232 THE POLITICS OF INTERVENTION
The American officers attached to the Rural Guard
adamantly opposed the creation of a regular army on sound
political and military grounds. Major Slocum and Captain
Wittenmyer sent memos of protest to the Provisional Gover
nor. The most forceful and closely reasoned objections were
made in an essay by Captain James A. Ryan, who was soon
to become Magoon's personal aide. Ryan's study, which was
forwarded to Magoon, pointed out that the Permanent Army
was primarily a Liberal political device to reward present
followers and to win new faithfuls. The Liberal attack on
the Rural Guard stemmed from its loyalty to the constitutional
government in 1906. Ryan particularly opposed the creation
of a regular army at that moment because, in essence, such
an act would produce a force dominated by the former
insurgents. It would be a political army and "an army domi
nated by politics is ruined. In proportion to its freedom from
interference by politicians is proficiency proclaimed. History
repeats itself from Rome to South America and the use of
politics has ruined every army, every military force, with
which it has been connected."
Switching to more immediate military considerations, Ryan
stressed that the Platt Amendment already guaranteed Cuba
against foreign invasion. The only need for an army was to
keep internal order. For this Cuba needed a loyal, professional
constabulary. The military requirements of suppressing revolt
demanded direct contact with the people and an intimate
knowledge of local society and geography. Only the Rural
Guard would have this information, and because it was largely
mounted, it made a more effective counterguerrilla force than
foot soldiers. Hitting at what he knew was a tender spot in
Washington's policy, Ryan unequivocally stated that a Cuban
army offered little security to the sugar business. "Which kind
of force does Cuba need?" Ryan concluded. "Is it an
Army? No."^35
Within the staff of the Army of Cuban Pacification, there
were officers who opposed the Permanent Army, because, in
view of Cuba's limited resources, they thought it a poor