Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-01
THE SITUATION IN CUBA
Gen. Bradley 7. Johnson Tells
What He Knows of 1t.
THE INSURGENTS WILL WIN
Bankers, Planters. Lawyers, Doctors and Uni
versity Men in Sympathy with Them.
WITH PLENTY TO EAT AT HAND
There Is no Chance to Starve Them Out
Plenty of Arms With Which to Fight
and Maceo as the Leader,
Victory Is Sure.
WITH PLENTY TO EAT AT HAND

Baltimore, Nov. 30-In discussing the
situation in Cuba Gen. Bradley T. John
son, recently returning from there, says
it Is impossible to get reliable or accurate
information as to the Cuban army.
II have investigated carefully" said he,
"and was never satisfied. Consider the
state of mind in Baltimore among the
southern sympathizers during the civil
war, recall the exaggerations of their en-
thusiasm and the dreams of their hopes.
Then intensity that thousand fold and
you have faint idea of the condition of
things at Havana today. All Spaniards
are for the government, all Cubans are
for the rebellion
what sort of people are supporting the
rebellion?" the general was asked.
'The bankers, the planters, the writer's,
lawyers, doctors, the professors of the
University of Havana, and the people.
The University of Havana Is hot bed of
patriotism. The boys run off by the
score to join Gomez and Maceo, and some
of the professors are ministers plenipo-
tentiary from the Cuban republic to the
South American governments, as Frank
lin and Laurens were from the devoted
colonies to France in 1777-78. think the
property the culture and the courage of
the island is on the side of the rebellion.
THE insurgents is supported by wealth
directed by intelligence and conduced
with genius and courage. 1 think the
rebels Outright and out-maneuver the
Spaniards, and they will wear them out.
"There Is no chance of the rebels being
starved out of the Pinar del Rio district.
for the woods are full of cattle, hogs and
sweet potatoes. They will always have
plenty to eat. They are armed with
Refningtons, Spencers, Mausers, every
variety Of carbine and revolver and all of
them. first rate, but, their calibres vary,
which is terrible disadvantage. In war
all cartridges ought to fit all guns of the
same kind. They have few American
ana foreign artillerists, who rapidly in
struct other foreigners in the service, and
as their artillery is reinforced men will
be ready to use the new cannon. would
say without definite information. that
thAg need company officers. captains and
He,ttenants and orderly sergeants more
than anything else.
"They are making the gamest fight that
ever was made not excepting that made
by the confederates in the civil war
They are wearing out the Spaniards and
after Weyler comes back to Havana
again the Spaniards will not throw up
the sponge, but will sit in towns and
make faces at the rebels who will rule
the country.
but If they do succeed will they be
capable Of self government? WIN there
not be a repetition of San Domingo or
Mexico?"
mo tribe is capable of self govern
ment. That requires the constant strug-
gle against the forces of nature and the
pressure of power such as the Anglo
Mortimer conducted for a thousand
years against the tempest of the North
sea and the encroachments of feudal
power, thousand years TO produce sucn
q race as this self-reliant, self-con-
trolled,. liberty-loving, justice and right n
practicing American race 1t Is the
evolution of the ages 1t Is the mower
of civilization. and no Roman race Will
ever equal 1t.
'Its area is about equal to Pennsylva-
mia, It's population 1,102,899 white, 4S5, 1877
include all mixed blood, white means
pure blooded You perceive the pop
ulation is about equal to that of Vir-
ginia and is similarly mixed, about two
whites to one of all other races"
"with peace and order restored there,
how long would it take for 100000
American mechanics to take possession
of the island?"
"Such an immigration of skill, energy
and industry as would flow into Cuba
the world has never seen. That would
dispose of the st. Domingo, Mexican,
"Maceo is the genius of the war. He
is quadroon. His mother was the
daughter of Spaniard OF rank as ne is
the son of a Spaniard officer
HE is we'll educated, bright, alert,
dashing and daring. He will wear the
Spaniards out by guerillan war, constant
SURPRISES ambuscades, attacks and re-
treats. Mosby, with 300 men, kept 10000
men constantly employed for two years
in the mountains of Fauquair and Lou
don, in Virginia, chasing him up and
down hill and dale, but they never cap
tured him, and he cost them thousands
of men and millions of money.
"It is a condition and not theory that
Mr. Cleveland and the congress are
bound to meet, and a condition cannot
be lodged 1t grabs men and nations
and makes them act"