izona, in company with patriots of Cuba, came immediately to the side
of the government. But the masses of the Cubans were very tired of war,
and manifested a peculiar reluctance to assume responsibility, and to
act in line with their consciences and best judgment, wherefore the call
was not highly successful. Fourteen hundred veterans of the War of
Independence, under the command of General Pedro Betancourt, of
Matanzas, made response, and presented themselves in Havana for orders.
A machine gun corps was formed, the gunners composed largely of
Americans who had seen service in the war on the Mexican border, and who
soon became excellent marksmen. Many of President Palma's counsellors
urged immediate action to suppress the revolution with a firm hand. But
he hesitated too long, hoping that some other way out of the difficulty
would be discovered.

In this emergency the United States Consul General, Mr. Frank Steinhart,
suggested to President Palma that he should request the assistance of
the United States, and urged that a commission of military men be sent
from Washington, backed by a certain display of naval or military force
sufficient to discourage the revolution and to convince the Liberal
leaders that further wanton destruction of property would not be
tolerated. Mr. Steinhart also assured him that he would see to it that
such a commission would come with a full understanding of the situation,
and with the power and spirit to assist him in maintaining peace and
order. President Palma made this request to which the United States
promptly responded by sending the gunboat _Bancroft_, and a company of
marines who immediately came ashore at Havana. Following the _Bancroft_
came other steamers, one of which brought the Secretary of War, William
H. Taft, Robert Bacon, Assistant Secretary of State, and Major-General
Frederick Funston, with several of his aides.

In fuller explanation of these circumstances some official
correspondence may pertinently be cited. On September 8, 1906, Consul
General Steinhart sent the following confidential telegram to the State
Department:

"Secretary of State, Cuba, has requested me, in name of President Palma,
to ask President Roosevelt to send immediately two vessels; one to
Havana and other to Cienfuegos; they must come at once. Government
forces are unable to quell revolution. The government is unable to
protect lives and property. President Palma will convene Congress next
Friday,