Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-21
PRESIDENT KEEPS
POSTED ON EVENTS
Direct Communication Between
Havana and Oyster Bay.
POLICY TO BE PURSUED
Every Effort to Be Made to Effect a
Settlement.
TROOPS WILL FOLLOW FAILURE
Question of Transportation Occupying
the Attention of the Quarter
masters Department.
Every Effort to Be Made to Effect a
Settlement.
TROOPS WILL FOLLOW FAILURE

oyster Bay, n. Y, in order that Secretary
Taft may be able to promptly report 10
President Roosevelt the progress OF the ne
gotiations now under way in the CUBAN
capital for a cessation of hostilit1es ana
the complete pacification of the Cuban re-
public. The establishment of this means OF
communication enables the President 10
keep thoroughly informed of all the details
! of the situation and explains why Secretary
Taft and Assistant Secretary Bacon have
not found 1t necessary to make any reports
of the progress of events to the depart
ments in this city. 1t also indicates that
the President himself knows all about the
progress and character Of the peace negoti-
atoms In Havana, and that Secretary TAFT
is having the benefit Of his knowledge and
advice in each important step that he takes
to bring about a satisfactory agreement
between the opposing political forces.
Policy Of the Administration.
1t is assumed that the policy of President
Roosevelt is to secure an immediate cessa-
| ton of hostilities in Cuba, after which eff
forts will be made to arrange settlement
between President Palma and the insur-
gents If such an arrangement cannot be
effected then is the probability of early in
/ PREVENTION by the United States and the
1
military occupation of the island. The
policy is to employ the navy in Cuba tenn
porarily. and if it is found necessary by
the DEVELOPMENTS of the situation in the
island to have permanent force in va
rious parts to quell the disturbance and
preserve peace. the military force aug
mented by marines, Will succeed the oiue-
| Jackets 1t is entirely problematical which
| of the troops would be used for service In
| Cuba, but lrr sumably those In the neigh
! borhooI of rev York s!,d those along
| the Atlantic coast would be sent to CUBA
| first The troops are in fine condition ana
are equipped for duty in the field, where
! they have been since the last OF july at
the various camps Of instruction
| Preparation Is the watchword Of the gen
ora, staff Of the army regarding Cuba. Not
only have complete plans been prepared
hut every department is making arrange
/ ments to meet tho emergency Of intcrvan-
ton II it shculd arise.
| DEN. Crozier, chief of ordnance. 70 now
at the Rock Island arsenal In Illinois, and
few days ago ne VISITED tne r s1aS 1"n.
| siderable activity has been dlsp'ayeo ~
| getting ammunition for small arms anu
| light field guns ready for possible military
| onerations The ordnance bureau has on
| hand a supply to equip small army put
not enough for a large army. and Il IS sup
\ nosed that Gen. CroZierS Visit IS Win a
view to supplying the deficiency
Question Of Transportation.
Inst how the United States could at the
| present time transport an army OF occupa-
| ton to Cuba, should the necessity arise, 1s
a problem with which the officials OF the
| ouartermaster's department are wrestling.
| At present the only army transport avail
| able on the Atlantic coast is the Sumner,
mo min %
pairs Two transports are now on their way
| from the Philippines to New York, but will
| not arrive there for about four weeks. They
| are the ingalls, and Meade. The Fitzpatrick
| will sail from Manila about October l and
! Mcclellan soon after. All four of these
! ships are likely to be kept close at home
| until all danger Of necessity for Intervention
| in Cuba Is over. The Sumner can carry
| 16S men and sixtytwo officers. The capac-
| ity Of the Fitzpatrick Is 3S4 men and sixty
| eight officers. The Meade carries ,118 men
and lightweight officers, and the ingalls,.
which was used as dispatch boat In the
Philippines. carries only 1872 men and thirty
one officers.
| 1t is admitted that should 1t be necessary
to send the army on very short notice mer-
| chant ships would have to be chartered for
| the purpose. Many such are available at
| New York and elsewhere.
Funston to Leave Tomorrow.
In order that there might be no msunder-
standing in the matter. Gen. Bell, chief of
staff yesterday sent cable message to
Secretary Taft at Havana notifying him
of the arrival in Washington Of Gen. Funs-
| ton, and asking his wishes with regard to
the further movements of that officer. This
morning Gen. Bell received reply from
Secretary Taft saying that he desired to
have Gen. Funston report to him at Havana
at his earliest convenience. Gen. Funston
and Lieut.. Mitchell. his aid. will accordingly
leave here tomorrow for Havana. where
they are due to arrive next Tuesday MORN
ing. Gen. Funston was at the War Depart
ment for several hours today and had a
Eong conference with Gen. Bell and other
officers of the army I'm regard to the military
possibilities in Cuba In the event of the fall
ure Of the pending peace negotiations Gen.
Funston has been given an office at the War
Department for his use while In this city.
Protection Wanted in Cuba.
The Navy Department has received ear
nest requests from persons having planta-
tons in Cuba asking that forces be sent
for the protection of different estates. The
department. with the force under COM
mand In unable to comply with this re-
! quest The information Of the Navy De-
| partment from CienfuegOs is that Com
| mander Fulam of the Marietta has landed
| all the available force and utilized 1t to the
best advantage for protecting the threat
ened interests in the vicinity of Cienfuegos.
| A rather amusing incident Is told in con-
| nection with the Dixie and her commander.
| Capt. Switzerland. The Dixie first went
| to Guantanamo to exchange marines with
the Columbia. and while at Guantanamo
| was ordered to Cienfuegos. The Dixie was
the flagship of Capt Switzerland and he
| did not go with her, but remained in COM
mand of the ships in Dominican waters,
transferring his flag to the Scorpion. ex-
pecting the Dixie to return very soon from
| DiX16