The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-16
CESPEDES.
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obeve impicitly without comment or murmur.
Durinc the nrst few months of che war there were
now and then some funds in the treasury from
which officers and men received portion OF their
nav. Then the Cuban bonds were used as q circu- I
Eating medium; but for tie last four years neither
oficers nor men have received any pay, ciothils,
yations or quarters-they have lived dnmurMsr-
sngy
FEtM HAND TO MOUTH
ma they could. Some OF them, you see, are without
clothing, excgpsing rag to cover thoir nasedness;
Others are better Off, according to their RICK In en-
counters with the enemy, from wsOm we get cloth
ing food ard arms Yet you perceive, they are all
contentet and obedient, vieng with each other as
to who can best the cause OF our country.
When aNmuntion is scarce, those Nho have little
OF IL frequently sell their ecanty meal OF food to
others who have much in order to procure q sup
ply for in battle. Very often ascarcity of paper
has compelled the officers to write reports on The
leaves OF the coey tree and for this reason it has
been impossible TO keep in order military ar
chives, and OF course to tell the exact number OF
: men under arms, but approximately it may be
seated at
FROM TEN THOUSAND TO TWELVE THOUSAND.
or these more than .One-thrd are armed with
breach-l0ading rines and the rest with muE9le-
2 leaders. The number Of non c0mbatants is very
large; but, scattered about through our noun
tains and forests, tits impossible to give even
approximate IDEA OF what are their numbers We
experience no trouble in getting any number Of
willing recruits; had We arms for them a large
army could be putin the field at any time. In
1901 we suffered terribly from want Of ammuni-
ton; but
GRADUALLY THINGS HAVE BETTERED,
and we now in very satisfactory state, with
good prospects OF speedy Improvement. DR..
Bravo, our Secretary of War, ID just finishing q
set OF regulations for the organization OF the
army, which am sure ne will find
pleasure in showing you. We are now able to ex.
tract and refine the nitre used in the powder fac
tories recently established i'll several parts Of the
island We can also refill the tubes of the Reming-
ton metallic cartridges, and engaged in making
percussion caps.
THE VOLUNTEERS.
CORRTsPoNDENT-What, Mr.. President, may be
your opinion OF the volunteersP
CEsPEDEs-I think that the Spanish portion Of
them, about twenty-seven thousand out OF SO, 600
ON paper, the most intolerant set OF barbarans
Imaginable; and that Of the Cuban portion OF them,
at least ninety per cent are being equipped and
disciplined
FOR THE BESEFIT OF THE CUBAN ARMY;
they are only waiting an opportunity to pass over
to us with their arms and uniforms. That am not
mistaken in this estimate is being proved every
day. CalisitO, CangO Tunas and other garrs0ns
are examples Of it.
A sUMPTUOUs BANQUET
The Interview being terminated, the President
invited me to dine with him. The repast was
frugal one, consisting OLA very great rarity IN
Cuba Libre-dried Goldfish hash, brown beans, fried
sweet potatoes and bananas, fried meat and boiled.
The dessert was sweet potato cake and coffee The
w was w nd n hal
1eetlong by twenty odd inches wide, composed, as
have elsewhere described, Of small sticks tied
over frame OF convenient height. knife fork
and spoon OF the campaign order--very new-were
placed by my plate, and the horrible suspicion en-
tered my mind that the President may have been
obliged to borrow them. The guest had a sharper
appetite than his famous entertainer.
Remained from the 18th to the goth April, inclu-
sive, at the residence OF the Cuban Executive.
During that time, ana other days subsequently
passed there, had lengthy and interesting con-
versations with Cespedes. He had my wants at
tended to. Every morning. about SIX O'Clock, he
would send me
COFFEE IN A oocoANuT-sBELL CUP
The 18th OF April was the Presidents birthday
/. when he wrote in my memorandum book the fol
lowing, in Spanish =
THE PRESIDENTIAL AUTOGRAPH.
Mr.. MILLEN.A year and a half after my death,
according to the Spanish journals, have had the
pleasure of receiving your visit to-day when i
: " G. NJ DE CEsPEDEs.
BACK TO THE FIELD AGAIN.
On the Goth OF April rode to the camp OF Gen.
eral Diaz for the purpose OF accompanying him in
some operations which he WAS about to commence.
Before starting, the Secretary OF War, DIR. Miguel
Bravo y Santies, did me the favor OF reading for
my information his new plan OF organization for
the Cuban army.
General Diaz was not in camp when arrive d,
but General f. ]. Cespedes, brother to the Presi-
dent, treated me with cordiality and friendship
during the absence Of his senior.
BALL IN CUBA LIBRE.
Daz arrived at sunset There was ball in the
open air, with the Clearly swept ground for car
pet An obtruding tree root here and there, marred
but little the harmony and poetry Of the dancers
movements. The unclouded vault OF heaven and the
brilliant moon formed the ceiling to the ballroom
while the fan astic forms OF the forest trees wreahed
with graceful creepers and clothed in verdant
foliage, were the costly decorations OF our Terpsi-
.chorean temple. l had the honor. by special in.
yitation OF dancing uis a vis with my good friend,
General Diaz. The attendance or both sexes was
very large and the toilets OF the ladies in good
taste, considering the circumstances. They were
very sympathetic and agreeable, but not particu-
larry bewitching or beautiful. Only the officers
participated In the amusement the men were
grouped about the sides OF the dancing square,
some with lighted wax candles in their hands
THE MUSIC
was unique in ITSELF 1t consisted OF guitar, violin
and tunlbdnde,O, and 1t made the welkn ring
with meodious strains OF the cdngrejttO
TUABANDERo
is made by excavating in the ground a hole OF
about foot square and as deep over this is las
tened down square piece OF skin. stretched tight,
after the manner Of drum head. long piece OF
elastic stick is made and end tied last to
post near by while the other is bent down by a
strong string and made fast to the under part OF
the skin, in the centre OF 1t, the hole in the
ground The string is played upon the performer
seated on the ground, with two little drumstcks,