The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-10
CAMPOS TALKS BRAVE
Next Month He Will Begin to
Put Down the Patriots.
ADMITS HIS TASK IS HARD.
Cubans Good Fighters, He Says, but
Without Arms Reflects on Gomez,
Who Nearly Caught Him.

New York. Oct "A World copyright
Gable from Santa Clara. October ), via
Key West, Fla, tomorrow viii say: Capt.
Gen. Martinez CampoS converSed with
me two hours today at the general head
quarters of the Spanish army in this city.
The statement which follows is what Gen.
Campos said in response TO series of
questions l addressed TO him verbally as
the special correspondent of the Word;
AT the present the military situation
in Cuba is satisfactory. The rebellion in
Cuba has attained greater scope than L
anticipated when / embarked from Spain.
At the present time there are numerous
small bands of insurgents scattered about
the country in the provinces of Santiago.
Camaguay and La Villas. In Matanzas
there are only a few rebels against au-
thority. The insurgents are not well
armed, and their supply of ammunition is
deficient in some districts. There is a
considerable number of Spanish troops
on the island, though it is not as large
as the conditions warrant. l have given
orders that prisoners shall not be cruel
~ treated, and that wounded insurgents
who may fall into the hands of troops
shall be well cared for. / do not kill
prisoners.
THE country paths are too bad at the
present time for persistent campaign
Again. I do not wish to expose the SOL
diers continuously until the season Is i'm
proved. In November there may be look
ed for as active and aggressive a campaign
as L can make. My present plan is TO d.
vide the troops into small attachments, the
number OF each column varying according
to circumstances. Were 1 TO send a col
urnn OF say 5000 men they would have the
march for their pains. They would see no
enemy. The insurgents would melt away
into the dense and difficult country. which
Is their shelter. THEY follow a good mill
tary policy for their side of the case. for
they know that they could not Withstand
the attacks of regular soldiers. About this
portion OF Santa Clara l divide the soldiers
into detachments of 200 or 800 men. If the
enemy were TO suddenly assaii one Of these
small bodies in greatly superior numbers
they might do mischief, but there generally
would be another detachment somewhere
that could go 10 the relief Of their friends.
In the Remedies district and in Santu
Espiritu the columns are larger-e00 or 700
men-as the rebels, especially in the former
district are in greater numbers and better
armed. In Santiago the largest column OF
al. say 1000 to 1900 men, Is required
LAS an example of the futility of large
columns at present. refer to the expcdi-
ton led by Gen. Surez Valdz, who left
this city a few days ago, going first TO
Maniguaragua. in the direction OF the
Trinidad mountains. with a provision
train. Gen. Valdez took 100 soldiers. The
insurgents expected only 800. and were
armed 10 the number of over ZOO. They
hoped to capture the train. When the
size OF Gen. Valdez force became known
10 them, the insurgents melted away like
snow under the sun. Gen. Valdez divided
his forces into four different detachments,
and skirmishing between the rebels and
his men has gone on since. IN Puerto
Principe, Gen. Mella was sent out with
ct q \ Ia fv7c
He could not find any OF the opposing
forces. and after long marches divided his
army into four smaller columns. He did
not succeed in having an engagement
Il do not understand Gomez course. l
think highly OF his military capacity, but
he does nothing. Perhaps he is restrict
ed by the orders OF the junta IN New York,
which is. l am informed, TO pursue q Ia
bian policy. or he may be very short of
ammunition. an army cannot fight with
out cartridges. The Spanish blood does
rot naturally seek a fight 1T rather
avoids one. Bur when compelled to nsiIt
the SpaDiards become heroes. The re gu
lar troops have an advantage. for lac Of
hcers control their meI. They are Glsci-
pliucd thoroughly. The Insurgents are
without discipline and are rarely aGrr"s-
siTe fighters. But drive a Cuban into
corner. with his back to the wall, and he
VIII fight like hungry wolf. Witness the
action Of Amador Guerra and twenty men
when they-HeTe forced to fight sixty Span
ish soldiers near Manzanillo. Guerra
showed his Spanish blood and he met his
death like a brave man. II our soldiers
became so much scattered IN the wild fast
ncsses as the insurgents they would be in
danger, for the insurgents know every
point suitable for an ambush. they know
the paths. byways and the fords o. ono OF
the most dIficult countries in the world
During the Lass war the Spanish troops
We're at times placed at great disadvaDt-
age because they did not ard the best NV
er lords.
This war makes me think e. the Indian
wars IN the Western United States The
Indians use1 70 aeht when good oppoF-
tunify occurred. and ran away when
pressed. There are many more insur-
gents than Indians ard there IS = vast
txten. ~ territory 20 cover with tho
troous- mountains deep ravines. iTnpene-
trab}e .~~ir forests and deep -1r-irs. In
"a va~ under European conditions i.tj SOL
tters v~fll 40 as much as 1ea here
.-Tae lack Of acuis ard aEo-1G1- lon las
always heen q drawback 10 t-e ihs0r-
gents Toey vsuaiiy have ra4T.} as many
unar-rcd men as armed ones tt hen there
Is a1 engagement tire unarr2f7i f1@n carry
Of the dead and wounded. taElHg fare'to
secure the fallen mems arms t-st-
II have heen satisfied WITH tte sanitary
condition Of the army dur rg tee past sum-
r.er. During September there was less
sickness than I expected. Yellow fever
has nor heen euIdaya1c, except iu 8 few