New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-24
CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
CONFIDENCE IN THE OUTCOME OF THE
REBELLION.
CONTENTS OF A LETTER RECEIVED BY FIDEL g.
PIERRA-FEAR OF AN EXPLOSION IN SAN
r1Aco MEN READY TO FIGHT FOR


J TIAGo-MEN READY TO FIGHT FOR
THE INSUFFICIENT CAUSE.
Filel c. Pierr,, OF No. 1873 st. Johns Place
who Is chairman OF the Press Committee OF the
Cuban headquarters said last. night that ne
had within the last few days received a. ie''e'
from friends in Santiago. CUBA saying
that the people of that city were in constant
fear that some frightful catastrophe would over
take them and that they would almost prefer
death TO the present state OF affairs there. a
threat has been made that the entire city VIII
be blown up and they are in perpetual fear OF
an awful fate.
well" said Mr.. Pierra to Tribune reporter
such a thing is not altogether unlikely. Dut
It will be a last extremity. We have got u
get rid Of the Spaniards some way. and extreme
measures may be taken some time in the future.
II understand that the Spanards are prepar-
ing to send TO Cuba about forty thousand troops.
The Government Is in such a state OF fear OF us
men that IL is going to ship them without arms
or ammunition. and send along war vessel
10 ouell any outbreaks that may take place
among the men. They afraid OF mutlny'
They are shipping their rifles In a separate yes
sci That is a very good condition of affairs
for us for II can be imagined how these SOL
diers-rnost OF them young men, torn from thei'
homes and pressed into service-wili nght ioT
snain They are all men without military
trairing with the exception Of few officers IN
each regiment, and have never shouldered
musket.
IF the Spaniards are active. We are equally
so Preparatiors are being made for the next
campaign. and General Gomez is now organic
ing another army of INVASION and expects 10
be in MatanZas and Havana again IN Septeh-
Der That Is his programme. and ne does not
conceal it from the Spaniards He lets them
know where he is going, as he did previously.
hut he will not tell them what route he Will
take
THE prospect is that in few months there
will not be a Spaniard in the Interior OF the
island They will be forced to vacate all the
stroncholds they OCCUPY now and will be driven
TO the seashores They may hold out Tor
little while for we haven't the artillery that we
would like AS far as ammunition is concerned
the Cubans are pretty we'll provided. II they
had 10 600 or 10000 more rifles, there wouio ne
a man for every one. We would have lOOooo
men If we had the rifles. There are at the pres
ent time in Cuba 10000 men without rlhes VINO
would be willing TO go to the front al any .i''e'
"Ve have great advantage OF the Srapiards
on the island because we do not nave 10 oty
provisions. We have got all the cattie, anu w,
tables we need, while the Spaniards nave 10
get their food from the outside we nave TAKEN
great care that the surroundings OF the large
cities that are occupied by the enemy nave peeh
all laid waste. They using condensed ihlik
and cannot obtain any fresh milk at all. IN
Santiago they are paying 10 cents for an egg
The condition Of the people in the large cities -
growing so extremely bad that the Spahiarus
are allowing them to join the CuDans 10 save
them from starvation. J.,
What the Spanards are looking TOT now Is
Interference on the part of the united STATES
They think that they are going TO nave per
forma war with this country, in when cas-"
they can withdraw from the fight with honor
But they will be greatly mistaken. for when
tbe interference comes the enemy VIII nave 10
withdraw in disgrace. .,,
,.The wealthy Spaniards in Cuba are entlrely
disheartened The best proof OF this fact tnat
,ve have Is that we have received VISITS from
several committees who wish us 10 accept
form, Of self-government similar TO the Cahddan
system We told them that we were not io'
autonomy and that what we wanted was lllu,,
nendence / do not believe that SPAN "oui.
over agree 10 such a form OF government, pu.
the gentlemen who called on us were cohnuent
that they could influence the Government u
do . -, c-,.h (.oyern
"Jt is an outrage that the Spanish Govern
ment should go into home as IL does anu tane
from il the young Of the family, ana maxi
them fight against cause for Wnch they ma,
the greatest sympathy. Even the women IN
Spain are beginning TO revolt against haNlne
their sons and husbands taken from then,
They now realize that not one or them ever