The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-09
GUBANARNY Plans
REORGANIZATION
President To Be Command.
erin Chief-Consists
Of 10000 Men.
tDy Asgoelated Press. !

tBy Associated PresS)
HAVANA, March 9.-The long stud.
led plan for the reorganization OF the
Cuban army. by which its efficiency
Will be increased, is now going into
operation. The most important fea.
tlre is the extinction, as 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 US the Guardia Civil of
the days of the Spanish dominat-.
The Rurales will be merged in the
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
which FIVE regiments will be assigned
to service as rural constabulary and
one to regulate military duty, TO DO
stationed 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. Tho ma
chino gun force, which has hitherto
been separate organization, will be
divided into squads 10 be attached to
the various cavalry and infantry units
in accordance with modern practice.
There will also be genera. staff and
the customary staff corps.
The whole force will aggregate
somewhat more than ton thousand
men of all arms and the President,
for the first time, because the com.
mander.in.chlcf of the forces on land
and sen. Major General Mendieta
will be tic immediate commander of
the army aud under hin Brigadier
General Ayalos, for many years com.
mander OF the Rural Guard and gell-
orally esteemed by American offs
GERS who have served here as the best
soldier in Cuba. Plans are also in
contemplation for tile formation of a
reserve force, and reorganization Of
the navy.
The placing OF the national forces
on, strong footing meets with the
general approval oil Cubans. Some
fears We're 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 Europ.
can Power to violate her neutrality.
For the same reason interest is re.
viving In the long protracted nego.
tiatlons for the cession to the United
States OF certain lands III the vicinity
of Guantanamo Bay which are sup
posed to be essential to the effective
fortification Of the naval station.
For the moment there is lull In
political activities. The Conserya.
tives find that President Menocal is
holding fast 10 his oft-repeated dec
laration that under no circumstances
can he be persuaded to accept an.
other nomination. In the event OF
former President Jose Miguel Gomez
becoming candidate the remarkable
prediction Is made that all past diff.
ferences between him and his former
vice president will be buried and
that DR.. 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
parade which excites great interest
on account Of rumors that It will be
made the occasion OF declaration Of
his intentions in regard to the presi.
dency.