The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-12

probable, Il d T. be borns in Mad thst the very
best irregular troops however formidable their VI.
lor and skill with weapons may render them In
small numbers, are far less to be feared wnen they
oct \ largo masses. rhen tao deficiency In disci.
pline AZ drill tells heavily against them. am
far from undertaking the indomitable pluck
Of the Americans, or their GOODNESS or steadiness
when in perl, and only desire to see those valuable
qualities displayed In better cause than the one to
But in an open plain, or II the attack Of fortress,
and when opposed to regular troops OF average bra
very, something more than pluck and ooolness is
required Upon the other hand, it must not be for
oes, that the garrison Of Cuba could not b brought
entire TO the field. Certain forts, and towns, and
positions must be held and although 1t is probable
that many OF these would be lef ts the keeping Of
the numerous volunteers that would take up arms
the moment On invasion occurred, still portions of
the garrison must be detached from the main body.
An intelligent Spanard who has spent several wears
in Cuba and but recently returned thence, gave it
men could be employed as tho army Of operation.
He estimated the present. garrison Ct rather under
twenty thousand men effective for the field. which
is somewhat less than the government estimate.
The Europe 6panards in the island he belief we'd TO
be about fifty thousand, large proportion Basques
snd Galatians, and who would readily enroll them.
selves as volunteers in case Of peril, would prove
formidable antagonists, and fight desperately for
many Of them would be likely to join the Americans,
if these were strong, and gained advantages at first
starting: but il the invaders were worsted the Gu
bans would fly to arms and vaunt their fidelity to
Spain. The Iegroes, who have no wish to exchange
Spanish for American masters, and who are aware
of the many disadvantage under which even free
man Of color labors in the States would all be ready
to fight If arms were given to them. The negro
mode Of fighting, as described to me by persons who
opa wall cd uif Ia oynd dan.
geIous. They fire volley, receive the enemys fire,
throw away their muskets, and rush in with cutlass
or poDiard.
The long narrow shape Of the island Of Cuba,
which bears strong resemblance to lizard with
the head looking east yard, is favorable to its de-
tenders, since it facilitates the cutting off of the
invading force 1t will be great advantage If Gen.
arrival axes place previously to any attack.
stances. Quick Of eye and ready Of resource he will
inspire the troops with confidence, and raise the
courage Of the Cubans. Amongst these he has, what
no captaingeneral Of Cuba in our time has had, .
his mode Of administration prefer him to any other
captaingenera and will stand by him to the utmost
with all the Influence and power they may possess
This is principal reason why he readily and gladly
accepted the destination towards viii sh he is now
steaming If indeed he has not arrived there, since
his departure from Corunna took place upwards of
fortnight ago. The Spanish government
and indeed Spaniards generally, as far as my
medub VI OpseIVaIlOu eXJtuu, cuWrL8ln q bdnRulne
belief that, with the troops at his command, and
with the moral and physical support Of the majority
of the jewellers on the island, Concba will so handle
the init uding annexati0niets to make them hear
tily repent their unprovoked and uDjustifable ag
gression.
There are other points to be taken into con.
sideration when We discuss the probable issue
Of the anticipated conflict. One Of these, on
which such q conflicting testimony has been
given that it is scarcely possible to form q
decided opinion with respect to it, is the amount
of support the Americans would find in the
island ITSELF The Spaniards, as have above init,
mated, think it would be unimportant. Ask q
whole island, with the exception Of the European
spaniards resident in it, pines for release from the
Dtoerable yoke Of Spain, longs to hoist the stripes
and stars, and to ching to the proud neck Of the
numbers Of letters received from inhabitants Of Cuba
expressive of these sentiments, and imploring SYM
pathy and assistance. But 1t must be observed that
q few malcontents, or American settlers in the
island; would suffice to circulate an immense num-
Der Of such complaints and prayers. One may
imagine, for instance. the consgnees Of the Black
Warrior, after nditng their submissive and penitent
letters to the Governor &c neral and their petition
to the Queen Of Spain for the remission Of the fine,
dipping their shapest iron pen into the ink bottle,
and relieving their afflicted souls by throwing of
screaming dispatches to their friends in New York
and New Orleans, inveighiDg against the tyranny of
Spanish rule, and longing for the day when Cuba
"
te,s were welcome, they would naturally be made
tie most of they would be handed about talked Of,
and their contents verbal repeated, until it would
nsS ADMIT Of
pait OF the Creole population would
be glad to see the island detached from
Spain. To those ! suppose we may safely add,
81 Of becoming State q the
island. Beyond this, am in possession Of no trust.
worthy evidence and when say that only small
portion OF the Creoles or native whites dissect
70 oosssve s on snSy S s he y ySs
time. on the authority of Spanards long resident in
the island, particularly capable by their position
and intelligence, OF forming correct Judgment,
az sne sOs STswDacR 70 the value Of whose
by their natural wishes on the subject.
Suppoeing that In the autumn Of 1854, an Ame-
rican expedition, starting from Florida or from one
Of the small islands in the Bahama channel, made
or compelled to reembark. How long time woulde
lapse before third expedtionwere got ready7 Would
net the interval probably be shorter than the one be-
tween the Lopez expedition and the present date!
cans. when bent upon acquisition, is well known,
And is it not probable that each expedition would
exceed the preceding one In strength, until one
went forth strong enough 70 triumph! The passage
crepid Spain into the strong ones of the young and
vigorous Union, is mere question of time, unless
other nations interfere. Are any prepared to do 30?
England and France are Of course the only powers
to which Spain might look for aid to prevent her
being robbed Of her last valuable colony And would
she not look to them in vain at least under present
circumstances do not believe that the Spaniards
reckon on such assistance The rejecting portion
Of the nation-those who think upon the subject at
all--seem convinced that the island must sooner
or later pass from them. Some would be disposed
to sell II, whilst it still has value, before the
Americans feel so certain of getting it by other
means that they viii no longer feel disposed
to idisburse Others, on the contrary, are for hold
giving in and, as last desperate resource emanci.
pating the slaves. The most rational and profitable
of the two courses would doubtless, be the sae and
yet owing to the ignorance and national conceit OF
large number of Spaniardg-who believe that the
yalor of Spanish troops must always suffice to guard
Cuba, and who have not sufficient knowledge Of the
past and present history of the world to see that in
the course Of nature they must lose tit would be
difficult for any ministry to brave the storm of in.
dgnation that would here no raised by the sale Of
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