Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-18
(From a stan correspondent.)

WASHINGTON Sept 17.--(Special Tele-
gram )-All day yesterday and far into the
night the staff OF the quartermaster gen.
eral Of the army was engaged in preparing
for eventualities in Cuba. While there is
no fear that armed Intervention will be
necessary the outbreak of hostilties against
Spain found our army so unprepared for
attack that it is not proposed to find us
lacking again so far as the transportation
of troops is concerned.
From a close canvass of the situation II
can be said the quartermaster generals
department is ready to land brigade in
Cuba In three days, and In ten days II could
have 5000 men on the island fully equipped
for strenuous service in the field.
Officers on leave who see In the Cuban
situation a chance for real soldering are
reporting for duty; naval commanders are
! anxious to have their shore leave curtailed
While the Cuban situation may turn out
to be only flash in the pam" there is no
denying the fact that every department OF
the Army and navy is at work with view
OF being prepared should II be necessary
for the government OF the United States
to interfere by force Of arms to put down
the rebellion -.
| Commander Colweli OF the Denver at ffu-
vana telegraphed the Navy department to-
day that all was quiet In Havana. Hostil-
! tiles formally ceased yesterday and definite
| settlement, of the troubles seemed possible
| today The reassuring dispatch, together
/ with the visit of Secretary Taft and Act
ing Secretary Bacon, indicates that the
movement toward peace I'm Cuba is well
under way. At the same time no changes
| have been made in the naval program.
The Louisiana. Virginia and New Jersey
are now on their way to Havana. The
Newark sailed from Norfolk this afternoon
and the Minneapolis will sail from League
island tomorrow. With the force already
at Havana and that which will be there
| In few days the Navy department feels
assured that II will be amply able to pre-
vent any trouble In Havana and II appears
that the movement OF such force toward
the Cuban capital was due to the fact
that there was grave danger to the capital
of Cuba.
| The Navy department has been Informed
| that the Des Moines passed Tortugas this
morning and will arrive in Tampa bay at
midnight. The train bearing Secretary
Taft and party was reported three hours
late this afternoon, so that the Des Moines
will be ahead of time and ready TO take
them aboard when they arrive.
Dixie Due st Cienfuegos To-day.
The Dixie. which left Havana last night
is expected to arrive at Cienfuegos tomor-
] row afternoon, the distance being $40 miles
A report has been received from Clenfuegos
saying that gross outrages have been COM
mitted in that vicinity and q plantation
next to the Constancia plantation has been
burned and the Constancia threatened. A
demand was made upon the Constancia
plantation for 1900 rounds of ammunition
and the insurgents threatened the place II
their demands were not compiled with.
Every confidence is felt at the Navy de-
partment in the forces which has been sent
TO Cuba to meet any situation which
arises.
While there is a pacific feeling, pre-
parations are going forward by the War
department to meet anything that may
arise, II 1t should be necessary for a strong
force TO intervene.
II Is stated that troops and transports will
soon be available and only await orders
In case the mission OF Secretary Taft fails
and hosttlities are renewed and are be-
yond the control OF the Cuban government.
Adviees received today and over night
at the State department simply tended TO
confirm the press dispatches from Havana
that arrangements were making for
suspension OF hostilties until the subject
of difference could be considered with
Secretary Taft and Assistant Secretary
Bacon
VIII Protect British Interesfs.
In answer to inquiry the State do
partment has responded that in affordinE
protection TO American interests In Cuba
during the revolution, the United States
will also give protection as far as possible
to British interests and property.
General Frederick Funston Is enrouta
from Spring Lake, Wash. to this city and
is expected TO arrive here on the 18th.
Instructions were issued by Secretary Taft
for General Funston to report here at the
earlist moment and telegraphic orders were
az once sent to him.
II Is supposed that General Funston was
10 accompany Secretary Taft and Assistant
Secretary OF State Bacon 10 cubs, but
the orders issued do not contemplate such
an arrangement. AS explained at the War
department General Funston win report at
the department and await instructions from
Secretary Taft. II the secretary should
deem General Funston's presence in Cuba
desirable in the negotiations that are 10
be conducted with the Palma government
and tha Cuhau frnl1reatfnu ha. xxsll asna ~