Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-09-15
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria G'sette.
Washington. Sept. IL

CORES pnndence OF the Alexandra Ozeit'.l
Washington, Sept. ID
Secretary of War Taft and Assistant
Secretary of State Bacon who have beef
designated by the President to proceed
to Cuba IS special commissioners from
the United States to endeavOr to bring
about peace between the warripg factions
will moi arrive in this city until eight
O'Clock tonight. They will start on their
mission tomorrow afternoon, leaving
here by rail for Key West. In view OF
the fact that the insurgent leaders Zsyas
and Castillos have already offered to lay
down their arms to Commander Colwell,
who OF course WAS not authorized to &C
cept their surrender, it is expected that
negotiations with these two men who are
the real leaders OF the insurrectionary
movement will be speedily opened by
Taft and Bacon. 1t is likely that they
will offer them guarantees of immunity
from arrest aud will persuade them 10
come to Havana and meet with them
representatives OF the Palma government
Tor a full and free conference on the
merits of the situation. Liter the ar
rival of Taft and Bacon 10 Havana they
will make their first call upon President
Palma and explain to him the peaceful
nature of their errand AT this or at an
early conference il is supposed that ar
rangements will be made for meeting
with the insurgent leaders.
Officials of the State War and Navy
Departments were unanimous in prais-
ing the letter to the Cuban people issued
last night 10y President Roosevelt.
Much significance is attached to that
phrase of the letter in which he adjnres
all Cuban patriots to band together to
sink all differences and personal am
billions "and to remember that the only
way that they can preserve the indePend'
ence Of the republic is to prevent the
necessity of outside interference. :" This
is regarded as a direct statement and
warning that if the United States is COM
PEELED 10 resort to armed intervention IN
order to restore order in Cuba it will
result in the annexation of the island
and "Cuba Libre" will become a
memory.
The State Department this morning
received dispatch from MIR. Atkins, OF
Boston, one of the large owners in the
sugar plantation of Constancia. which
states that he has received a cable from
Cienfuegos dated this morning. IL says
that the insurgents ra:ded the pianta-
tation of Solidad Yesterday taking
horses, and that the gunbOat Mariettas'
forces arrived last night the 18th.
This dispatch indicates that the Marietta
landed a force of armed sailors and is
taking steps to protect the various sugar
plantations in the neighborhood OF Glen
fuegos, almost all of which are owned
by American citizens. 1t developed to-
day that President Palma notified the
United States government day before
Yesterday that he would be unable to
protect American life and property at
Ceinfuegos. 1t was for this reason that
the Marietta was ordered to that point.
Half holidays for government en-
ployes on every Saturday of the year il
a move that is now under consideration
by the Keep Commission.
The Interstate Commerce Commission this
afternoon announced that the 80 days publ
cation recruitment will be waived on excur-
sion rates. A decision relative to the 80 day
notice on cotton rates, upon which hearing
has Just been concluded will be announced
probably on Monday.
Ambassador Leishmann at Constantinople,
has informed the State Department that he
has been notified that he will be received in
audience by the Sultan on Friday next for the
purpose of presenting TO him bis letter offered
ence as the first ambassador to Turkey.