La Ltbertdde.
However, the declaration Of an armistice
aroused in the breasts Of thousands Of
patriots q martial ardor that could only
be satisfied by enlistment in the ranks OF
the -liberating army There are at least
twice as many Cubans now willing, nay,
anxious, almost determined, to die for
their country as there were a month ago
when an occasional unruly bullet still few.
One OF the conditions Of the disarmament
is that the rebels shall be allowed to keep
what horses they have. the Cuban Govern
ment to reimburse the original owners II
they can prove their property. So why not
fight, bleed and die for your country II
your skin isn't risked and you emerge
from the sanguinary conflict at least one
horse to the good? Why notH Vivd Cubd
Libyei
The SUN correspondent was sitting In
the office Of one OF the local newspapers
late last night when there came loud cries
Of glee from the composing room below and
demands that We should come, fly, hasten
10 behold this so glorious sight. We
went. We few, we FASTENED. 1t was
worth the trouble, for behold, had not the
war correspondent OF the paper returned
from blood drenched Pinar del Rio, where
he had been sent to cover the operations
OF Pine Guerral
This bright young Cuban. who had de-
parted to war ella in the dull garb Of civil
life, nae returned resembling the rainbow.
It was, he informed US. a uniform, and we
were invited to admire. We did 90. Who
could help it? 1t was complete in each OF its
hundred details, including epaulettes.
1t appeared that the young nan had
done no fighting. He admitted that re-
l~uctantly. But he was now q member OF the
stan Of that 30 valorous General, Pine
Guerra. He would ave 10 to understand
that distinctly; no, IL was no joke. He
had received this well merited distinction
because. he said, Of his notorious Journal
istic services Oh, yes, he had received
his appointment since the armistice.
So have thousands Of others. Where a
month ago were timOrous laborers, torn
and dirty shirts, ragged overalls and des-
perate PUSHES to cover when zone said
'Rsbelsl" nbw blossom hundreds OF uni
forms built on hundreds OF models and
heroes without number march proudly
through the streets. Also many horses
bIO 81 kLOtn PS1DhCo tACy oCghPhVu
undisturbed through all the fighting. In
short. the q post facto army IL increasing
by leaps and bounds.
Meantime the population OF Havana
has been swelled by an army Of insurgent
Generals, all in uniform. OF course. They
swarm In Che cafes and the streets. they
march with martial stride down the Prado,
embracing thsiE admirers every six steps.
Wh0wv HtRA In NhA WaVhlf0 HaefasNranka in Ulif-
tering, chattering little groups, while the
sidewalks outside are blocked with curious
wide eyed throngs. Apparently there is
no lack OF money among them. for they
order the best wherever they go, Just as
they did in the field, the difference being
that now they pay for Il.
Not inirequently some General and his
staf 60 honkng through the street in a
SlOyO 900 automobile. When this gets stale
the party gets itself mounted and goes clat-
tering about, smiling and bowling right and
left. Intoxicated with its own display Of
military glory.
Every hour or so each OF them gets a
telegram from his district. He tears it pen
with an air, he reads il, he frowns, he whis-
pers with his chief of staff. They withdraw
a moment and exoitediy consult. The
crowd holds its breath. They return with
flashing eyes and anxious brows.
ITO horsel To horsel' cries the General.
All hands leap into the saddle and go gallop-
ing madly down the Prado. And that is
absolutely all.
Undoubtedly the most picturesque figure
of this interesting group is Gen. LOynaz
Castillo. With his IA II, erect, graceful figure.
his alert and vigorous carriage, his lofty
brow and flashing black eyes, he looks the
martial hero-every inch OF him. Also, he
is the modest possessor Of a fine four inch
scar; his hair is carefully parted so that
every one OF the four inches Of the wound
Is displayed. It Is that scar inflicted by
one OF his own men. who struck too rashly
with his Ill advised machete.
When all the plans for the disarmament
had been made and agreed 70 and Major
Laid went out to Castillo's district to super
wise the job most Of that Generals men
declared they had received no orders from
their commander TO lay down their arms.
Search for Castillo was at first unavailing.
but long pursuit in an automobile discovered