The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-03-03
NEW FOOTING FOR
CUBAN ARMY ADDS
TO ITS EFFICIENCY
President for First Time Be
comes COmmander-in-Ch Chief
OF Land and Sea Forces.

Havana, Mar. 3-The long studied
plan for the reorganization of the Gu
ban army, by which it's efficiency
| will be increased. is now going into
operation. The most important fea-
| ture is the extinction, as a separate
corps, of the famous Rural Guard.
This corps was organized as a mount
/ ed constabulary force by Colonel HUI
bert Slocum of the United States
Army and based on the fine body of
men known as the Gurdia Civil of the
days of the Spanish domination
The Rurales will be merged in he
cavalry of the Regular Army which
will be composed of six full regi-
ments. armed and equipped on the
model of the United states Cavalry, of
ed to service as rural constabulary
and one to regular military duty, to
be stationed in all probability at Ha-
vana-
The number of infantry regiments
will be reduced from two to one, to
be stationed in garrison at Camp Co
lumbia- The artillery will consist of
one regiment, including batteries of
field and mountain guns and a corps
| of coast defence artillery which will
also be trained as infantry. The ma
chine gun force, which has hitherto
been separate organization, will be
divided into squads to be attached
to the various cavalry and infantry
units. in accordance with modern
practice. There will also be a gen
eraI staff and the customary staff
corps.
The whole force will aggregate
somewhat more than ten thousand
men of all arms and the President.
for the first time, Becomes the Com
mander- chief of the forces on
Land and Sea. Major-GeneraI. Men
dieta will be the Immediate com man
der of the Army and under him Bri-
gadier General AvaIos, for many
years commander of the Rural Guard
and generally esteemed by American
Officers who have served here as the
best soldier in Cuba Plans are also
in contemplation for the formation of
a reserve force, and reorganization of
the Navy.
The placing of the NatIonai forces
on strong footing meets with the
general approval of Cubans Some
of the United States being drawn in
to the European conflict Cuba might
not be able to hold aIoof and that
an attempt might be made by some
European Power to violate her ne11-
trality For the same reason inter
est is reviv1ng in the long protracted
negotiations for the cession to the
United States of certain lands in the
vicinity of Guantanamo Bay which
are supposed to be essential to the
effective fortification of the Naval
Station.
For the moment there is a IulI in
political activities. The Conserva-
tives find that President MenocaI is
holding fast to his oft-repeated de-
claration that under no circum-
stances can he be persuaded to ac-
cept another nomination In the
event Of former president Jose MI
guel Gomez becoming a candidate
the remarkable prediction is made
that all past differences between him
and his former Vice President win
be buried and that DR.. Alfredo zayas
will again be his running mate. Gen
eral Gomez will soon give a recep-
ton to mark the opening OF his new
palace on the Prado which excites
great interest on account of rurnors
that it will be made the occasion of
| a declaration of his regard to the
Presidency.