The New York herald., 1920-01-04

was either timbered open country dotted
here and there with the modest homes OF the
country folk.
1T is different now The patch OF woodland
where Vilanueve bivouacked his forces is not
far from the present site OF the fashionable
Havana Country Club the beautiful golf links
and the race course where winter racing is
being held daily The smooth highway
which the willy old Pancho and his fellow
scouts and spies trundled their cans of car
trldges under the first StreakS OF dawn. rs ira
versed now in costly automobiles by the most
fashionabl and wealthy of Havanas planters,
attended by their senoras and senoritas, as
they drive to and fro for their daily outdoor
diversion. And there is no Claude DuNal 10
challenge their progress Your American oc-
cupation has changed Cuba in more ways than
one
but Villanueva's little sinecure OF course
could not last forever. The conspiracy in all
its ramifcations was discovered finally by the
Secret Police and the Captain General was
informed of the audacous clandestne traffic
whereby Spanish troops were made to supply
the bullets for their discontinue The
wonder was that the Spaniards of the official
world had been blind long to enterprise
the true character of which either thor
oushly understood or suspected by thousands
of Cubans.
For once Spanish authority acted promptly
and efficiently. 1t impracticable to strike
the root OF the traffic That would have
meant the nightly surveillance Of extensive
district by more than the ordinary police Wig
ilance. the arrest of thousands OF women,
not a few of whom enjoyed more on less influ-
entail protection i'm high quarters. But it
possible to cut off the supply at its point OF
delivery, to ambush and capture or kill Pancho
and his masqueradng milkmen. and to attack
and disperse Vilanueva and his Service OF
Recruiting and Supply.
That task was delegated in part to my own
battalion of the Orden Publico. strengthened by
troop or two Of the Guardia Cfvil. or Rural
Military Police. although naturally We sub
ordinates had idea until afterward OF the
ture OF the job to which had been as
signed. We only knew by hearsay that within
forty-eight hours were going out OF the
city for some kind of active expeditionary duty
and that in the meantime discipline had been
materially stiffened and leaves OF absence
stringently curtaled. All but Officers were re-
stricted to barracks and officers were per-
mtted only brief leave.
'.We were keen enough for something more
exciting than the monotonous routine OF
mounted municipal police life. ! myself had
Joined the force partly in youthful zest Tor
adventure, though mainly in the hope Of CLEAN
ing surgical experience of value during the war
Young Carlos Galvez. q lieutenant in my bat
talon and one OF my boon companions, had
been moping for weeks because OF our compara-
tive inactivity. He was a handsome, roystering
blade OF youth, as expert in coquetry as IN
the duello. good Judge OF wine and Of women
and a convivial dallier with both. Rumor IN
the battalion had IL that he was the discredited
However that may be. ] never knew more
fascinating young rascal or one who made
friends more readily both in the upper ana the
neither social strata. Between US a strong
friendship had grown up despite the fact that
he was OF the line and ] OF the staff You
chaps will smile now but | was bit OF
rounder myself In those halcyon days OF youth.
''On the last night but one that we were
destined TO remain I'm barracks. Galvez ana J
obtained n brief leave on some prcteN or other.
The fact was I was more than willing 10 keep
an eve on my irresponsible young friend. lie
would not have missed what your present DAY
soldiers call the show for anything IN the
world IL In his normal senses. no matter how
lively the show might promise TO be- but
knew his weaknesses
We'll, In the course OF wanderings during
that last evening OF liberty Carlos led me down
into the segregated district. He had little
friend 10 that quarter Of the city. one Of many.
fear.
angela welcomed him cffusively she was
charming little creature, Cuban sirl' petite