The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-10-03
MARINES SENT FORWARD.
To Occupy PInar Del RiO-Palma Leaves
 Havana.

Havana.
 Havana, Oct. 2.-The attitude of the authorities of the United States in Cuba regarding the possibilities of the present situation seemed fairly express this afternoon Wehn Colonel Waller, commanding the marines, remarked to the Associated Press that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure. The remark was called forth by prep arations that were going on at Camp Columbia to transport 450 marines from the encampment westward tonight for the purpose of having them in adja- cent towns when the first installment of General Guerra's disbanded men reach these places tomorrow. While no disorder is anticipated when the for mer revolutionists reach their homes, the provisional government and the mill itary authorities consider the actual military occupation of the Pinar del Rio region quite as essential as the occupation of other portions of the island, and deemed it best to have an American force there to insure the pre- servation of tranquility The battalion of marines which will be the first to occupy Pinar del Rio, was therefore sent forward tonight by special train. The orders came from Governor Taft at o'clock, and half an hour later the battalion had boarded a train at Buena Vista, station near Camp Co., lumbia. The cars were switched from the Marianao to the westward railroad and thence departed for the west. One thousand of Guerra's followers will go to Pinar del Rio in special trains, while 1,S00 others will start to march to their homes, taking with them their horses and extra mounts It Is the pur- pose eventually to restore all horses to their rightful owners. It is believed to- night that all the revolutionists in the vicinity of Havana will have been peacefully dispersed in three days. Gen. erals Guerra and Del Castillo are &C., lively cooperating to this end. To- gether with Guzman, the commander in-chief of the rebels of Santa Clara province, they called at the American legation to-day and renewed their promises of assistance, They also thanked Governor Taft for his cour- tesies, and discussed the projected am nesty proclamation. Governor Taft told his visitors that he would take up this subject later, not having time now i to give it the necessary attention, and said that when the matter did come up l he would investigate personally all cases which might require his attention in order that justice be done. The fact that General Guzman is acting in sin- cere cooperation is believed to pre- clude no trouble of any consequence in 1 the work of dlsarming the rebels in Santa Clara province, and no fears of disorders in other sections are enter | tained
 l While the departure to-day from Ha- vana of ex-President Palma was the most important event of the last twen- ty-four hours, the former president left the capital so quietly that the public did not realize he had gone until the news was given In the afternoon pa- pers Only his cabinet ministers and a few intimate friends accompanied the eX-president and his family to the rail- road station. Some of these friends went with the family to Matanzas, and did not return to Havana until they had seen the Palma family safe in the home of other friends in that city. On the way from Havana to Matanzas Senor Palma's special train stopped at two stations where the government vol unteer forces were preparing to disarm and disband, When Colonel Rego, in command of the battalion at Campo F1orido, boarded the private car and in- formed Senor Palma what he was do- ing, the ex-president expressed his qualification and said that disarment was in accordance with patriotic duty.