The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-15


numbers at great sacrifice OF life. However.
nothing occurred during the day to spoil the pic
turesqueness OF the scene by introducing the
horrible.
THE COLUMN EN- MARCHE
The long line OF soldiers on either side OF the
road, that now dipped into valleys through which
flowed shallow streams now wound with serpen-
tine course over hill, marched along silently and
patiently, their blue jackets and white pants dot
ting the valleys sides, producing q very animated
and pleasing effect. More than once turned IN
my saddle to enjoy the scene 80 full OF life and
color No painter could transfer 1t to canvas. for
its subtle pleasure lay in the constant change OF
color and grouping occurring every instant, pre-
senting to the eye nav combinations quite
number Of these transverse valleys cut the road,
and had we been burdened with artillery or wagons
would have offered considerable difficulties to our
march, On the road learned that the battalion
with which had the honor to march was known as
THE ST. QUENTIN.
and was one OF the first TO leave Havana for the
war. 1t had continued in campaign during the
four years OF the insurrecti0n During that period
1t had been engaged more or less seriously with
the enemy in more than ninety engagements. In
some of these the battalion had suffered heavily,
but had always managed to repay with interest
the attentions OF the enemy. II i had been search
ing for o representative corps I could not have
chosen one more worthy OF sustaining the honor o.
the Spanish arms. This was just what wanted. as
my desire is both sides at their BEST and knew
that my presence would be an incentive to every
soldier In the battalion to perform his duty to the
best Of his power. We reached Santa Anna about
five O'Clock in the afternoon. and in company with
the Colonel and the director Of the estate visited
the Quaninica River, which Is remarkable as the
haunt Of an immense number OF alligat0rs. On
the opposite bank OF the river we could see the
dark mass Of buildings belonging to an estate that
had been destroyed by the rebels. One OF the
ruined estates belongs to OF the caaers Of the
instruction. The crop on this estate Is
BURNED DOWN REGULARLY EVERY YEAR
to prevent the Spanish authorities deriving any
benefit from It, Before the war there were on the
estate OF Santa Anna some four hundred slaves but
the insurgents carried on the greater part Many
OF these were either recaptured, or, having no
stomach for fighting, returned voluntarily, SO that
the estate could now muster some eighty hands.
While was making the round OF the buildings with
the director the preparations for dinner were CON-
pleted, and on my return found the mess waiting
for me. During dinner was again the object OF
the most delicate attention, nothing being neglected
to make me feel
COMPLETELY AT MY EASE.
Our dinner was quite recherchG affair." and by far
the best had eaten since my arrival III the island,
and it had the advantage OF being seasoned with
the spice OF g0od-fellowship. Alter the cloth was
removed most OF the officers of the battalion as
sembled round the table to while away the time,
chatting and recounting stories of accidents by
food and field. We would have had songs also,
but the only guitar Of which the bat
TALON boosted ha1 come to grief Before
the evening was over l was on the
best footing with all the officers. The subject OF
my mission and its fllnlment was discussed, not
with the company. but at intervals with some OF
the officers with whom had established more intt-
mate relations. All were
ANXIOUS THAT FAIR AND IMPARTIAL STATEMENT
of the status Of the Instruction should be given to
the world They were especially DESTROYS that the
impression that had gone abroad about the
Spanish army should be corrected. At the
same time there was not the slightest
apparent desire to interfere with the indie
pendence of my judgment or the free
expression Of my opinions. The statement tnat
the Spanish troops killed all their prisoners was
strenuously denied 1t claimed that all prison
ers taken are given up to the higher authorities,
who, of course. dispose OF them as they think it,
This believe, is now the rule, and so far as can
learn, the practice Of shooting all prisoners taken
was discontinued in this department soon as
General Riquelme took the command. He not
alone endeavored to improve the condition of the
in keeping with
MODERN IDEAS OF CIVILIZED WARFARE.
Before his time, however, there is question
that not alone were the prisoners taken in arms
executed with very little ceremony, but that citi-
Zens simply suspected Of connection with the in
surrection were taken from their homes and shot
| after o form OF trial before court mar
tial So many instances have been adduced
OF this both by respectable foreigners and
| Cubans that l have no hesitation In as
| sorting that this charge Is proved against
| the Spanish. The opinions OF the oficers OF the
battalion st. Quentin reflect honor on them, but
they are by no means shared by all the officers of
the army. On the contrary, 1t Is by no means an
unusual thing to hear the opinion openly expressed.
even at the hotel table, that until the shooting OF
| the civilians Is recommended the department will
never be pacihed. Last evening one OF the officers
who dined with me went so far as to suggest that
| THE FAMILIES OF ALL THE MEN KNOWN TO BE IN
| THE FIELD
should be exterminated. remarked to him that
such course would, no doubt. be effective, but
that the civilized world would not permit 1t to be
adopted. From this 1t will be seen that there
exists considerable difference Of opinion to the
measures that should be adopted to stamp out the
Instruction and as wish to mirror faithfully the
exact state OF the island feel 1t my duty
| to give all views that find enter
tanned by considerable numbers of people.
While the Spanish supporters point to the
men that have been pardoned the Cubans recount
the long list Of the men slain in cold blood. The
executions Of the past have unquestionably
CowED THE CUBAN POPULATION,
but they have also deepened the hate and detesta.
ton with which the Spanish government is re-
garded and If by any chance the Cubans ever get
the upper hand believe they will extermnate the
| Spanish population. That reminds me that the
officers OF the st. Quentin battalion were
particularly DESTROYS OF impressing me with
the opinion that the people OF the
island were in favor OF the Spaniards.
With this view they named numbers OF gentlemen
serving in the army, whom was assured belonged
to the creme de Ia creme OF Cuban society. My