The Cordova daily times., 1915-03-25
CUBAN X R M ' |S REORGA|N|zED
 BY U. 5.

| (By Associated Press Correspondence)
 HAVANA, March 1O-The long studied plan for the re organization of the Cuban army, by which it's efIic iency will be increased, is now going 1 into operation. The most important feature is the extinction as a sepa- rate corps, of the famous Rural guard This corps was organized as a mount ed constabulary force by Col Hugert Slocum, of the United States army, 1 and based on the fine body of men known as the Guardia Civil of the days of the Spanish domination.
 The Hurdles 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 service as rural constabulary and one to regular military duty, to be sta toned in all probability, at Havana.
 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 the batter ies of field and mountain guns and a corps of coast defense artillery which will also be trained as infantry The machine gun force. which hitherto has been a separate organization, will be divided into squads to be attached, to the various cavarly and infantry units in accordance with modern prac tice. There will also be a general staff and a 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-in- chief of the forces on land and sea. MajotGeneral Mendieta will be the immediate commander of the army. and under him Brigadier- General Avalos, for many years com mander of the rural guard and gener- ally 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 the reorganization of the navy.
 The placing of the national forces on strong footing meets with the general approval of Cubans. Some fears were entertained that in the 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 Eu- ropean power to violate her neutral 'ty. For the same reason interest is reviving in the long protracted ne
 o'iations for the cession to the Unit ed States of certain lands in the vii cinity of Guantanamo Bay, which are supposed to be essential to the eff fective fertilization of the naval sta tion.
 For the moment there is Hull in political activities. The Conserva- tives find that President Menocal is holding fast to his oft-repeated decla. ration 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 Dr. Alfredo zayas will again be his running mate. General Gomez will soon to give 6 reception to mark the opening of his new palace on the prado, which excites great interest on account of rumors that it will be made the occasion of a declaration of his intentions in regard to the Pres idency.