The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-08
ARMY TAKESSTEPS
TO ACT WITH NAVY
Troops Held in Readiness for
Intervention in
Cuba.
FIGHTING MACHINE TESTED
-Four Big Army Transports at
Newport News Put in
Commission.
FIGHTING MACHINE TESTED

| Washington. June THE army to-
gay took steps 10 share with the navy
IN the American demonstration in
: Cuba
| Early In the day the general stan
] gave a preliminary test TO the mschin.
! IT has constructed when it issued
( orders TO tho quartermaster- general Ia
! put In readiness for Cuban service the
/ TOUR big army transports at Ncwport
news and at the same time notified
the proper military officers at the
various army posts where are located
the organizations which go to make
up the "eNpeditionary force" to have
The men ready to entrain at a mo.
ment's notice.
Within six hours words came from
Quartermaster-t General ..leshire that
the big transports had been put In
commission with full supplies. and
coal and augmented crews and were
ready TO sail the moment the troops
were placed abroad
Future Action Uncertain.
Inc order for the transports to sail
or Tor the troops TO entrain was not
gwen and 1t was said at the State
department that word would not be,
given until the marine forces already
landed and now being. distribute1
~
Eastern Cuba proved insufficient TO
afford the necessary protection, or
that conditions on the, island as a
whole had assumed such a pbase as 70
demand political Intervention. Al
present 1t cannot be asserted thai
PRESIDENT G"nez's hold has so weak
ened as To warrant the United States
IN proceeding to meet its treaty
obligations to intervene
Intervention. ii determined upon
must toilow In regular way. If the
United States decides 10 follow tho
injunction laid down by the Judge
advocate-general of the army. Warm
lngs have to be conveyed to the THU
lar government OF Cuba. and every
effort must be made to induce Il TO
exhaust Its own resources in restoring
order, and finally a proclamation must
be made OF the conditions which, in
the mind of the President OF the United
states. demand Intervention.
Some of these steps already have
been taken. January &c last Secre-
tary Knox served notice upon the
Cuban government that the President
of the United States looked to II Ito
prevent n threatened situation which
would compel the government of the
United states. much against its de-
sircs, to consider what measures II
must take in pursuance OF the ohliea-
tions of its relations to Cuba" Since
then there have been other and less
frequent and less formal admonitions
until yesterday the following signif-
cant telegram was sent to the Ameri
can legation in Havana for presenta-
tion to the Cuban government:
Under the exigencies of the situ-
alton arising out of the failure of the
Cuban authorities to take effective
action for the protection of American
life and property, the commandant at
Guantanamo naval station has been
compelled to land four companies Of
marines Tnis action has been taken
as n measure of protection only and
not for the purpose OF putting down
the insurrection. which is clearly the
duty OF Cuba.
-Four large war vessels will forth
with be sent from Key West to Guam
tGnamo to be in readiness in case the
situation should unfortunately demand
additional forces for the same pur-
pose 1t is hoped That these measures
will at once awaken tho Cuban gov
crnment to the necessity of promptly
and adequately meeting and discharg-
ing it's duties and sponsibilities, and
you will vigorously impress upon the
President of Cuba that n continued
failure on the part of his government
adequately to protect life and prop
erty will inevitably compel this gov
eminent to intervene in Cuba under
and in response to its treaty rights
and obligations"
Only Proclamation Necessary.
The issue of a proclamation by
President Taft is all that is now ne
ce ssary TO meet the legal requirements
preliminary to intervention. Whether
and when this last step shall betaken
depends upon the ability OF the Cuban
government to deal with the insurrec-
ton. That government will be given
fair chance.
There is still no present intention
CT sending more battleahips into Gu
ban waters.
Late to-day message was sent TO
the commander at Fort D. A. Russell,
| (ContInued on Seventh Pagel