The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-04
PLAN TO REORGANIZE
THE CUBAN ARMY
National Forces Are To Be Put on a
Strong Footing and Plan Meets
With General Approval.

Havana, March 4.-The longstudied
plan for the reorganization Of the Cuban
army, by which its efficiency will be in
creased, is now going into operation
The most important feature is the ex-
tinction, as a separate corps, OF the fla
nous Rural Guard. This corps was or
ganized as a mounted consta bulary 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 or 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 service as rural con-
stabulary and one to regular military
duty, to be stationed in all probability
at Havana.
The number of infantry regiments will
be reduced from two to one, to be sta
toned in garrison at Camp Columbia.
The artillery will consist of one regi-
ment, including batteries of field and
mountain guns and Il corps Of coast de-
Tense artillery which will also be trained
as infantry. The machine gun force,
which has hitherto been separate or
ganization 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 some
what more than 10000 men of all arms
and the president, for the first time, be-
comes the ommander-in-chief of the
forces on land and sea. Mai General
Mendieta will be the immediate com
mander of the army. and under him
Brigadier- General Ayalos, for many
wears commander of the Rural Guard
ard generally esteemed by American Of
iicers who have served here as the best
in Cuba. Plans are also in contempla
ton for the formation of 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 attempt might be
made by some European power to violate
her neutrality. For the same reason in
terest is reviying 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 fortified
ton Of the naval station.
For the moment there is a lull in po-
litical activities. The Conservatives End
that President Menocal is holding fast
10 his oft-repeated declaration that m-
der no circumstances can he be persuad-
ed TO accept another nomination. In the
event OF former President Jose Miguel
Gomez becoming a candidate, the r.
markable prediction is made that all
past differences between him and biz
former vice-president will be buried and
that Dr. Alfredo Zayas viii again be his
running mate General Gomez win soon
give a reception TO mark the opening Of
his new palace on the Prado. which tx.
cites a great interest on account Of ru-
mors that Il win be made the occasion
Of a declaration Of his intentions in r.
gard 10 the presidency.