The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-25


Cubans will hold whole column in
check. The Cubans are as fertile in ex-
periments In attack, ambushing etc. as
any body of Indians. Their policy Is to
wear out and exhaust the enemy. at 4
minimum cost of life, powder and
wounds to themselves. In many of the
engagements, skirmishes in which the
tiradores fail back when outnumbered,
such engagements are made to do duty
as Spanish victories.
In many instances when the Span
ish troops have been taken prisoners.
after being disarmed and offered their
liberty. many OF them have entered the
rebel ranks. Their poor pay and treat
ment under Spanish officers does not
make that service attractive. Asked
as TO the prevalent opinion among the
rebels, he said: They are lighting for
liberty or death; conquer or die, is their
self-imposed motto. They know full
well that they are fighting for their
lives"
The reports regarding the bad health
OF General Gomez he denounced as un-
true. The Cuban army is an unpaid
organization. Not an officer or man re-
ceives any pay. ITO repeat" he said
they are fighting for liberty and for
their lives"
When asked If there were any Ameri-
cans In the rebels ranks he replied that
there were a few. They also have no
pay. They run the same risks and un-
Gergo the same hardships as the Cubans
Landing expeditions today, he said,
the Cubans have reduced to a science
The steamers lay to at night, outside of
the marine league. The boats, painted
n light drah, are swung over the side
when they are not laden With men and
arms. IL a man-of-war appears, she
sees the steamer while the boats, with
out lights, make for the shore. All the
expeditions dispatched to Cuba have
landed except that OF the Competitor.
10 date 10 expeditions have made sue
cessful trips. Thousands OF rifles and
machetes and tens of thousands of
cartridges have reached the rebels, in
Guiding some cannon, dynamite and
stores, all purchased in or near New
York city
When questioned as to Spain's wet
season campaign, he said that the rebels
most famous generals are Generals
June, July and August. They are the
wet season months, when annually yell
low fever takes on an epidemic character
and kills the unacclimated. From yell
bw fever the rebels have nothing TO
fear. Rains, wet and open air are TO
them one and alike OF no Importance
1t pens up their enemies, while the rebels
can recruit and get ready for the dry
season campaign.
The question of belligerency was dis
oussed. ANY delay in that line" the
Cuban resident said, will simply pro-
long the war. The rebels s. that theT
will not accept any Cuba under Spanish
rule. 1t must be a free Cuba. If. per
chance. the United States interviewed and
asked for the sale of Cuba TO Cubans.
under an American guarantee that the
purchase price would be paid by tho
rebels. such an arrangement would lead
TO a cessation of hostilities. Failing
recognition as belligerents. they will
fight for 10 years"
When asked as to the sentiment IN
Habana anu western Cuba, he said that
section was loyal TO Spain. Many loyal
Spaniards, he added wanted fuller
rights for Cuba. That end of Cuba was
as firm in her loyalty to Spain as eastern
Cuba was for Cuba Libre. The Cubans
were q divided people. Annexation, he
said, was not understood, nor woutt
the masses accept 1t. They would deem
IT but a change of masters, without any
benefit to them.
When asked as to the report OF ir-
regularities by the spaniards, he re-
GREETED that they were only too true"
He said: Hundreds of Spaniards are
sent to Cuba to take official positions
Many were appointed with the clear and
tacit understanding that one-half OF
their gains were to be remtted to Spain
TO the officials who had secured their
appointments. Many n Spaniard pur-
chased his Cuban appointment outright
and then proceeded to recoup himself
Some of the officials monthly have sent
$1,000 TO Spain. They deceive their gov
ernment. Cuba and the people alike
Any deficit in the Cuban budget is rnade
good by an additional tax on Cuban
property IL detected, they are dis
missed when they return to Spain: but
their dismissal docs not ostraclze them
Far from 1t; they are subjects for popu.
lar sympathy"
This informant mado single excep.
ton 20 official irregularity in Cuba, that
et Martinez Campos ,Uho was an hon
est captain general He was ousted by
the Spanish party, as he would not au-
thorize general killing. The Cubans be
lieve that they will succeed and free
themselves from Spain. The whole issue
Is plain one 60 thcm--freedom or death