Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-06

The battleships are under command
of Rear Admiral Usher. who. by virtue
of his superior rank, will assume COM
mand at Guantanamo. when he ar
rives there. Friday morning. Admiral
Usher can easily land 1900 marines
and bluejackets. which force with the
marines and sailors available for
landing parties, would make a formid-
able little army of about 5000 men. If
this force is not sufficient, Admiral
0sterhaus' remaining four vessels may
be called upon for further levies. For
the present. it is the policy of the
state department to maintain the
third division of the fleet at Key West
to guard against any uprising in
Havana.
In one way the distribution of the
American marines as plantation
guards will serve to test the real pur-
pose of the Cuban government. 1t is
calculated that Gen. Monteagudo's
troops being relieved in large part
from the onerous duty of guarding
plantations will no longer have excuse
for failing to move Immediately and
relentlessly upon the insurgent Neg
roes.
There is grave intimation in recent
tragedies that this may become an
international duty if the Cuban gov
eminent longer delays action. Min
lister Beaupre, today, reported an
atroeity which occurred, yesterday,
near Saviga. in 0riente. which is be-
lieyed to be only one of many similar
cases. His information, derived di-
lrcctly from the Cuban secretary of
state was to the effect that band
of Negroes entered the house of a
former white official of prominence,
tied him and his son and outraged
his wife and two young daughters be-
fore his eyes. The son was killed
while endeayoring to break his bonds
and rescue his mother and sisters.
The army continues to watch rather
hungrily, the unfolding of events in
Cuba. Lying on General Woods desk
are messages. which. if released,
would send an army division into
Cuba within week or 10 days. But
that situation has existed for three
months and is only illustrative of
careful preparation that has been done
by the general staff.
Havana. June 5.-President Gomez in
a signed statement, tonight said 81
would not have asked for foreign aid to
dominate the racial insurgents whose
acts of vandalism make me daily more
determined to crush them, but deter
mined as the United States government
to protest the properties and lives of
Americans by disembarlsing troops for
this purpose solely, its action is of as
sistance to our military operations. as
it permits me to utilize more troops for
the pursuit OF the insurgents fleeing be-
fore the regular troops and engaged in
| burning and sacking defenceless towns
and committing other excuses.
Il intend to fill with guerillas all the
| territory in which exists an armed in
| sarrecto and to cause the protection
over properties which appear to be the
| object of attack by the Negroes in arms. {"
! The President did not issue a decree
| suspending the constitutional guarantees
| in Oriente, but merely signed the law
passed, this afternoon, which will become
| effective on publication in the official
gazette, tomorrow morning.
Santiago, June 5.-One company Of ma
rines from the United States naval sta
ton Is now on guard at Guantanamo
| The remainder OF the marines have been
| distributed among the various planta-
! tons owned by foreigners. who had
complained TO the mayor that the Cuban
| troops were insufficient to afford protec-
ton.