Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-05
Curtis Cuban Chat.

Now that Secretary Taft is on his
way to Cuba to look over the situation
and make the decision which will
probably mean whether or not the is
land will be given another opportunity
at self government. it is Of special in
terest to look over the letters which
the famous correspondent, William J.
Curtis. is now sending the Chicago
he visited the Cuban capital in 1896. he
found 10000 soldiers in and around the
big fortresses at the mouth of the har-
Dor. Now there are barely 500. The
Cabara is practically given over to the
lizards and the tourists. The small gar
rison of artillerymen in the Moro has
nothing to do but keep the place in
order. entertain visitors and fire sa-
lutes.' To find the largest single body
Of American troops now on the island.
you have to go out to Camp Columbia.
This camp was established by General
III 4oSO, SlAu tiC "oVuCIi beik .
racks then put up are again in use.
The site is fine--a hill or bluff over
looking the sea-but there has been
trouble about getting enough fresh wa
ter. A force pump just put in is ex-
pected to remedy that. All the troops
sent to Cuba last fall passed through
fourteen principal stations and TWEEN
ty-four subsidiary posts where they are
now.
President Palma used to spend
his summers there, occupying the bum
galow built by General Fitzhugh Lee.
General Barry. commanding in chief,
has his headquarters in roomy old
mansiGn-formerly the summer resi-
dence OF the captain-general-in the
nearby village of Marinao, which is to
Havana what the North Shore is to
Boston. The health of our soldiers in
Cuba has been remarkably good. Ac-
cidents included. the sick rate in Feb
ruary was 81 per cent. Very few
deaths have occurred. Curtis writes:
The officers and their families have
been q valuable addition 10 the social
life of Cuba and the soldiers are al
most universally popular with the peo-
pie The army is scattered pretty well
over the island. There are several posts
in oocl, M tho uraUippaS with ono two
or three companies at each, and the
best test of their popularity is the pro-
tests that are always made by the citi-
Gems when they are ordered away. The
citizens object to changes. also. Like
all the Latin races the Cubans are sus-
picious and distrustful of strangers. 1t
takes some time to get their confidence,
but when they become convinced that
you are sincere and sympathetic, they
are as trustful as child.
The old city wall has nearly disap-
peared; only a few small towers are
left. Colonel Black. temporary minis
ter of public works. wants TO restore
the three castles that were once the
pride of Havana Major Slocum, COM
manding the rural guards. is quartered
in La Fuerza-the oldest Of the three.
Curtis hears that Sir sWiliam Van
Horne has offered s5Oo.Oo for the old
Quartet tjaiD, wishing to tear il down
and erect a modern hotel on the site.
Governor Magoon has been buying se"-
erll things at a bargain for the Gu
ban government-dock property, the
university prep. rty. the old Franciscan
church and monastery now used as the
Havana custom house. etc. Curtis notes
several new monuments in Havana
among them a beautiful one over the
grave of Geaeral Garcia and marble
statue of Jose Marti, Charles A. Dana's