Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-11
CUBAN AFFAIRS.

York from Cuba, not to give up the con
/ test for Cuban independence, but to seel
the means of prosecuting it more vigor
ously. From the Tribune account we copy
the following:
Gen. Jordan has come to New York to
ascertain if some other than the past sys-
tenn of warfare cannot be inaugurated
He hopes to raise an American nucleus
around which the patriots can rally. Then
he can form an army. Under the present
system, he finds it impossible to do this.
The patriot chiefs think they can do bet
ter each fighting on his own account. Gen.
Jordan SAYS that with small body of
Americans he could break down this feel
ing and unite the scattered forces into one
effective army. The island, he says, is the
finest field for military operations in the
world-and "A few men can accomplish
great material results. When he fought
the battle at Las Minas, last Newly ears
Day, he had only about 600 men against
five battalions of the finest Spanish in
tantry. his command being intrenched.
The Spaniards charged twice bravely, but
his Remington guns, worked by negroes,
slaughtered them like sheep.
VII HIS ItlulH w N1uDl 'tli ~ OlNttl pio-
poses to carry on the war in the Cinco Val
las district. That he regards as the only
way to get harbor. He intends to liber
ate the slaves in those States there now oc-
cupied by Spaniards. This has been all
along the uniform policy of the patriots.
Wherever the Spaniards are there is slay
cry; where the Cubans are there is free
dom. In the Cuban army there is no sep
aration between the white and black, but
the negroes and Chinese fight in the same
ranks with the other combatants.
The Chinese, says Gen. Jordan, are
strong, muscular men, and fight splendid
ly. He describes them as the most furious
devils he ever saw, and on one occasion he
witnessed Chinaman knock four Span
iards in the head with his musket. The
General says he is now a great advocate
of negro soldiers. and when he1 goes back
means to take with him if possible some
old negro warriors and use them as SER
geants, to set a good example to the 9th
ers, and to excite military pride and spir-
it among tho Cuban negroes.
Cuba, he says, can become ultimately
free through the guerrilla system to which
the patriots are at present obliged to adj
here from the small supply of arms, but
it can only be by Il prolonged, devastating
war; in which the resources, the indus
tries, and the wealth of the whole island
must be destroyed. With Il supply of
arms the war will be 9 short one, and the
sugar and the coffee and other plantations
will be saved to the commerce of the
world.
Gen. Jordan is very earnest in urging
upon the Cubans the necessity OF carrying
on the war in accordance with recognized
military principles. Another important
point he insists upon is due obedience to
proper military authority. Each chief at
present following pretty much his own in
cinations, and obeying or disobeying or
ders as he sees fit. Various illustrations
Of the disastrous effect of this lack of dis
cipline occurred under Gen. Jordan's COM
mand.
The cruelties of the Spaniards, Gen.
Jordan describes as utterly incredible.
No one can conceive the fiendish and of
ten grotesque barbarity they have shown
to poor natives. On one occasion the
General stayed all night in patriots
house. About three weeks atterward a
Spanish detachment went there, caught
the owner, an old man, grinding sugar
cane, killed him with a machete, or~long
knife, cut his bowels open, took out his
entrails, and filled the cavity with the liq-
uid sugar. If they catch man at work
they never spare him; if he is idle he may
This policy is carried out to break
up agriculture-thcy want to ruin the
country and force the people into submits
sion. At present the Spaniards are not
burning the villages and plantations, but
they are cutting down everywhere the
bananas, which are the main support of
the people.
The Cubans have no money, but they
don't want money. What they need is
arms, and the introduction of military
method in carrying on the war. In OBJ
tanning supplies, Gen. Jordan does not
propose to violate the neutrality laws.
He believes arms can be sent to Cuba,
and powder, too, without any breach of
our international obligations. At the
same time, he protested against allowing
the Spaniards free access to our markets
for arms and ammunition. and forbidding
equal facilities to the Cubans.