Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-17
GENERAL JoHNsoN's RETURN.
The Veteran Correspondents View
OF the War In Cuba.
CNew York Journal-i6th.)

(New York Journal-l6th)
General Bradley T. Johnson, who hss
been investigating affairs in war-ridden
Cuba for the Journal. returned to this
port yesterday on the Ward-Line steam
ship vigilancia from Habana. Although
he was In as rugged health as at any
time during his army career, the General
had not secured acclimatization papers
In Habana. AS he had not been absent
from Cuba the required five days he
was transferred at Quarantine to Hof-
man Island with four other passengers.
General Johnson was in excellent
spirits. Learning that he could not land
Immediately. he accepted the inevitable
with the utmost cheerfulness. I'm too
old a sailor to grumble." he said
my leaving Habana was entirely volun-
tary. could have remained longer had
I desired. / received no notice or hint
that my presence was undesired and 1
left when 1t suited me-"
"Cuba Is lost TO Spain," were his first
words regarding the. struggle in the West
Indian island THAT Spain can never
again subdue Cuba may be regarded as
conclusive" he continued. "There is no
possibility of the Spaniards, with their
present or with any other force, crush
ing the revolution. The whole island is
in arms against them. The ranks OF
the insurgents are daily recruited by the
best blood in the island. The leading
social clubs in Santiago de Cuba and in
Habana have been recently broken up.
and the members have gone TO the field.
"a large number Of students of the
University of Habana have left their
classes and Joined the rebels. This shows
the earnestness with which the Cubans
regard this struggle. They will never
give up, and the indications now clearly
point to their ultimate success.
1.-THE reported death OF General Antonio
Maceo, or OF Jose Maceo, is false. / had
letter from General Aguire just before
I left Habana. The messenger who
brought this misslve had just left An
tonic Maceo I'm the field. The messenger
denounced the report that one or both
of the Maceos had been killed as Spanish
lies
"As to the rebel chances, they are GER
tainly good and far outweigh the
prospects OF the Spanish. 1t is generally
understood in Cuba, among those who
have daily confidential communications
from the rebel army, that General Maxi
mo Gomez is preparing to strike some
great and decisive blow in the near fu-
ture.
Il do not understand. IL this is so, why
Gomez allowed his intentions to be dis
closed; but certain it is that Gomez
is moving from Puerto Principe east
ward toward Maceo's troops and this
looks like a projected combination of the
two forces. What the proposed plan Of
action is 1 could not definitely learn, but
the feeling is strong among Cuban SYM
pathizers in Habana that Gomez win at
tempt a decided move very soon.
"Yellow-fever is doing destructive work
along the Spanish lines I'm the trocha.
It is certain to become epidemic, though
the doctors are fighting II. The Spanish
losses through this scourge will be fright
full. In Habana the disease has as yet
made little Roadway, although a few
cases have developed in the slums.
1.-THE war is not likely, in my opinion,
to end soon, unless the United States
interferes The Cubans will not abandon
the fight until the Spanlards are driven
from Cuba; and II necessary. the island
Will be practically destroyed. and the
Spaniards starved out. Such is the spirit
Of resistance displayed by the rebels.
The war, therefore. will be long as I
say, unless the United States interferes
American property is being destroyed
and American citizens ruined daily, be-
cause the United States does not act.
For what is the President waiting?
Why doesn't he move? American inter-
ests demand that he shall strike sharp
and quick and hard"