THE 

 CUBA RLVILW 



"ALL ABOUT CUBA" 



Copyright, 1919, by the Munson Steamship Line 



Volume XVII 



FEBRUARY, 1919 



Number 3 



CUBAN GOVERNMENT MATTERS 



REPEAL OF MILITARY SERVICE LAW 



A bill passed by congress and signed 

 by President Menocal January 19th re- 

 peals the obligatory military service law, 

 which made military service compulsory 

 on the part of all male citizens of ages 

 21 to 28, inclusive. The measure does 

 away with the office of provost general 

 and also grants amnesty to all Cubans of 

 military age who fraudulently evaded 

 military service, as well as to their ac- 

 complices. 



THE ATLANTIC FLEET 



The Atlantic Fleet, as reconstituted 

 with the return of the battle squadrons 

 from overseas, was assembled at Hamp- 

 ton Roads and on the morning of Febru- 

 ary 4th departed for Guantanamo Bay, 

 Cuba. Preceded by three giant seaplanes, 

 the fleet, part of which served with the 

 British Grand Fleet during the war, 

 sailed for Cuba for winter maneuvers. 

 The fleet was led by the dreadnought 

 Pennsylvania, flagship of Admiral Henry 

 T. Mayo, commander-in-chief of the At- 

 lantic fleet. In the squadron, besides the 

 flagship, were the Missouri, Oklahoma, 

 Arizona, New York, Texas, Nevada, 

 Utah, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Wyo- 

 ming, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, 

 the collier Prometheus and converted 

 yachts Nokomis and Aris. Other vessels 

 of the fleet are in Cuban waters. The 

 squadron is composed of four divisions, 

 each with ships of equal strength, and is 

 in command of Admiral High Rodman, 

 Rear Admiral E. W. Eberle, Rear Ad- 

 miral R. E. Coontz and Vice Admiral H. 

 B. Wilson. 



BELGIAN COMMISSION 



The Commissioners sent to Cuba by 

 Belgium to thank Cuba for her assistance 

 in the war were received by President 

 Menocal December 18th. A speech of 

 gratitude and appreciation was made by 

 the head of the commission and replied 

 to in terms of cordiality by President 

 Menocal. 



PROHIBITION 



Prohibition of the manufacture, sale or 

 consumption of alcoholic beverages in 

 Cuba is provided by a bill prepared for 

 introduction in the lower house of con- 

 gress by Representative Acosta. The 

 law, if passed by congress, would become 

 effective one year from the date of its 

 passage. 



Imprisonment and a fine of $500 is 

 provided in cases of violation of the law 

 on the part of brewers. Merchants 

 breaking the law would be subject to im- 

 prisonment and a fine of $250. The con- 

 sumer may be fined $50 and sent to jail. 

 These amounts would be doubled for each 

 succeeding offense. 



CHINESE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES 



The new Charge d'affaires of the Chi- 

 nese Legation, Chun Ku Shen, presented 

 his respects to President Menocal Febru- 

 ary 1st. He was accompanied by the 

 Secretary of the Legation, Sr. Clarence 

 Chat. The Chinese Minister to Cuba is 

 expected to arrive in Havana soon. 



CUBAN MERCHANT MARINE 



President Menocal has sent a message 

 to congress proposing an increase in the 

 national marine. 



