Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-03
FUNSTON TO TAKE COMMAND
Governor Taft Requests that He Be Given
Charge of First Expedition.
OCCUPATION WILL NOT Be PERMANENT
Says Annexation Has Not
Been Considered and Cubans Are
TO Have Another Chance at
SeIf-Government.

OGI. -.-SetfeldIg ldil
cabled to the War department today re-
questng that Brigadier General Frederick
Funston be designated to command the
American troops in Cuba and the military
secretary Immediately issued an order to
that effect. Formal orders were also issued
to Brlgadier General T. j. wint. COM
mander Of the Department of Missouri,
who reached here late today. and who
is to be in charge of the embarkation of
the expedition from Newport News The
orders show that the first expedition to
Cuba is to be known as the First Expedi-
tionary brigade. II is much larger than
an ordinary brigade. but the War depart
ment has decided to consider II as such.
General Thomas H. Barry. assistant chief
of staff. arrived here this evening from
New York. He has just returned from
Europe where he went to witness the ma
neuvers of the German army.
Secretary Root has been interesting HIM
self in the Cuban situation since his return
to duty in the State department and in
doing so has been going over the diplo-
matte correspondence that took place be-
tween Washington and Havana before Sec
| retary Taft was sent to Cuba by the presi-
dent. No information has been received
| in Washington which indicates the length
of time that the United States will occupy
the island Of Cuba and none of the officials
will venture prediction on this subject,
but the presumption Is that it will be some
time before a stable government can again
be placed in power and It is expected that
! meantime a civil government will be ap-
pointed to administer the affairs OF the
island under the direction Of the secretary
of war
Annexation Not Contemplated.
President Roosevelt discussed freely to-
day with his cabinet and with individual
callers, among whom were Senators Knox
and Foraker, the present situation in Cuba
and its temporary occupation by the Amers-
can forces. The matter was talked over at
the cabinet. but no definite announcement
Of the result of the deliberations was given
out The president related to the cabinet
and to the other callers with whom he
| talked that the action taken by the Ameri-
can government was destined solely for the
benefit of the people of the island with a
view to the complete restoration of order
there and the protection of all interests
He declared, that he had no such motive
in view as the possible annexation of the
government OF the island by the United
States. What he wanted now was that the
Cubans should be given another chance al
self government
Unless extraordinary conditions arise ne
extra session of congress will be called &c
deal with the Cuban situation, as the prcsi
dent considers he has ample authority tt
proceed in the matter.
The president has given some considera.
ton to the possibility OF the necessity OF
a postponement of his trip to Panama next
month because of the conditions ia Cuba
He does not think at this time. however
that there Is any likelihood of condition
arising which will prevent his going I,
Panama to make the tour Of inspector
which he announced some time ago Should
any decided evidence of unrest In Cubs
make themselves apparent as a result o
the American occupation and the disarma
ment OF the revolutionists requiring hi
presence in Washington, the president ha,
expressed the intention OF abandoning tn,
trip to Panama set for this fall. in which
case it will be made after the adjournmen
of congress next spring.
Eleven Transports Chartered.
Quartermaster General Humphrey ha
concluded the charters of eleven vessel
which will be used for the transportation
of animals from this country for the frs
expedltionary brigade. Their cargoes will
consist OF horses and mules and the, neces
sary vehicles. One of them. the Andes
will sail from Tampa with the horses an,
mules and the light artillery of the -Four
teenth artillery and two pack trains Tn
other ten transports win sail from Newpor
News, Captain Butt Informed Quartermas
ter General Humphrey by cable that b
had secured quartermasters offices in tn
! Machina building; that he needed tw
steam harbor lighters and two launches
! These, he said. will be all the boats neces
sary, as Havana harbor is we'll supplie
r with lighters. He asked that large guam
tity of lumber be sent for use at Cam
Columbia. His request in part had bee
anticipated. as a vessel is now en- rout
to Havana with 100000 feet OF lumber I
1 be used for camp purposes
e Brigadier General George F. Elliott. com
4 ma ndant of the marine corps, has ordere
e that thirty-six water sterilizers and tele
phone field apparatus be sent to the ma
y rines in Cuba on the next transport sailin
: for Havana. The order was issued at tn
n suggestion of marine officers In Cuba.
First Soldiers for Cuba.
n NEW YORK, oct 2-Amid the cheer
I. and farewells Of wives. sweethearts an
:, friends, 800 men. composing the first POI
y tion OF the Cuban expeditionary force
lSldnf
e sailed from the New York navy yard a fe,
n minutes before noon today on board tn
United States transport Sumner. Their
was a big gathering OF the friends and rela
tives OF the troops on the dock to witnes
their departure.
. AS the troop ship passed down the ba
amid the salutes of the harbor craft II wa
accompanied by a tug carrying Geners
Grant. commander OF the Department OF III
: East; Mrs. Grant, Admiral Schley ana Mr.
{ Schey General Weaver and Major She
!, man. The tug escorted the big ship 10 n
!. sea TO see 1t safely clear of the channels
Tn troops on board IN Sumner compril
three battalions of the Fifth Infantry froi
! the Plattsburg barracks. with twenty-e!gl
!, officers and 5l7 men, commanded by Colon
; c. ID. cOwies: the battalions of engineer
from Washington. comprising twelve on
~ GERS and Sll men. commanded by Major \
NJ. Patrick. and a detachment from n
hospital corps. numbering two ofncers an
: twenty-five men,
Cruiser Brooklyn Sails.
4 PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 2.-with mo-
than 100 marines on board and loaded viii
ammunition. stores. medical supplies an
30 tons of coal the armored CT uis,
al Brooklyn sailed at noon today from a
- League Island navy yard for Cuba. III