Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-06-15
WILL REoReANIzE CUBAN ARMY
Six Full Regiments to be Formed on
Model Of United States
rauaIrv

Model Of United States
| Cavalry.
Havana.-The long studied plan
for the reorganization of the Cuban
Army, by which it's efficiency will be
increased, is now going into opera
ton. The most important feature is
the extinction, as a separate corps, of
the famous Rurale Guard. This corps
was organized as mounted consta-
bulary force by Col. Hubert Slocum of
the United States Army and based ON
the fine body of men known as the
Guardia Civil of the days of the Span
ish domination.
The Rurale will be merged in the
cavalry of the regular army, which
will be composed Of six full regiments,
armed and equipped on the model Of
the United States cavalry, of which
five regiments will be assigned to SER
vice as rural constabulary and one
to regular military duty, to be station
ed in all probability at Havana.
The number of infantry regiments
will be reduced from two to one, to
be stationed in garrison at Camp Col
umbia. The artillery will consist of
one regiment, including batteries of
field and mountain guns and 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 general staff and
the customary staff corps.
The whole force will aggregate
somewhat more than 10000 men of all
arms and the President, for the first
time, becomes Commander-in-Chie of
the forces on land and sea. Maj. Gen.
Mendieta will be the immediate COM
mander of the army, and under him
Brig. Gen. Avalos, for many years
commander of the Rurale Guard and
generally esteemed by American off,
GERS who have served here as the best
soldier in Cuba. Plans are also in
contemplation for the formation of q
reserve force and reorganization Of
the navy
The placing of the national forces
on a strong footing meets with the
general approval of Cubans. Some
fears were entertained that in event
of the United States being drawn into
the European conflict Cuba might not
be able to hold aloof and that an at
tempt might be made by some Euro
pean power to violate her neutrality.
For the same reason interest is rev1v-
ing in the long-protracted negotiations
for the cession to the United States
If certain lands in the vicinity of Guam
tanamo Bay, which are supposed to be
essential to the effective fertilization
of the naval station.
For the moment there is lull In
political activities. Conservatives find
that President Menocal is holding fast
to his oft-repeated declaration that
under no circumstances can he be
persuaded to accept another nomina-
ton. In the event of former President
Jose Miguel Gomez becoming a candi-
late the remarkable prediction is made
that all past differences between him
and his former Vice President will be
buried and that DR.. Alfredo Zayas will
again be his running mate. Gen.
Gomez will soon give a reception to
mark the opening of his new palace
on the Pradc, which excites great in
terest on account Of rumors that it
will be made the occasion of declara-
ton of his intentions in regard to the
presidency.