The Washington herald., 1909-03-18
CUBA LACKS POWER
Ultimate Success of Self-gOv-
ernment Doubted.
GOMEZ CONTROL NOW STRONG
The Administration Here, However,
Fears that II VIII BE Obliged FL
Prompt Action by Cuban Govern
ment Relieved sufficient for Crisis.

Neither Mr. Morgan. the American
Minister in Havana. nor Gen. Barry. com
manding what is left OF the Army OF
Cuban Pacifcation. has made report to
Washington concerning the threatened
upr,sing in Santa Clara Province.
Officials here fnd encoura cement I'm the
report that the ruraIes handling the stu
alton have killed one Of the rebel lead
ers, a man named La Vistada. formerly
a captain of the rural guard. This kill
ing indicates that President Gomez has
decided TO handle the matter with a firm
hand, which every one here agrees is just
what is needed il Gomez wishes his gov
ernment to last
1t is believed here that President Gomez
will handle the present situation salts
factorily, and that the present trouble
win soon be over. For the ultimate sue
cess Of this second experiment, however.
there are not such rosy hopes The ad-
ministration here fears that il win be
necessary again TO intervene in Cuba
within few months.
American Troops Few.
There are no American soldiers in the
province Of Santa Clara. where the pres
ent trouble is occurring. The only troops
in the island are two battalions Of the
Twenty seventh Infantry. two companies
OF engineers, and detachments OF the
signal and medical corps. All these troops
are stationed at Camp Columbia. a few
miles outside OF Havana II necessary.
they could be put into Santa Clara Prov
ince in about twelve hours. The troops
now in Camp Columbia are scheduled 10
come home on April /. The other sol
diers comprising the Army Of Cuban Pa
cifcatiOn are all back in the United
States. They began 10 leave January !.
and have been gradually withdrawn ever
since.
When the provisional government was
withdrawn on January 2S the outlook
for the rural guard was bad indeed. In
der the supervision Of Mai Il J. SIocum.
L. ). A. who organized the body during
the first intervention. the rural guard
became a very efficient organization. In
1906. when Palma was overthrown. the
force was loyal to the government. As
the provisional government neared rs
erd. II was plain TO all that the guarF
was soon 70 be ruined by the introduction
Of politics. Heretofore. the force had
been free to a great extent Of political
influences, and the officers served the
government alone.
The first step was 70 oust Mai. Gen.
Alexandra Rodriguez a veteran OF va
riOus Cuban wars. and considered by the
American supervisors to be a fine officer.
His place was taken by Gen Montea-
guedO. a liberal leader Before the pro-
visional government was withdrawn. a
decree was signed permitting the execu-
tive 10 remove members Of the guard for
cause. Since the withdrawal Of the Amer
lean government President Gomez has
dismissed great many officers, and
there has been great dissatisfaction.
Regular Army Started.
In the meantime steps were taken to-
ward the organization or the regular
army. Pine Guerra a revOlutionist. was
made major general. commanding. early
last summer. Gov. Magoon shipped him
out Of the country for the several months
which covered two election campaigns.
and then permitted him to return.
After the Americans departed the re-
cruiting OF the army was started In
February two companies of rural guards
mutinied on the dock at Havana upon
being informed that rney were being
transferred from the rural guard 10 the
regular army. They went 10 the palace
and demanded a personal interview with
President Gomez The police finally
quelled the disturbance.
Since then the feeling In the guard has
grown more bitter. Having been put on
a good footing under the Palma admin