The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-06-14
Marines Ordered to Interior Points
Where Much American Property
Needs Protection-Facts
Disclosed.

Standardization marines have
landed on Cuban soil. To the num-
Der of $50 under command of Colonel
Lucas they came ashore Thursday at
Caimanera and proceeded By train to
Guantanamo City
The frank confession OF President
Gomez that he was unable to meet
the demands of the large plantation
owners in Eastern Cuba for adequate
guard against the marauders and in.
surrectos was the factor that prompt
ed Captain Kline, commanding the
United States naval station at Guam
tanamo, to dispatch nearly half OF
his available forces of marines into
the interior of Cuba. His action gave
the signal for the departure from Key
West to Guantanamo of half OF the
second squadron OF the Atlantic fleet,
which had been lying at anchor at
Key West for the last week.
The facts as disclosed at the state
department are that several OF the
large American, British, French and
Spanish companies operating planta-
tons and mines In Eastern Cuba tele-
graphed the Cuban president, through
the alcalde of Guantanamo, demand
for 800 regular troops for each Of
their mills and fifty for each of their
cane fields. In reply President Co.
mez pointed out~that q compliance
with their request would require the
use of 1880 of his best troops for the
protection of one group of foreign
property In single section Of the
disaffected district If he acceded to
such demand, he said, his whole regu-
lar army would not suffice for police
work alone and he would have no
forces left with which to carry on
the campaign against the insurrec-
tionists.
Meanwhile complaints multiplied,
the situation in Guantanamo was be-
coming more alarming and the Guam
tanamo Sugar Company had definite
information that the rebels intended
to destroy one or Il ore of the foreign
estates there.
To add to all this, the owners and
representatives of several of the large
American properties near Guantanamo
having failed in their application to
the Cuban government, appealed di.
rectly to Captain Kline. Captain
Kline, judging that the gravity of the
situation demanded the use of Ameri.
can guards. sent $50 OF the guards
by boat up Guantanamo bay to land
ing place near Caimanera, the ter.
minus of the railway running up to
the city of Guantanamo. fifteen miles
inland.
The gunboat Paducah about the
same time reported the situation at
Santiago as critical, which deter
mined Captain Kline to call upon the
navy department for more marines.
There Is grave lntimation In recent
tragedies that this may become an In.
ternational duty If the Cuban GOV.
eminent longer delays action. Min.
lister Beaupre Wednesday reported a
case of horrible atrocity near San.
giva. in Oriente, WHICH is believed to
be only one of mant similar cases.
His information, derived directly
from the Cuban secretary of state,
was to the effect that band of ne
groes entered the house of a former
white official of prominence, tied him
and his son and outraged his wife
and two young daughters before his
eyes. The son was killed in cold
blood while endeavoring to break his
bonds and rescue his mother and sis.
ters.