Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-02-14

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Cuba Libre.
PRESIDENT F. v. AGUuEBA. COLoNELs
PACuECl AND CtsNERps IN PHILADEL-
PHfA RECpGNITIoN CF CUBAN BeLLEG-
ERENCY BY the SPANISH AUTHORITIES.
On Saturday and Sunday there was
quite a flutter created amongst the
Cubans residing in Philadelphia, by the
announcement that President Francisco
V. Aguilera. with his Aid-de-csmp, Col.
Juan l.. Pacheco. and Col Cisneros, the
executive If the " S,elely Of the Friends
Of Cuba" bad arrived in that city, and
had taken up their temporary abode iu
the Continental Hotel. Very shortly
after their arrival they were called upon
by the most prominent Cuban gentlemen
iu the city. On Sunday morning, by IN
vitation, e STATE Journal reporter
called AT the above mentioned hotel and
was there introduced to the Chief Nag
strate Of the Republic OF Cuba. Afer
the usual common place remarks he pro-
ceeded to interview the President upon
the affairs of that afflicted country
x porttr-What do you thiHk of the
condition of the patriot cause, Senor
Aguilera
President Aguilera-I do not think 1t
was ever In better condition the five
years that we have teen struggling for
Independence have not been wasted We
have now an army well disciplined, and
are always ready To meet the enemy.
Rep. What is the present strength of
the army
Prrs.-We have between 15,COO and
49, 600 well-armed men, besides 40,0I0
who, though unarmed, are well drilled.
Rp-Mhat do you do with this un-
armed force 1t must be very expensive
TO sustain.
Pres They are no expense whatever,
as tvery one is fighting for liberty and
does not receive any pay. We have a
certain per cen,age OF them attached to
each Of the well.armed forces and may be
very properly called the reserve.
Rep-What is the present force OF the
Spar.ards
Pres. That cannot answer positively
but they have somewhere about 60,00C
men.
Rep Are these all volunteers
Pres.-No, about 10000 are Spanish
regulars.
Rep-lt is sid that there IA not a
friendly state OF ali ,ir- between the regu-
lars and volunteers can you account fol
III
Pres oh, yes You see the volun,
teers all want TO have the houors and lei
the regulars do the fighting, which is @
very one.sided af4ir.
Rep.-Do you have any Of the euemy
deserving to the patriot army :
Pres.-Yes; but they are mostly com
| posed of the regulars and those Cubanl
who have entered the service for the pur
| pose Of getting over to our sid
Rep.-How are you oil in the way o
provision
Pres Very poorly we live from hant
to mouth, many days with only a yam
and such fruit as we can get. But
must say to the honor of ou
ladies that they have left nothing undon,
for the comfort Of the soldiers. In tIi
towns our forces are as well cared for b,
them as circumstances will permit.
ha e -eeR astunished at them before th
war would rot have believed that the
could have endured what they do.
Rep.-What DO you think Of the lat
proclamatious OF Captain General Jou
vellari
Pres.-They are very surprising, aud
have hardly had time to consider then e.
they should be. Thoy are, however, yer
important AMI must attract the altentio
of the United States government.
Rep.-It has been the persistent habi
of tie authorities to deny the existenc
Of a war 10 Cuba.
Pres. Yes, and the recognition Q
belligtreAt rights by them Is what cause
my surprise, aud yet il ought not to do sc
Rep.-Why so
Pres. Because il has been the cours
they pursued with all the South America
States. just before they left Bolivia an
Chill they admitted war exi ted.
Rep,-What Will the eff ct be upon th
South American States OF this movement
Pres.-I think aid will be mmediatel
sent to the island all those countii,
have recognized US long ago and given I
the right to recruit Cublrs and drill an
arm them. Nov | think they will seu
us aid from their own country.
The President, who had been complain
ing Of bciug uuwell asked us to eXcu
hi;I, and We began TO interview his al
de-camp.
Colonel Pacheco is quite a young ml
being only % years Of age, aud enter,
The army at the age of II.
Rcp.-Coouel, | understand that yC
have been quite a warrior for so young
, man.
! Colonel-Yes have been ia one hu
dred and tilty engagements.
Rep. Were yuu ever wounded
Colon yes ! have not been able
escape the Spanish bullets. 1 have BET
. wounded three times and am at press
suffering from wound in my leg.
Rrp. You have been In this count
! but very short time
! Col. Yes, only three weeks. can
y out with dispatches TO the President.
y 7 Rep.-How did you get out
Y Co.-Nell, can only tell you IN
= left the southern coast in an open boa
!, and sailed, with ihree others, 10 Jamaic
Rep Was that not rather a r'skl
y Colon you must know We ha
< been brought up for the last live years
;, school Of danger aud have got accu
toned to such life.
After thanking both the President al
e Colonel for Their information, we la
:, aside our rtportorial pen ana engaged
y the general conversation.
. Both men are deeply interested in 4
. cause, and have no doubt of u spec,
y u termination of the war.
y The gentlemen are to leave Philadelph
u to-day and will 90 to Baltimore, wne
a they will spend few days, thence tn
I. will proceed to New Orleans. The ohje
y Of this tour is to hold an audience wi
y = the Cubans in these three cities and 9
u what can be accomplished In the way
= securing funds to prosecute the war.
y very large per cent. Of the funds rails
y have been from voluntary contribute
! by Cubans in this country. Col. Cisner
Z, has lately received Information fro
y Cuba that the Spaniards are evacuatll
= the town and district of Bayamo.
y The proclamatious referred to In /
y above conversation, twelve In numb
81 appeared In the Official Gdzstis Of Hava
on Saturday, and they are issued by c.
tain General Jonyellar, who was lalt
y reiustalled with extraordinary powe
A. Tue first professes 10 give a full expl an
Is tlon Of the present state of the inszrr,
VI ton aud the reasons for its conlnuani
Of and is the first off ial admission thai
" formidable iusurrrclion against the Spa
r. ish authority exists on the Island.
re Tue sscoud dsclarss the entire bianl IN
b. state Of ssigs, and is, therefore, such
n admission Of the existence Of war
's practically amounts TO A RECOGNITIC
re OF THE REBELS AS BELLlG EREN
ls II provides for the trial Of all perso
ID accused of sedition, treason, rebellio
le &C., by court martial.
a Tue third proclamation orders the mt
be ilizatiou Of one volunteer out Of eve
ne ten for active service. The fourth p
20 yides for the organic uion of the mllit
ir and the fifth for enrolling free color
)y men In the militia, while the sixth ord.
the owners Of slaves TO give one out
every 1000 on the island to work on f
thcations, &c. The remaining proc
il nations relate to matters of detail, I
ng ninth Providing for the organic 'tion