Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-30
NO PEACE IN CUBA
WITHOUT A xAR !?
The Administration Dos Not Con.
cea| lis Grave apprehension
RegaPd|v Situation.
PRONOUNCE UNREST IN ISLAND
Politica Parties HopeIessIy Antaao.
nistV Neither, it is Reported, De-
sIpns Peaceful settlemcnt-Moder.
ses Said to be Encouraging Negro
Bands to Commit Deprcdations.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-All con.
cealment has been dropped by the
administration regarding the immi.
nence of trouble in Cuba. Grave ap-
prehension is felt not only by high
officials of the government, but by
prominent members of the Senate and
House of Representatives regarding
the future of the island, and the
statement was made today by very
prominent member of the administra.
tlon that war was probably the only
way out of the difficulty"
This frank statement was made for
the purpose of acquainting the coun-
try with the consequences almost GER
tain to develop within the next few
months, possibly within the next few
weeks, and perhaps within n few
days. Veal fficulty, as it is under
stood here, is that nobody in Cuba
desires n peaceful settlement Eff
forts on the part of the United States
to provide for an election Of Repre-
sentatives in Congress and the estab.
lishment of a stable government are
not being met with real sympathy by
either OF the Cuban political parties.
This is probably more the fault of the
moderate party. which was in power
when President Roosevelt had to in
tervene, than Of the liberal party.
whose members started tho recent
revolution.
Moderates Are the Trouble Maker.t
One view of the situation here is
that the moderate party is only In
favor of the election of moderates to
office, and will not enter into any
scheme which will contemplate the
election OF liberal should he get
the votes. The moderate party is al.
ready, it is said, stirring UP the ne.
gro to disorder, and is apparently
willing to encourage and foment dis
turbances so long as the United
States remains in the island. 1t is
said that things are going from bad
TO worse, that the moderateS are en-.
couraging small bands to Great depre.
datiOns. and owing to the increase of
lawlessness which has been in pro.
gross it has become necessary for
Brigadier General Bell, in command
of the United States troops in the is
land, to send two troops of cavalry
through Santa Clara province. These
troops started three days ago on
what was announced to be practice
march, but 1t is admitted that the
manoeuVre was necessary as a demon
OF uIioh " give iIlOTdl support 10 the
maintenance OF peace and order
Elections are Far Off
No telegraphic advices have been
received by either Secretary Taft or
December "a. But information is very
anxiously awaited at the war Depart.
ment. 1t is felt that the firing of
single shot might prccipitate trou-
bic which would result in disorder
throughout the island and would rem
der necessary the rushing to Cuba of
very large reinforcements to General
Bells command.
The last advices received from Gov
ernor Magon were to the effect that
the commission which had been ap-
pointed for the purpose of framing an
election law was already at work, and
when it drafts the law a proclamation
will be made by Governor Magon.I
putting the law into effect 1t has
been stated that no election will be
possible in Cuba before June, if, in
deed. it can be held then
The General Staff. of course, has
elaborate plans made for the sailing
of large forces of armed troops to
Cuba. 1t is admitted that if this
country should be confronted with a
general revolt in the island the en-
probably be Inadequate to cope with
the situation. The actual strength Of
the United States army is about 65,-
600 men. Counting out the coast ar
tillery there are about 1000 men in
the field artillery, infantry and cav
airy In Cuba today, about $4,000
abroad in the Philippines and else.
where, while the remainder are now
in the United States ready to relieve
the forces in Cuba and the Philip.
pines in the ordinary routine of the
shifting Of commands. 1t is estimat-
ed that if 1t becomes absolutely neces-
sary by the Cuban crisis to throw all
the available forces into Cuba the
strength there could be very quickly
increased to about 10000, but If more
troops were required It would be ne
cessary to enlist men to bring all the
regiments up tc their full quota or
else lring some of our troops from
the PhiliDDines