The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-27
CONFIDENCE
in MIR. TAFT
Believe He Can Handle
Situation.
PALMA WRITES STRONG LETTER
Preparations for Landing Soldiers
Still In Progress.
PALMA WRITES STRONG LETTER


washington, Sept. 2s.--While not
abating in any degree the preparation
for transporting troops to Cuba In
accordance with the wishes OF the
President the army and navy officials
here are today still of the opinion
that Secretary Taft will effect an ar
rangement which will obviate the ne
cessity for landing American soldiers
on Cuban soil.
They believe that events In Havana
are shaping up in accordance win .is
plans of the Secretary of War ana
that while the situation appears des-
perate, the decision is really one phase
OF the program mapped out by Secre-
tary Taft. 1t is believed that MS
purpose was to clear the field for
complete reconstruction IN Cupa, put
that this did not necessarily Involve
Intervention in the sense of armed oc-
cupation. President Palma's with
drawal or at least that of the advi-
sors who surrounded him, was, how
ever. believed essential to this plan.
"NeVv Broom" idea.
II "a coniectured that the Secretary q
purpose is to carry out direct instruc-
tions from President Roosevelt and
give the Cubans another chance. The
only way this could be worked out,
they say, WOulu DC lOI mann " StAs
gether some of the most patriotic ana
iudicious of the Cubans, without re-
gard to party Affiliations and ask them
TO create a provisional government.
They point out that the insurgent
generals could be asked to- give their
allegiance to this government, temper
arily at least, and the military FORCES
of the Palma government would De
expected TO support 1t. that the provis-
=. nle0RGd
call new elections under conditions
that would insure control by major
ity of the Cuban people. and that II
they fail again to maintain order ana
security then intervention must ensue'
Roosevelt Acts Cautiously.
President Roosevelt is expected to
arrive in Washington Monday nighi
and army officers are of the opinion
that there will be no sensational de-
yelopments before that time. The Pres
ident has been constantly in commu-
nication with Major General F. G
Ainsworth, the military secretary, and
Brigadier General Bell. chief of staff
of the army. All their plans for pre-
pairing to meet the emergency in Cuba
have been approved at oyster Bay. Al
the Presidents suggestion officers In
all parts of the United States have
been advised to prepare for call te
Cuba Although President Roosevelt
has constantly cautioned the army &c
be prepared, he has been unwilling &c
have the Quartermaster's Department
contract for transports and make ar
rangements for sending troops to Cuba
This unwillingness is regarded as al
indication that President Roosevelt still
hopes to avoid landing troops.
The War Department cannot prepare
commercial ships for transport service
in less than a week. Consequently II
there were urgent demand for troops
orders to rent steamers Tor transports
would doubtless have been issued be.
, fore this.
The army cannot depend on the nav,
for transport service, and a score OF
more of merchant vessels must be char.
tered in case military occupation Of
! the island is decided upon. Norfolk
Charleston, Mobile and New Orleans are
the ports mentioned as the probable
| concentration points. although quar-.
! antine regulations in some OF the
Southern ports are urged as an objec.
ton to their selection.