The Washington times., 1909-04-01
CUBA FREE TODAY,
APRIL FOOL JOKE
Last of American Troops
Withdrawn, But Expect
ed to Be Needed Again.
By 7. C. WELLIVER.

washington insists on regarding the
final and conclusive evacuation Of Cuba,
which takes place today, as the best
joke of this jokesOme occasion. Wash
ington thinks the United States troops
will be back IN Cuba, and there t. stay
for all time, by the end OF the year. No
body at all familiar with conditions IN
the island believes that todays evacua-
ton is more than an April fool joke
Hut meantime Cuba, under President
Gomez, is going TO make its lat try at
eIf-government, and II is going TO be
given a good-faith chance to make good.
This is the determined purpose Of the
Taft Administration. The people OF
Cuba elected Gomez; they started the
rebellion Of 1896 because they had been
deprived of the right to elect him. He
represents the liberal elements. which
are also the more ignorant and the less
stable elements in the country.
President Palma, the first executive OF
free Cuba, was candidate for a second
term, and was declared elected. 1t is
now common knowledge among the
Americans whom the occupation took TO
the island, that he was not honestly
elected, but was counted IN as a result
of frauds. Gomez was the candidate
against him and was counted out.
Liberals Divided.
The Liberals were themselves divided
between Miguel Gomez and Alfredo
Zayas, a senator: Zayas headiu. the
more moderate element Of the liberals,
while Gomez was the idol Of the SOL
diers and the negroes. After Palma had
served a short time on his second term
the Gomez people took 10 the jungle and
started q rebellion. That was IN August,
1906. and the rebellion aimed at the i'm
mediate occupation of Havana Presi-
dent Palma appealed to President Roose-
welt to senc warship, and Mr.. Roose-
velt refused.
Thereupon Palma, who knew his case
was hopeless If left alone, resigned. and
the country was left without presi-
dent Shortly, the situation became SO
serious that Havana was In danger of
falling and being sacked, and then
Washington sent the Denver. which
landed force of marines TO protect
the national treasury
America Intervenes.
The American occupation was not de-
cided upon until after Secretary of War
Taft and Assistant Secretary Of State
Bacon had been sent TO Havana to IN
found the inwardness of the difficulty;
talked TO the leaders Of both sides. AID
reported 10 Washington that occupation
seemed unavoidable Then President
ROosC- cit determined 10 send troops;
and lie movement WIS executed with
a precision and effectiveness which pre-
sented striking contrast 70 the clumsy,
unwieldly, thumb-fingered awkwardness
OF the same movement at the time Of
the Spanish war.
At the outside. about 1000 troops were
maintained in Cuba by this Govern
ment- The maneuVer, 1t is worth men
tioning, DID not cost this country any
thing because Cuba Will pay all the eX-
pense from plethoric treasuy. What
ever else may be said Of Cuba, It Is
most comfortably solvent
The little American army Of occUpa-
tiOn was distributed in camps in various
parts Of the island The most important
of these We're Camp Columbia six
miles from Havana, with tile Twenty
eighth Infantry BaracOa, on the north
coast, with a force Of marines: Carl
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