Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-10
MARIN CRIVICISES GOMEZ
Says the Insurgents Have No Military
Crganb ation or Honor.
CONSIDER IT No DISGRACE TO RETREAT
HAVE Even Disregnrded Military
Ethics to the Extent of Attacking
and Capturing spanish supply
Trains Enroutc.

tcopyrieht. 1895. by Pre- Publishing Company
HAVANA, Cuba, feb. 9-(New York
World CaDlegram-Special Telegram) )-Gen-
era sabas Marin, the acting governor-gen
of Cuba, returned to Havana today after an
,{fabsence Of ten days, during which time he
personally directed the operations against the
insurgents. j: he did no. squelch the revo-
gluten before General Weyl came, as was
, reported to be his ambition, he at least sue
ceeded in preventing the reuniting OF the
insurgent armies of iomez and Maceo and
doubtless would have remained in the field
longer Nut fot'ene fact that he expects to turn
over his office to General weyler the new
governos-genera CT Caba, and leave Tuesday
for Porto Rico, OF which ne CMarin) mas
been appointed captain-goneral.
General Marin arrived a. noon accompanied
By lis entire staff, composed of Cclonels
n Suarez, Incan, Ramiro and Aransable, Majors
Rafael, Estaban, Ramon and BTanderez, Cap
tains Antonio, Diaz, Herrera, Federico Rod
rlguez and Castillo and Lleutenants Alfonso
Gonsealec, Geleabert and Diaz Herrera. The
general appeared to be in splendid health his
face was as brown az the traditional berry
and his uniform plainly showed that he had
seen rough service
l called upon him in the afternoon at
the palace. He received me in the official
chamber with the greatest couretesy and
replied frankly to my questions, though he
carefully weighed his words. l asked him
II he would tell the American people,
through the columns of the World, about
the campaign he had conducted against the
insurgents during the past ten days.
DESPISES THE REBELS.
my campaign" he replied, has been
nothing, but continuation of the line which
hade been laid down before l went out
had some encounters with both Maceo and
Gomez. but / can throw no more light
upon them or their whereabouts than what
has been already given in the published
reports"
What" l inquired, "do you think of the
insurgents military organization?"
II have not altered my estimation of
them," he said. THE insurgents can never
be recognized as military organization, be-
cause the first consideration of organized
army in its honor. The insurgents think it
no dishonor to fly from the enemy and avoid
an encounter regular military body would
consider it dishonorable to attack defense
less train of soldiers, but the insurgents think
nothing of capturing men who are SIMPLY
citizens, acting as carriers. They do not
hesitate to force defenseless citizens to ac-
company them which, of course, results
SIMPLY in their being used targets for
the Spanish arms"
''It is sad," suggested "that the Spanish
infantry in the field is baing raidly changed
from infantry to cavalry"
"No infantry has been changed into
cavalry" General Marin responded. -"The
regular cavalry bodies already here have
been mounted as fast as horses could be
procured for the men,
'If the Spanish had had more cavalry in
Cuba from the beginning of the revolution"
l asked, "would the war be any nearer an
end than 1t is now?"
"lf the Spanish had had more cavalry the
insurgents would have adopted other meanp
of warfare. Their policy is to deviate from
all the lines Of regular civilized warfare. In
other words, war with them is mere anarchy
If we had had plenty Of Spanish cavalry, they
would have resorted to ambush surprises and
other like tricks. They would have waited
for the cavalry to come up and then destroy
them. Whenever we have an encounter ,herc
never is any doubt of the Spanish defeating
the insurgents, even If the odds are to in
their favor. The insurgents run away. That is
their strength There was an illustration of
this day before yesterday in the encounter we
had with them near San Cristobal, where 600
OF our men were attacked by 1000 or 5000
insurgents and our men defeated them"
SATISFIED WITH THE TROOPS.
what is your opinion ] querled, "after
inspection, of the efficiency of Span sh troops
now stationed in this part Of Cuba?"
Il am perfectly satisfied" the general de-
clared, land they are well cared for
''How long is this revolution likely to
last?"
II can hardly say, but believe the nsur-
gents will be wiped out, inasmuch as a
vigorous policy has been in tiated Not
policy of cruelty-I don't mean that, but a
rigidly military policy"
what is your opinion Of the values of the
trocha along the railroad line from here
to the south coast?
'I never placed much reliance on the
trocha as a means Of preventing the in
surgents crossing in either direction.
have regarded 1t only an observatory of
movements Of insurgents, valuable chiefly
as strategic line Of the rapid concentra-
tion of troops at any point on it. OF course
1t is useful, as it is an inconvenience to
the passing Of insurgents. Their crossing
is always attended with more or less loss" |
"Do you think the revolution is losing or
gaining strength" |
at Is losing, We are conquering little by |
little. The great defect Of the insurgents has !
been shown by their attacks upon our weak !
places. That betrays their weakness"
Havana IL decorated ayishly in anticipa- |
tion of the arrival of General Weyer He |
was expected today. All the foreign con- |
slls have been invited to the reception at |
the palace. ROEDER
COSTA RIGA AND NICARAGUA CLASH.
boundary Trouble May Lead to "a f!
Trial ut Arms Between ThcEI. |
Copyright. 1896, by Press Publishing Company |