The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-20
GEN. FUNSTON
WILL COMMAND
Young Officers Slated
for Cuba.
ARMY IS in READINESS
Secretary Taft and Mr.. Bacon
Reach the Capital.
Americans are Cordially Received by
President Palma and by Alfred
zayas, Representing the
insurgent Army.

Washington. Sept. 19.-Young off,
GERS for command in Cuba in case the
army Is sent there is the plan practi-
cally agreed upon by the War Depart
ment.
General Funston probably will be in
command and his chief lieutenants are
likely to be Brig. Gen. Thomas III.
Barry and William p. Duvall who have
recently completed an inspection of the
German maneuvres in Europe.
Notwithstanding the presence of Sec
rotary Taft and Assistant Secretary
Bacon in the Cuban capital, emergency
preparations are going forward No
communications of any nature from
Cuba were received during the day by
Acting Secretary of state Adee.
1t is said to be unlikely that either
Secretary Taft or MI. Bacon will COM
municate with the Department on mat
ters relating to their mission. What
ever they may have to communicate
will be sent direct to President Roose-
welt.
Neither is information in diplomatic
relations from representatives of this
Government in Cuba concerning the ne
gotiations expected at the Department
because those representatives are ac-
credited to the Palma Government and
officially have nothing to do with the
special commission.
OF course any complaints of the de-
struction or importing of American
interests will go through the usual
diplomatic channels.
Dies Mofnes, I'm Hanbor.
The American cruiser Des Moines
with Secretary of War Taft and AS
sistant Secretary OF state Bacon on
board entered Havana harbor at 7
o'clock this morning. The cruiser came
from Florida at the moderate speed of
eleven knots In order not arrive here
before daylight. All on board are we'll
The secretaries had breakfast early and
at half past the captain of the port
conveyed Senior O'Farrill. the Cuban
Secretary of State, Mr.. Sleeper, the
American Charge. and the representa-
tive of the Associated Press on board.
AT the same hour Commander Colwell
came over from the cruiser Denver +
!Messrs. Taft and Bacon had a long
INFORMAL and private conference with
benor QFarrill. Afterwards they talk
ed with Commander Colwell and OH
ers. Secretary Taft said he had ar
ranged tentatively to hold hearings at
the home of American Minister Nor
gan In Mariana, but that no definite
arrangements would be made until the
formalities of today were over
Just before 10 o'clock the entire par
" landed and proceeded TO the palace.
where Minister Morgan presented
Messrs. Taft and Bacon to President
FlimQ.
fairly large crowd had assembled
at the Cabellera wharf to witness the
landing, but there was no demonstra-
tion OF any sort as the launch carry
Ing the guests whose visit is consid-
cred so momentous to Cubas future,
swept around the cruiser Denver
which is still moored in front of this
wharf. The Denver's sailors were
drawn up and presented arms and the
cruiser fired salute as the secretary
OF war stepped ashore.
Taft Formally welcomed.
The secretary at once faced a scene
OF clicking cameras. Then the mayor
and the councilmen of Havana, clad in
black frock coats, advanced and deliv-
cred formal welcome to which Sec
rotary Taft responded briefly The
party thereupon entered automobiles
and were driven to the palace. Here
they were conducted up stairs into the
main saloon.
Those present at the meeting, with
President Palma were Secretaries Taft
and Bacon, Minister Morgan and Can
tain Frank R. Mccoy, military aide
to President Roosevelt. The exchange
of greetings were very cordial For
maiities soon gave place to intimate
conversation and the situation was dis
cussed in a very general way De-
tails were not taken I'D. President
appreciative of President Roosevelt's |
attitude; that no policy had been for
mulated with regard to the future, and |
that President Roosevelt's representa-
tives were approaching their task free
to act wholly in accordance with de-
velopments.
Secretary Taft showed President |
Palma list of names, of Alfredo Zay- |
as, and five other members of the lib |
eral committee which he said had been
handed him by Commander Colwell |
and which he understood to be the |
names of those who will be consider |
ed the official representatives of the |
revolutionists. No objection was made |
TO these men acting in that capacity.
Zayas Presents Himself.
On leaving the palace the party pro-
ceeded to the Denver. which lies moor
ed at the foot of a nearby street On
boarding the American cruiser, AL
fredo Zayas, and other members of the
liberal committee, who had been await
ing Messrs. Taft and Bacon, presented
themselves. A brief and pleasant con.
versation ensued, but there was nota-
ing beyond exchanges of courtesies
Senior Zayas and Secretary Taft sug-
gested each to the other that they !
have a quiet talk together, and Senior
Zayas offered to see tho secretary at
Mariana or anywhere else.
1t was finally agreed, however that
secretary IdIE SnOulu go TO senior
Zaya's' house at O'clock this after
noon and talk matters over, In the
meanwhile the secretary and his par
ty will remain on board the Denver
to receive the return call of President
Palma or his representative
As the members of the liberal COM
mittee were passing the palace on
their return from Denver, they met
Vice President Mendez Capote and
Secretary of State O'Farrills. Both
liberals and the government officials
stopped and shook hands in a friendly
manner.
During the conversation of the
American secretaries with President
Palma at the palace this morning,
Nessrs. Taft and Bacon subscribed to
the sentiments set forth In President
Roosevelt letter and expressed the
hope that their visit would contribute
10 peace.
No Steps Toward Compromise.
0-I-