The Washington herald., 1921-06-24

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CUBAN PoLO EXPERT
ALSO ARMY LEADER
To be the captain Of the crack
Cuban polo team is considerable
distinction; to be one Of the fore
most military leaders of ones coun-
try in addition Is the unusual
achievement of Col. Eugene Silva.
Of Cuba. But there is another role
In which Col. Silva has q part and
doubtless is most proud Of, and
that is as an educator.
Col. Silva-and incidentally the
rank OF colonel is the highest in
the Cuban arny-who is in wash
ington. in connection with the polo
team contests. yesterday at the
Shoreham told of some plans which
he entertains for development Of
Cuban education.
SAYS NATIONS MEASURED
BY DEGREE OF EDUCATION.
"A country" said Col. Silva, SIS
to. be measured by its educational
resources. We have in Cuba many
people of a quality SO high they
will stand comparison with the best
of any nation, but in the lower
rungs OF the ladders our system
is faulty. Education has not
reached through to the common
people as II must do IL our coun-
try is to take its proper place
among the nations.
ITO remedy this situation I hope
to see the enactment OF a measure
In Cuba which will provide that
the last six months of every SOL
dier's military life shall be spent
in vocational training, particularly
in the agricultural phase. We have
splendid soil in Cuba. We can pro-
duce four crops a year, and yet our
crops consist solely of sugar and
tobacco. There is no reason why
Cuba should draw its potatoes, its
corn and other agricultural prod
ucts from outside. The trouble is
that grandfather methods are used
in Cuba to till the soil. II our army
should undertake to impart in
struction in scientific agriculture 1t
would mean a transformation Of
our agricultural and economic life"
WANTS MILITARY SCHOOL
ESTABLISHED THERE.
Another plan which Col. Silva Is
nursing Is the establishment in
Cuba of a military school fash
ioned somewhat after the pattern
of Culver or. Staunton. He pro-
poses that 500 pupils be admitted
to the school every year. One idea
which he wishes tried out in the
school is the teaching in English of
all subjects in the last two years
of the course. Thus. geography,
history and all subjects in the con-
cluding years of the curriculum
would be given in English.
Col. Silva Is a devoted believer
in the study of languages. "A two
language man is two men. a fve-
language man is five men, a one
language man is only one man."
said the colonel. The study OF
languages, he explained. makes
available the knowledge of other
people besides ones own and thus
increases an individuals value by
broadening the sources of his in
formation.
HNoT EoN
OF STUDENTS WITH q. 8.
Col. Silva also hopes to develop
the idea of student interchange
with other countries, particularly
with the United States. Let the
students. said the colonel, receive
some of their instruction away
from their home. All countries will
profit by such an exchange, he said.
Cuba, declared the colonel, is the
bridge between South and North
America. In any emergency in
which the United States may pos
sibly find itself in the future. the
geographical position occupied by
Cuba may be of immense assist
ance to the United States.
DRUNKENNESS RARE
IN THAT WARM CLINE.
Many more tourists than formerly
are coming into Cuba now, the
colonel said. as the transportation
service between Miami and other
Florida points and Havana have
been considerably improved. Speak
ing Of prohibition. Col. Silva said
that despite the liberal laws of
Cuba there was little intemperance
there and practically no drunken
ness. Sometimes tourists coming
there get drunk the first night of
their arrival. but they soon do as
the rest of the population and while
partaking Of light wines and beers,
they do not drink to excess
II believe the treating habit was
one of the baneful things connected
with American drinking in the
past" he declared. Ten men
standing at the bar and each one
treating the company results in
everyone taking ten drinks, which
is unheard Of in Cuba.
Then too, the Cuban climate is
different. The climate there doesn't
spur one to drinking as it seems TO
do here"
Lapsing into Yankee slang, the
colonel averred, Cuba is a peach,
all over"
d. S.