New-York tribune., 1906-09-23
PATIENCE WITH CUBA.
SECRETARY T4FTS TEXT.
Hope That Intervention May Be
ACOidcd Despite Preparations.
TRom The Tribune Bureau

Prom The Tribune Bureau
Washington. sept 22-"Patience is essential"
Secretary Taft is reported To have said TO an in
quiring newspaper man in Havana to-day. ac-
cording 4 special dispatch received in Wash
ington this afternoon and I'm the absence of ofii-
cial information some of the more conservative
officials i'm the State. War and Navy Building
suggest that the Secretary has furnished the
text which should dominate all opinions the
Cuban situation FOR the present Patience and
faith in Secretary Taft's ability 10 arouse the
common sense Of the cuban people should. they
say. Offset the gloomy views which would uatu-
rally follow the discouraging news of the Sec
retary's mission
But while patience viii be exercised az Wash
ington and oyster Bay. preparedness will con-
tinue 10 be the watchword OF the military de-
partments. not alone for the reason that it is
appreciated that events at any time may compel
military Intervention on the part of the United
States. but for the additional reason that the
military preparations now in progress cannot. II
is believed, fail 10 have a salutary moral In
fuence the Cubans 10 whom they must
demonstrate the gravity Of the situation and the
determination of the administration to put a
stop 70 the .ntolerable conditions I'm Cuba BY
force if diplomatic methods prove futile
THE ICE BROKEN BY sECRETAR,
Some encouragement is also found in a news
paper dispatch which represents Secretary Taft
saying:
AT least we have got the ice broken" And
those who have taken a hopeful view Of the out
come Of the Secretarys mission from The first
believe that to-day viii mark the beginning Of
the end There are. OF course. many officers
who have had experience in cuba VINO adhere
20 the view that the Cubans are absolutely in
capable Of elf-Eovenment and that peace i'm
Cuba can be established and permanently main
tanned only by The strong arm Of this govern
ment but tho view advanced by the older and
more conservative Of those who have had expert
ence and are now I'm a position 20 observe is that
Secretary Taft viii succeed. and. that. while il
may be necessary 10 lend military assistance to
the Cuban administration In its dealing with the
non-couyertibie insurgents some arrangement
viii be devised whereby the necessity Of deal
ing with the Cuban government through an armed
force VIII be avoided.
FUNSTON ON WAY To HAVANA
Brigadier General Funston. accompanied by
his aid, Captain Clonlan. ~ the General STAFF.
started to-day for Tampa with the expectation
~ taking the first steamer FOR IL vaua. where
he viii report 10 Secretary Taft General Fun
ston does not know exactly upon what duty ne
VIII he engaged for the present Everything
depends upon the development Of a situation of
Increasing gravity in Cuba. II there is need
~ the occupation Of the island by American
troops General Funston viii take command, II
81 IS necessary for our troops 20 remain there he
VIII probably stay for time TO see T. the dis
position Of the commands and indicate their en-
ploymont
II is expected, however, that the first duty 70
which Secretary Taft will assign General Funs-
ton win uo that g going into the Interior and
talking with the Insurgents not only the lead
ers some of whom the naval commanders have
seen and the Secretary Of War has met. but the
lesser lights I'm the disturbance. those who are
known 20 entertain grievances and who may he
counted upon 20 possess information al value
ia the effort 10 restore a condition of peace and
ton IS htted for such duty. Being familiar with
the language. acquainted with many Of the
Cubaus. regarded with marked favor hv most
of them. and knowing The country thoroughly
he can bring IN information directly from It's
source and VIII be Of great value 20 the Secre-
tary Of War
General Funston has spent the last two or
three days in Washington reading The cuban
reports file in the Military Information Di-
vision. in looking over the various schemes OF
occupation and employment Of troops which
have in the natural course of the work of fb.
Army War College been prepared and IN t,l,-
ing over the situation with General Bell The
chief of STAFF. who has before him TN. Ifst ~
troops 20 be sent 90 cuba IL il shuU app.ar
necessary 60 supplement The marines for lem
pcrary oI permanent occupation.