New Britain herald., 1915-03-04
CUBAN ARMY NOW
 BEING REORCAN|zfD
Famous Rural Guard to Be MelQtd
 in CaVary.

Havana March 1.-The long studied | Cuban 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 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 Spanish domination.
 The rurales will be merged in the cavalry of the regular army, which Will De composed of six full regiments armed and equipped on the model of lhe United States cavalry, of which nVe regiments will be assigned to ser wee as rural constabulary and one to regular military duty, to be sta t'oned in all probability at Havana.
 Reduce Infantry Regiments.
 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
 
 Of coast defence artillery which will also be trained as infantry Tne 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 Tn accordance with modern practice. There will also be a general staff and the customary staff corps rr
 The whole force will ageregate somewhat more than ten thousand men of all arms and the president, for the first time, becomes the com mander-in- chief of the forces on land and sea. Major r-General Men dieta will be the immediate com mander of the army and under him Brigadier General Avalos, 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.
 Meets With Approval.
 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 EuFo- peans power to violate her neutrality. For the same reason interest is reviv- ing in the long protracted negotla- tons for the cession to the United States of certain lands in the vicinity of Guantanamo bay which are sup posed to be essential to the effective fertilization of the naval station.
 For the moment there is d Hull in political activities. The conservatives find that President Menocal is hold ing fast to his oft-repeated declara- tion that under no circumstances can he be persuaded to accept another nomination. In the event of former president Jose Miguel Gomez becom ing a candidate the remarkable pre- diction is made that all past differ ences between him and his former vice president will be buried and that I'D. Alfredo Zayas will again be his running mate. General Gomez will soon give a reception to mark the opening of his new palace on the Prado, which eNcites great interest on account of rumors that it will be made the occasion of a declaration of his intentions in regard to the presi, dency.