The San Francisco call., 1906-09-16
CUBA To WELCOME
INTERVIEW
Continued From Page 20, Column 3.

tary Taft went atfonce to the War De-
partment, where all the bureau chieIs
of his office discussed matters requiring
attention before his departure for CUBA
Assistant Secretary Bacon will prob
ably arrive tomorrow morning.
Secretary Taft is not certain that ne
will be able to get away tomorrow az
ternoon. as he had intended He said
tonight that he was engaged in the
preparation of a magazine article which
had to be completed before he left
Washington. and that it might take all
tomorrow TO get it ready.
According to the present arrange
ments. the official party will proceed to
Cuba aboard the cruiser Des Moines
which will meet them either at Tampa
or Key West
Secretary Taft said that he had re-
ceived no further advices from the
President regarding Cuba.
PREPARE TO MOVE TROOPS.
For more than an hour Secretary
Taft was surrounded by the chiefs of
bureaus who would have to do with
active preparations for the movements
of troops in the event the aGministra-
ton decided to intervene in the Cuban
conflict These chiefs were General
Ainsworth, the military secretary;
General Bell, chief az staff; General
Crozier, chief of ordinance, and General
Davis. judge advocate general. None
of these officers would admit that he
had discussed the question of moving
troops or preparations for hostilities.
but 1t was pointed out that the gath
ering offered an excellent opportunity
for an exchange of ideas between those
who would shape the policy of the de-
partment in the event of intervention,
should that extreme move be de-
termined upon. Admiral Converse. the
acting secretary of the navy, did not
meet with Secretary Taft tonight, al
though early in the evening 1t was
announced that he probably would be
at the department. Neither was any
member of the military intelligence
bureau called into the conference by
Secretary Taft.
At midnight after the Secretary had
concluded his conferences with the
bureau chiefs, he announced that he
expected to be able to leave tomorrow
at 3:45 o'clock according to his orig
inal plans. He said also that If he
caught this train he would go only as
far as Tampa, where he would embark
on the Des Moines for Havana
WILL ACCOMPANY TAFT.
Secretary Taft will be accompanied
to Cuba by Captain Frank r. mccoy,
one of the Presidents military aides,
who speaks Spanish f1uently.
Frank G. lockwood also will go with
the Secretary as his private stenogra-
pher. The party intends to leave
Washington at 3:45 tomorrow afternoon
for Tampa. They should reach Havana
"Wednesday morning. the 26th. 1t is
believed Secretaries Taft and Bacon can
complete their investigation in a week
after their arrival in Havana. Mean
while, the officials feel certain there will
be suspension of hostilities No orders
have SO far been dispa atched for the Ma
riettas men to return to the ship from
Cienfdegos, and as soon as they are
engaged in protecting American prop
erty solely, and their status thereby
differs materially from the force origi-
nally landed in Havana from the Dem
yer, 1t is believed that they will be al
lowed to remain on shore for the pres
ent.
The cruiser Cleveland sailed from
Norfolk today for Havana, but will stop
at Key West for further Instructions
The Tacoma will leave Norfolk to-
morrow.
DAMAGE Is EXAGGERATED.
A cablegram was received from Glen
fuegos today announcing the arrival
of the Marietta at that place yesterday.
Later in the day dispatch from Com
mander Fulham of the Marietta stated
that a force had been landed from that
ship at Cienfuegos to protect sugar
plantations which were threatened
A telegram also was received today
from Mr. Atkins of the Constancia es-
tate near Cienfuegos announcing that
insurgents raided Solidas yesterday.
taking horses. He, says his information
does not confirm press dispatches as to
the destruction of sugar plantations.
From dispatches received today from
Mr.. Sleeper, charge of the American
legation at Havana. appears that
the extent of the damage to American
property near Cienfuegos had been ex-
aggerated. The report that the Huatey
estate had been destroyed is contra
dicted. And thus far, he says, he has
not been able 70 confirm the report that