The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-10-19
TAFT MAKES REPORT
Secretary Of War Tells President
About His Work as Gov
ernor of Cuba.
NO MORE FIGHTING FEARED

Islands Former Ruler Does Not Think
Ex-lnsurgents Win Renew tiostIlities
After American Troops Are With.
drawn-Marines to BE Replaced by
sOldiers-Warships Ordered Horns.
Washington, Oct. 10. President
Roosevelt had a long conference with
Secretary Taft and Assistant secre-
tary Bacon, who made a full report of
all tha. occurred in Cuba since the
. United States government i11ervened
to restore order on the island.
The condition of affairs and the
views OF the officials as to the future
were taken up with a view to a thor.
ough understanding OF the situation By
the president The financial feature
Of the Intervention also was talked of
and the question of the appointment
Of fiscal agent for the United States
in the island discussed. 1t is expected
that some responsible banking institu-
ton viii be selected for this purpose
Neither the president nor those who
conferred with him were willing to
make more than general statement
regarding the conference.
No More Fighting Expected.
Speaking generally of the results OF
his mission to Cuba and the prospects
for the political future OF that island,
the secretary said that success had
been attained in one important point
at least-namely, the fighting had been
stopped. and he did not believe that il
would be renewed even after the with
drawaI Of the American forces II
had been a. difficult and dangerous sic
uation for a time as the eoIdfnissieN
had had to deal with an undisciplined
force of perhaps 10000 men uneer
arms and scattered about the Island
making it difficult to reach thSnl ii
rectly. 1t was the real purpose Ct
summoning General Funston to Cuba
to assist in this work, for which he
was peculiarly qualified owing TO ass
acquaintance with many of the leaei7g
spirits on bota sides and in which he
was entirely successful.
In answer to the question as to show
long it would take to install the new
government after the elections the sec
retary said he believed three or feu1
weeks would suffice.
Marines to Be Withdrawn.
Relative. to the disposition of the NIL
itary and naval forces in CUBA. 40 said
that it had been decided to wipsl-av
as soon as possible a number cf PA
rines now in the island Thee wse
force there now of about 2,to0 M
rines. and all but about 400 or 200 wee
to be withdrawn most of them eonsias
to the navy yards and stations wh.snce
they had gone. The few retained n
Cuba now in the interior. V oul6 Sc
particularly useful in towns and ports
off the railways As the marines wee
called away they would be replaced by
soldiers, and the number of these.
originally fixed at $500 men. would
probably be increased to about 1000.
The secretary declined to say what
proportion of the expense of this army
would be charged against Cuban reye-
nues but said that question would be
treated in a special order which he
WOulQ SDOil elSStGs III rtutlt
he would make written report to the
president Of the result of his work in
Cuba and indeed had intended to pre-.
pare this on his northward trip. but
was prevented by the bad weather
The splendid battieship Louisiana was
tossed about like a cork ia two violent
storms.
Our Warships Recalled.
There was no longer need for main.
tanning naval force of any amount
in Cuban waters, SO he had recon-
mended to the president, who had ap-
proved the suggestion, that all of the
warships now there be withdrawn with
the exception of two or three of the
small gunboats, which might he needed.
to keep up. communication with the va
rious seaports where marines were
stationed The necessary orders to
this effect were given out at once. The
army transport service, however
would be maintained
Secretary Taft, when asked about
statement attributed to him in an in,
terview in Richmond, said jocularly
that some reporter" asked him If he
was going to be the next president. and
he said mo" The secretary did moi
treat the question and answer in any
othor tbgu q licht vain