Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-05
less interest than tho preceding ono
to recruit the Rural Guard to $4,000

less interest than The preceding ono
to recruit the Rural Guard to 10000
men. NJ
The latter plan was vigorously on
posed even by tho Liberals, who, 1t h
was supposed, would have jumped mt
the opportunity opened by such a
lavish distribution of patronage, and
while tho standing army scheme eve
IDENTIFY has been framed to meet their
objections the apparent lmpossibilityl
OF Its accomplishment has caused IL
to be received with something similar
to derision.
Governor Magoon, who has not yet
Teen advised of any intention of the
War Department to adopt the pro-
gram of the General Staff, docs not
believe It possible to recruit in tho
Island of Cuba $4,000 soldiers who
VIII come ZIP to the standard OF the;
United States army This view Ia
fully shared by Cubans experienced
in military affairs. who point out that
the United States today has such DIFF
ficulty in obtaining satisfactory re-
cruits for It's relatively small estais
lishment OF 10000 men that 1t cannoi
keep tho ranks Of the army OF paclfts5
cation even reasonably full. How
then, say they, can Cuba be expected
to raise u force OF $4,000 men which,
In proportion to population. would ba9
equivalent to more than half millions
soldiers in the United States ? Where,
II is asked. are to BIO found the off,.
GERS to command this force? While it
, Is true that Cuba Is richer in colonels
, than Kentucky and rivals Hayti In the
matter OF generals. few of these war.
rIors have any knowledge OF military
tactics other than those OF the BUSH
To insure a supply OF trained officers
military academy, a Cuban West
Point. they say. Is Indispensable. This
is In line with recent PROPOSAL
strongly urged on Governor Magopns
by General EsteneZ, a prominent Liz
| eral. that at least two scholarships bes
established to form the nucleus Or
a. Cuban Annapolis In which to rear
tho Farraguts. Nelson's and Togos OF
future Cuban fleets.
still more serious objections to the
scheme are that 1t at once i,npcsass
on hte republic the burden of a hiigae
military establishment, which VII, abb
sorb at least onethlrd OF the reye.
nues, and diminution of the already
/ thin ranks of labor by just so many
, men rs are called upon to bear arms.
Apart from these military and
economic objections. there is tie
question OF what necessity exists for
the creation of standing army.
What, 1t is asked is this army to do
assuming that 1t be possible to raise
1t? II the force is designed Tor I'M
snrance against foreign aggressfon.
what becomes of the obligation ali
the United States to preserve invsio4;
lato the soil Of Cuba? II, on the otfers
hand, the army is designed to niaIii.s
tain whatever government may be ifss
power when the American troops
evacuate the island, Cubans predict
that 1t will be IN effect a pretorians
guard, capable of use as terribie
engine of oppression in the hands Sofs
Ia desDotic President, and ever reatig3
to drive one tyrant from power ands
elevate another, as the interests Sof
the military caste may dictate. X
That the plan does not excite crave
apprehensions among Cubans OF any
faction is due to the Impression that
1t Is merely q. tentative proposal, and
that the manifest obstacles in the wa ~
OF It's accomplishment render 1t eusi
tirely unlikely to receive serious cot,s
sideratlon from the American goyf
ernment Probably a moderate In
crease OF the rural guard. now about
fifteen hundred men below its author
lied strength of five thousand, woiisS
Z be regarded by most Cubans as VISA 8
isfactory establishment for the arrnecs
J forces of the republic. New York.
r. = . r.