The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-05
A QUESTION OF TIME.
Maceo Predicts the Overthrow OF Spanish
Rule In Cuba.

luttto EtutttN nv
Rulo In Cubs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The Evening
Star prints a letter sent to the editor by
General Antonio Maceo, through It's cor
respondent, who Is with the Cuban revolu-
tionary army in Pinar del Rio province.
General Maceo denies published reports
that his aide, Colonel Bermudez, had been
killed. and then characterizes as ridiculous
reports of q rupture between himself and
General Gomez:
In the first place there can DO no such
thing as a misunderstanding, or rupture,
or whatever you may choose TO call II, be-
tween General Gomez and myself. lie is
the commander-in-chicf, and ms such his
orders are as laws to me. I'm but lieu
tenant general of the army, and mt all
times, in all places, and for all reasons, 1
am subject 10 his commands.
Our army Is not organized on a rabble
basis. The man who talks the loudest Is
not tho commander. But it is organized
on the plan OF u modern military force,
where order and discipline are main
tanned, and respect for superiors invari-
ably enforced.
But aside from rules of military discip'
line, there is not a soldier in the Cuban
army who would consider for an instant
the %disputing of the words or commands
of Maxine Gomez. The entire armyVon-
fides implicitly in his patriotism and his
military ability. We who have known
him and followed him In other wars are
too certain OF our own comparative weak
ness to doubt his wisdom and Judgment.
The Spaniards, he writes, are hum
bugging themselves with theories to ac-
count for the fact that be and Gomez are
separated, and after declining to discuss
the reasons for the we'll matured moves of
the Cuban army, he continues: h
have we accomplished by our invasion Of
the provincei A great deal. In the first
place we drew the attention of the au-
thorities to this end OF the island, n
5000 re-enforcements, under Nunez,
Sanchez and my BROTHER, Jose Maceo, were
enabled TO march from the eastern end OF
the island to the province Of Habana with
out having "A serious engagement. We
needed these re-enforcements TO make q
better showing in the capital province,
n we needed n now supply OF ammuni-
ton, ETC., and did not wish to march our
forces back to the Cimaga to Sancti
Splrltus or Cubitas TO obtain it.
Our second advantage has been the
calling of the entire Spanish fleet of
cruisers, gunboats and coasters to look af'
ter the north n south shores or the
western end Of the island TO prevent the
landing Of expeditions that were supposed
To be destined for the vicinity of San An
tonic cape. While the feet, with which
we had several ''encounters.' SO to speak,
while along the northern coast, was keep
ing n good watch between Cuba, Florida
and Mexico. several good expeditions
landed in the Orient from Jamaica, Santo
Domingo, and by this time the stores they
brought are safely IN the hands of our
friends In the Sierra Maestro mountains.
Our line Of communication between this
end of the island and the province OF San
tiago de Cuba Is practically perfect, and
we have no reason TO fear being cut of at
u time.
General Maceo says there IA no use deny.
Ing that the insurgents have not arms for
oil the men anxious TO join the army, but
adds that n great improvement has taken
place in this respect during the last two
months, and closes his letter as follows:
II will not venture, rs you ask me, to
say how long the war will last. 1t may be
a conflict of months or OF years; there is
no telling. But this much Is certain, that
the red and yellow dag Of Spain will never
wave again in triumph over an enslaved
Cuba. Cuba must be free. The long.
oppressed people have dedicated anew
their lives to the work Of emancipation,
and the God OF heaven will strengthen
their arms"
The loss Of the troops In killed Is placed
by the official report at 30 soldiers.
Captain William IT,. Mannix, tho CORE.
spondent OF The Army aud Navy Journal
and tho Washington Star, has been or.
dercd by the authorities to leave the isl
and. A protest against this action has
been sent TO Secretary Olney by United
States Consul General Williams.