The Washington times., 1906-10-11
BELL GETS ORDER
TO TAKE CHARGE
OF TROOPS IN CUBA
War Department Insists
Nothing Strange in Re-
lieylng Funston.

Considerable surprise was manifested
In official War Department and army
circles .oday over the announcement
made by Secretary Taft an Havana that
Brig. Cen. j. FraRizlm Bell chiSf OF
staff o1 the army. viii succeed Brig
Gen. Frederick Funston in command Of
the American army i'm Cuba. That
Secretary Taft had struck a snag I'm
his plans Of having General Funston
handle the expeditonary brigade was
apparent for It had been the general
understanding in Washington that the
Westeruer who rose To fame by swim
ming swollen river In Luzon was to
remain in Cuba for some time and Gen
eral Bell would probably return with
Secretary Taft
Acting under Instructions that came
directly from the White House, at the
suggestion of Secretary Taft, Il is pre-
sumed, Acting Secretary of War Oliver
this afternoon issued an order placing
General Bell in command Of the army
in Cuba. No official explanation Of this
unexpected step IS offered at the War
Department, Cor neither Acting secTe-
taTy Oliver nor General Barry. actins
chief Of staft. has any information con
cerning tne reasons for H. In both Of
fees, however. it is suggested that there
is nothing surprising nor unexpected In
this program. and. as General Funston
had completed his work in Cuba as the
military member of the Taft mission. II
was only natural 10 expect that he
would return with him. When he was
first called to Cuba by Secretary Taft.
It IS stated, there was no known inten-
tion of placing him In command OF the
forces. for at that time no troops had
been called for. and IL was not apparent
that any would be sent to Cuba.
The reason for relieving General runs
ton Of the command and returning him
to his regular duties In command Of the
Department of California. is accepted by
many army olbcials to be that he Is per
soma non grata to some of the Cuban
leaders. From the o1scial view. as eX-
pressed here, however, this, even II true,
would make no difference, as General
Funston was sent 10 Cuba merely as n
member Of the commission and that he
had assisted greatly in the accomplish
ment OF the task of getting the rebels
20 lay down their arms
The suggestion that certain antago-
sponsible for General Funston's recall
may be accepted more TO his credit than
as any reflection upon him eltFcr as
man or an officer. Previous to the war
between the United States and Spain.
General Funston served in the Cuban
revolutionary army as a colonel. While
leading his men against the Spaniards
he incurred the enmity OF some OF the
revolutionary officers by protesting
against the killing of a number of
Spanish soldiers who had surrendered
to him in good faith. and for whose
safety he felt responsible. When the
Cubans put these men to death. Funston
spoke his mind freely and threw up his
commission in the army and left the
country. Shortly after his return 10 his
home in Kansas the struggle between
this country and Spain began and Fun
stOn was made colonel OF a Kansas
regiment He saw no service in Cuba
that time. however, his command being
among the first to so to the Philippines.
IL Is supposed here that some Il the
enemies made by Funston when he
threw up his command in Cuba are re-
sponslble for his recall at the present
time.