The Portland daily press., 1870-03-17
Letter from Gen. Webb ON Cuban Affairs.

Gen. j. Watson Webb has written to the N.
Y. Tribune most startling report on the Gu.
ban situation, which reveals a state of affairs
that is not flattering to American pride. He
has made a recent and thorough study of the
situation on the island, and has evidently made
good use of his practical skill as journalist to
sift out from a mass of conflicting reports the
real condition of affairs. His first conclusion
is that our Government has not been kept we'll
informed as to the course of events in Cuba.
He says:
hazard nothing in saying that had Gen.
Grant and Hamilton Fish been permitted to
know the whole truth, belligerent rights would
have been conceded to the Cubans six months
ago, in utter disregard of the arrogant and
offcious threats of Spain to consider such
proceeding on our part a cdsus bella. More
disnterested patriots and more truly conserva-
tive statesmen than Grant and Fish our coun-
try does not contain and it is of their patriotic
conservatism that they have been grossly mis-
led, and have abstained from the performance
of duty.
he states the full extent of the rebellion and
its present strength at much higher figures
than any heretofore received from that quarter.
The volunteers, he says made up for the most
part of robbers, thieves, iail-brds and crimi-
mails of every description, govern the island.
The letter proceeds:
The cruelties perpetrated upon the Cubans
actually exceed belief, and the cold blooded
murders perpetrated daily on the island, and
the indiscriminate butcheries perpetrated by
both Spanish soldiers and Spanish volunteers
upon defenceless women and children, makes
ones blood boil with indignation at the recital
of them. To be a Cuban is, in the eyes of the
Spaniards, to be traitor.
In another place he states:
am told, on authority which cannot doubt,
scenes of barbarity which occur daily and
every day are absolutely incredible, except by
the people of this island. Cubans are shot
down and killed, and whole families daily ex-
terminated, without even the pretence OF an
excuse. Soldiers passing along amuse them
selves by shooting all they meet; and the hor-
rors daily perpetrated surpass belief 1t is es-
timated that at least 10000 have thus far been
slaughtered acithout arms IN their hands.
But the most interesting part Of General
Webb's letter is that which informs us of the
Havana. This model person, it seems, is
German, who was bred in Louisiana and is
known by the name of "Adolph," familiar
and not over respectful appellation which he
acquired while acting for four years as s'run-
ner' for Havana boarding house. This dis
tnguished parsonage was first met by General
Webb at the Captain Generals, where Adolph
was found enjoying the most touching intlma-
CIV with all the members of the household. 1t
is not to be expected that this family friend of
the Captain General should transmit any news
which his patron desired to suppress In fact,
the ex-hotel runner does not seem to have the
faintest notion of his duties as reporter of
the news. Gen. Webb asked him whether
"they did not very materially emasculate and
change his kilograms to the Associated Press
by striking out what did not please the gov
ernment," whereupon the ingenious AdOlph
replied that 'they did not strike out much be-
cause they tell me in advance what must not
alude to. Of course, if the Spanish troops
met with defeat, would not be permitted to
mention it; and should not think of doing
so.''
To Gen. Webb he re marked, in the presence
of other parties:
Your people do not want to see the Cubans
free. know the fact that late Major Gene
raj in your army, now living in the city of New
York, has offered his services to bring twenty
thousand soldiers to this city and drive the
Cubans from the Island if need be: and anOth-
er Major General, who served during the re-
belllon, and now resides in Massachusetts,, has
written to the Captain General Offering to
bring down forty thousand men for the same
purpose.
The agent refused to give the names of these
officers, but assured his auditors that he could
vouch for the truth of his statement How
much it is worth the reader can Judge.
So much for Gen. Webb's exposure of the
means through which the press of this country
is so largely deceived by their Havana dis
patches. His positive statements of the facts
are also important. He estimates the well
armed force of the Cubans at from $4,000 to
20, 900, while many more are insuficient]y
armed He asked an intelligent Spanish vol
unteer officer what would happen could 3d. 900
muskets be safely sent to the Cubans The
latter replied: 100000 would Immediately
find insurgents.to carry them; Havana would
fall in fortnight; but I repeat to you, no
arms can be landed; and, thank God, the in
surgents are punished and put down. In our
recent defeat the Cubans were 5000 strong,
while the Spaniards mustered only 1900, and
lost more than half their number
Gen. w. complains of the apparent indiffer-
ence of our Navy Department to the safety of
Americans in Cuba. He says:
Every official report from this island, and
letters from all visitors here, have continually
proclaimed the neglected state of our citizens,
and borne to their countrymen their cries for
protection and for the presence of national
vessels IN all the ports of Cuba, as places of
refuge in the hour of peril with which they are
threatened. Our Navy Department has turned
a deaf ear to these cries for protection and an
peals for relief; and 1 am informed that during
less than twenty days since the rst of Decem-
Der there has been no United States vessel Of
war in this port Under these circumstances.
the British frigates in port have on two occa-
sions given protection to Americans threat
eped with the vengeance of the volunteers:
and. finally, they have proclaimed through our
Consul-G eneral, that should the anticipated
neriI of our citizens occur during the continued
absence of our squadron, the British ships in