Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-10
GENERAL DE,cAMPOS TALKS
- = s
A Vigorous Campaign to Be Started in
Cuba Next Month. Sd.
He Discusses the Advantage of Using
Like the Western Indian Wars.

Like the Western Indian Wars.
The New York Worlds copyright cable
fl m Santa Clara, October 5. via Key West,
Fla, today says that Gen. Campos said in
response to series of questions:
"At present the military situation in Cuba
is satisfactory. The rebellion in Cuba has
attained greater scope than 1 anticipated
when 1 embarked from Spain. At present
| there are numerous small bands of insur-
gents scattered about the country in the
provinces of Santiago, Camaouez and Lavil-
las. In Natal Zas there are only very few
rebels against authority. The insurgents
are not all armed, and their supply of am
munition is deficient in some districts
There is considerable number of Spanish
troops on the island, though it is not as
large as the conditions warrant. I have
given orders that prisoners shall not be
cruelty treated, and that wounded insur-
gents who may fall into the hands of the
troops shall be we'll cared for. do not kill
prisoners. The war will be conducted on
different lines from the last one. l have
definite policy in my operations. The coun-
try paths are generally too bad at the
present time for persistent campaign.
Again. 1 do not wish to expose the soldiers
continuously until the season is improved.
Plan of Campaign.
In November there may De looked for as
active and as aggressive campaign as
scan make. My present plan is to divide
the troops into small detachments, the
number of each column varying according
to circumstances. Were I to send out
column of, say. 5000 men, they would have.
the march for their pains. They would see
no enemy. The insurgents would melt away
in the dense and difficult country where
they find shelter. They follow a good pol
case, for they know they could not With
stand the attacks of regular soldiers.
About this portion of Santa Clara I divide
the soldiers into attachments of two or
three hundred men. If the enemy were to
suddenly assail of these small bodies
In greatly superior numbers they might do
mischief; but there generally would be IN
other detachment somewhere, who could go
to the relief of their friends. In the Rene
dos district and in Santos Espiritu the
columns are larger-6OO or 100 men-as the
rebels, especially in the former district, are
| In greater numbers and better armed. In
Santiago the largest column Of all, say,
loo to 1900 men, is required.
Comparing the Rival Forces.
'The regular troops have an advantage,
for the officers send their men in. They
are disciplined troops.
THE insurgents are without discipline,
and they rarely are aggressive fighters.
Drive Cuban into a corner, with his back
to the wall. and he will fight like a hungry
wolf. Witness the action of Amador Guer-
"a and twenty men when they were forced
to fight sixty Spanish soldiers near Man.
zan!lio. Guerra showed his Spanish blood,
and he met his deathrlike brave man.
IF our soldiers became SO much scat
tered in the wild Businesses occupied by
the Insurgents they would be in danger, for
the insurgents know every point suitable
for an ambush; they know the paths. he
NV VIC thtaf H. =
country in the world. During the last
war the Spanish traps were at times
placed at great, disadvantage because
they did not find the best river fords.
1.-The lack of arms and ammunition has
always been a drawback to the Insurgents
They usually havec nearly as many un-
armed men as armed ones. When there is
an enga cement the unarIned men carry
off the dead and wounded. taking care to
secure the fallen mans arms first The
wounded are clog on the Spanish columns
during an expedition; they have to be car
ried.
Sanitary Conditions.
81 have been satisfied with the sanitary
condition of the army during the past
summer. Until September there was less
has not been epidemic the present year ex-
cept in a few localities and the losses from
that cause have been comparatively small
Some of the newly arrived battalionS which
landed toward the end Of that month have
had the vomito yellow fever). At the
present time there Is fever in the orient
ard in Camaguey. Havana has escaped
an epidemic. and in Matanzas and Las
Villas there has been only little fever
The soldiers are having paiudiai malariaD
fevers now and are likely to have them
during the next two months. l expect this
Bitterness of Feeling Increasing.
A dispatch to the London Times from
tod
returned from a long tour through the
province of Santa Clara. 1 found that the
bitterness of feeling between the Cubans
and Spaniards is growing stronger. While
the number of insurgents in the province Of
Santa Clara has increased lately, do not
see how it is possible for the insurgents to
make an attack upon the Spanish forces,
ur less they obtain great addition of arms
and ammunition. Judging from the CONVEX
sation of Captain General Martinez de
Campos and the general distribution OF
troops, it is evident that a detailed military
occupation of the island is considered neces-
sary at the present time, and probably con-
tiEuing next year.
THE sugar planters of Santa Clara ex-
press great uncertainty whether to make
sugar. A crop is lost, and this means abso-
lutely ruin to many estates. l saw clrcu-
lar letter, sent to the sugar planters of the
southern districts of Santa Clara, demand
ing contributions for the insurgent cause
according to the value of the property, and
stating that if the demands were not COM
piled with, destruction would follow.
"In an interview, a copy of which 1 ca
hled on Thursday last, Captain General De
Campos expressed annoyance at the atu-
tude of the United States at the present
time, especially regarding the attempts Of
the Spaniards, to prevent the landing of
expeditions, and quoting the Alliance steam
ship affair as an instance of unnecessary
trouble
1.-The damage done by the late hurricane
to the western railway is estimated at f3O,-
900 sterling. and through traffic is still i'm
possible
KAIULANI IN ENGLAND.