The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-10-03

Gen Masso talked enthusiastically
when approached upon the subjec, OF
the revolution, its growth and It's pros
poets.
"During the last war;" said he, .'we
never had more than 10000 men in
arms against the Spanish government
and no Cuban general ever led as may
as 1000 men into battle. And yet
the struggle lasted ten long years and
cost Spain 10000 soldiers. In the
presen, movemen, we have already
10000 men in the field and if we
had the arms for them we could mus
ter within a fortnight twice as many.
In the province of Santiago alone We
have $4,000, in Las Villas 10, 900 and
in Camaguav at least 1000. But
only about half of these are well
armed, the remainder, are simply
equipped with single fire rifles, shot,
guns, muskets, revolvcrs and maChetes,
"However, when expeditions from
| abroad, which we are expecting daily,
arrive, our entire force will soon be
placed in fighting Ulin, and then aC-
tive operations will commence. For
the present we must keep upon the de
fensve, content ourselves with harass-
ing the enemies columns with small
guerilla forces and only make serious
attacks upon them when we have the
opportunity to seize or convoy or cap
tule an outpost, where arms or mu-
nitions can be secured. Any other
tactics would be for the present sulcl-
dal to US. We have besides every
thing to gain by delay-Spain all 10
| lose it suits our convenience TO allow
government columns TO tire themselves
chasing our forces around the country.
While we lose comparatively no men
in this way, yellow fever and dySen-
| terry daily claim their numerous VIC
tins from the Spanish ranks. As our
General Maceo said in recent inter
view: Time will slowly drive Spain
! to desperation, and ultimately bring
| victory to the Cuban cause We only
require patience and little more am
munation.'
The general denies that this is race
war, though he is ready to admit that
"the Colored element of the eastern
provinces are probably the most SIN
cere supporters of the idea Of an indie
pendent Cuba; while the whites of the
island, though the great majority oi
them disapprove the existing govern
ment, are divided among themselves as
to the best way of remednig the evil.
A few still have hopes, as last resort,
that Spain may grant autonomy"
CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES.
General Masso has, he says, strong
hopes that, "despite the vigilance at
present displayed in the United States
to prevent the shipment of arms for
Cuba, President Cleveland may still
be one of the first to recognize The
bellgerent rights ot the revolution"
Today, despite President Cleveland s
neutrality, or, more properly speaking,
the friendly disposition Of the United
States toward Spain, as defined in the
policy of Secretary Olney, President
Masso says the Americans get no thanks
for it. On the contrary the press OF
the Peninsula grows more bitter from
day to day in its editorial attacks
upon the United States, and even
urges Minister Conovas to send a
Spanish fleet to New York to ask
President Cleveland to explain why he
has not imprisoned Delegate Palma,
Treasurer Guerra, Secretary Quesada
and other members of the Cuban
junts.
"By recognizing the belligerentrights
of the Cuban republicans, Masso con
tinued, sthe United States would re-
lieve herself of the unt thankful task oi
doing police duty of the Spanish gov
ernment, the majority of whose own
warships and revenue cutters lie idle
at anchorage in Cuban ports, and al
of which have 50 far done absolutely
nothing to prevent the landing OF fill
burstering expeditions upon the island
And belligerancy once established, q
new market would be opened up te
American arms factories and Amer.
E can powder mills. The United States
in brief, has nothing to fear from Spain
and much to win from Cuba"