Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-02
TROOPS ON THEIR WAY
Second Expedition to Cuba
Probably Not Necessary.
FORCE WILL NUMBER $4,000
Little Opposition Expected From In
surgent Bands.
PLANS OF SECRETARY TAFT
General Elections Will Soon Be Held
for the Re-Establishment Of the
Government.
FORCE WILL NUMBER $4,000
PLANS OF SECRETARY TAI.

There now seems little likelihood Of a
second expedition being sent to Cuba. The
good grace with which both factions in
Cuba seem to accept the situation and
American Intervention has made unneces-
sary, SO officials here believe, the sending
of large army Of occupation to the island.
There is no one there to fight, and the only
necessity for troops is to support the pro-
visional government and suppress any out
law bands which may resort to guerrilla
warfare. So far there is evidence that the
commission appointed to receive the arms
of the insurgents will meet with little OPP
position, but as the arms of many of the
rebels are their personal property there
may be disposition on the part of some of
them to refuse to give them up, and in the
case of some Of the negro insurgents there
is some danger that they may break up into
lawless bands and commit depredations
upon the large sugar estates. This is espe-
cially true of. the insurgents about Glen
fuegos, who are reported to be short Of sup
plies. Many of these insurgents are with
out responsibility, and when the restraining
influence of their commanders is released
and they find that they have gained nothing
personally as result of the revolution, 1t
is feared that some of them may take to
the bush and cause some trouble.
With the arrival of the first expedition the
United States will have force of upwards
of 1900 men on the island, and upon the
Warships off Havana and Cienfuegos har-
bors. The marines and bluejackets will be
used to police the cities and towns, protect
property and preserve order wherever 1t
may be necessary, while the troops will be
held in reserve to send into the country dis
tricts to suppress uprising which might
occur.
Secretary Taft's Program.
It is the purpose Of Secretary Taft to is
sue the call for the general elections as
soon as the country is in a settled condi-
ton, and the men who are now under arms
return to their homes and resume their
peaceful vocations. Inasmuch as Secretary
Taft intends to maintain the existing ma
chinery Of government in so far as 1t is prac-
ticable and possible, the date of the cleo
tons will depend upon the promptness with
which affairs assume normal conditions.
1t is not improbable that the elections will
be under military supervision in order to
insure absolute fairness and honesty, and
obviate any charges OF fraud such as
brought on the revolution just ended. To
this end 1t may be necessary to send a few
additional troops to the island at the time
keep the troops on the island for q suf-
fcient length Of time to make certain that
whichever faction comes into power will
be able to maintain itself and prove salts
factory to the majority Of the people
Second Expedition.
SnOulQ lnere De q disturbance, however,
which would call for the sending Of q Sec
ond expedition Immediately. it proba.-y
will become necessary to- send 1t from
some northern part because Of the strin-
gent quarantine laws in the southern
states. The War Department several days
ago addressed letters to the governors of
all the southern states which have ports
from which an expedition might San. ask
ing If their quarantine laws could not be
suspended. in the event that 1t became
necessary to hurry troops to Cuba. but
thus far no replies have been received.
Should the sending Of q second expedition
be delayed month, then 1t woull be DOS
sible to have the troops embark from a
southern port, and they would 60 from
Newport News, which the War Department
believes is the most available point.
Sailing Of the Sumner.
Acting Secretary oliver of the War De-
partment last night advised Secretary Taft
by cable that the first DEF -chment OF
troops in response to his call would sail
from New York on the Sumner tomorrow.
It is now thought probable that the Sum-