THE CUBA REVIEW 11 



passports would bo roquired of American citizens as well. Wiien sailing from Havana these 

 passports may be secured from the American legation here, and when embarking from any 

 other port in Cuba, they may be secured from the nearest American consul. 



Steamers (lying the United States Shipping Board house flag continue to arrive via the 

 Panama Canal bringing Pacific Coast products, as well as rice from the Orient. Also cargoes 

 of the latter commodity have been received here direct via the Canal. 



Reference was made in the first part of this letter to the landing of American soldiers in 

 Cuba, via the port of Santiago, reported to consist of marines as well as army troops, which have 

 already been distributed around Santiago and Camaguey Provinces. While the original 

 purpose of the sending of these troops to Cuba was given out as that of training, it is generally 

 understood that they will also serve to protc(!t sugar mills and otherwise preserve order in the 

 districts to which they arc assigned and thus assist in assuring a successful crop. Latest 

 reports are that American troops will also shortly be sent to Havana and stationed at ('amp 

 Columbia. In connection with Cuban military matters it is stated that Cuban soldiers will be 

 sent to the United States for training, particularly the artillery connected with the coast 

 defense. There is some talk in the papers of Cuban soldiers being sent to Europe, but the 

 Government advises that this will not be done for the present at least. 



While the campaign for the raising of the second Liberty Loan was going on in the United 

 States, a committee was organized through the efforts of interests connected with the American 

 Club here, called the Liberty Loan Committee for Cuba which was authorized to receive sub- 

 scriptions, the original idea being to raise .S1,000,000. A number of banks entered heartily 

 into this work and solicited subscriptions both at their head offices in Havana and branches 

 throughout the Island. As a result the total subscriptions amounted to -S 1,633, 550, being col- 

 lected from practically all nationalities in Cuba. This amount, however, does not indicate 

 the total quantity subscribed by Cuban sources, as large suscriptions had previously been 

 placed direct with American banks by Cuban firms as well as by American companies having 

 interests in Cuba, but with headquarters located in the North. 



The oil well situation is still without additional developments. A certain amount of well- 

 boring is going on, but without the results being made known and, therefore, the quoted prices 

 of all stocks have considerably decreased since our last advices. A few new companies have 

 been formed and are preparing to start boring as soon as their drilling outfits are received. 



Effective Nov. 10th, an increase in Cuban postal rates will be made similar to that already 

 in vogue in the United States, the principal items being letters from 2c. to 3c., and postal 

 cards from Ic. to 2c. 



We have previously reported the erection of a very powerful new wireless station near the 

 National Observatory at Casa Blanca, across the bay from Havana. This station is not yet 

 in operation on account of delay in receiving the wires and instruments, but it is expected they 

 will arrive during the coming month. The other Government wireless station in the Isle of 

 Pines was destroyed by the cyclone last month, and it is understood that the present wireless 

 tower at Morro Castle, Havana, will be transferred to the Isle of Pines after the new one is 

 ready here. The present Morro station has a range of only about 500 miles, whereas it is 

 stated that the new one can communicate for a distance of 3,000 miles, which will enable 

 direct communication with many United States and other points not at present reached in this 

 matiiier. 



The annual race meet at Marianao opens on Nov. 29th and promotors announce that they 

 expect a successful season. There is some question as to tourists in the United States beuig 

 able to readily secure passports permitting them to embark for Cuba. It is admitted that the 

 movement of tourists will naturally be much smaller than at other times, although, on the 

 other hand, it is expected that there will be a better class of tourists than ordinarily, who should 

 spend larger sums of money here and thus, to a certain extent, offset the reduction in numbers. 

 The principal hotels here state they are preparmg for the usual number of guests, and it will be 

 recalled that during the height of the season for a couple of years past the accommodations have 

 not been sufficient in this respect. It is, of course, yet too early to make any definite statements 

 in this respect, but the Havana merchants and hotel keepers will be hard hit if the tourist move- 

 ment should be very small this coming winter. As previously referred to, one principal factor 

 will be the f aciUty with which the tourists are able to get American passports prior to embarking 



