Evening journal., 1896-05-04
Cubn,s Terrible Ally.


exists in Havana, though not as pesti-
lence. excepting In the summer season.
There were deaths from this cause every
week last winter; that Is in December.
January ard February, II these months
can be called winter, In climate where
there Is no real winter. The native
Cubans are sccllmated and not so sub
jsct to the disease as foreigners who
can rarely escape 1t IL they come to the
Island in the Summer months. There
Is a hospital in Havana which Is never
free from the fever and there are deaths
there from this cause probably every day
In the year.
II is now about the opening season Of
this epidemic, and 1t has been hailed
with Joy by the native Cubans, for It
viii, In all probability, decimate the
ranks Of the Spanish army much more
rapidly than can be done by the armies
of the Cuban patriots A terrible ally is
this scourge, worse even than war, and
It is likely to put stop for some months
at least, to the efforts of Spain to subdue
the revolution. In q previous Cuban
rebellion from Spanish authority which
is often cited, as the ten years war, ard
during the year 1877. when the Spaniah
troops amounted TO less than 90. 600
strong they lost from sickness-yellow
fever, chiehy-170OO men.
Based upon the experience just men
toned, the Cubans can reasonably expect
that one-third Of the invading army is
likely to be wiped out Of existence before
any more serious attempts for their sub
jugation are undertaken. The lndica-
tlons are that the yellow fever season
will be very lively this year, and It 10
understood that our recently appointed
consul gsnerAl-Gsneral Fitzhugh Lee
IL hesltatiDg about going to Cuba at the
very opening Of this annual psstilence.
White men who are unacclimsted are
usually warned to keep away from
Havana at this season, for the fever is
almost always fatal to them. Yet It is
important that tho United States should
be represented In Cuba.
This has given rise to several sugges-
tions as to the best course for General
Lee to pursue. and the most sensible one
appears to be that he should 20 to
Havana as soon as he can get there and
make the acquaintance Of his predsOss
sor and also OF the vice consul who is
acolimAted and competent to conduct the
business. After be has done this, he had
better take the advice that they are
pretty sure to give him and 60 back to
old Virginia until the season Of the
pestilence Is over. He could not travel
In Cuba during this season. Military
operations will be suspended and this
terrible ally Of the Oubans will do more
TO help on their freedom than our consul
could possibly do II he were ever so well
disposed We do not doubt General
Lees courage. but he Is not compelled TO
sacrifice his life to an enemy like yellow
fever, and he should not be expected to
do so.
The spaniSrds have certainly failed to
do one tithe Of what they expected at the
beginning OF the late fighting season in
Cuba There is little reason to expect
any more Spanish successes bsfore the
camptign Is closed. 80 far as aggressive
movements on their part are concerned.
The Cubans who now overrun the entire
Island are acclmated and will take ad-
vantage OF their opportunity to drive their
enemies into their gsrrlsons and keep
them there unless they are able to con
quer them Altogether, the situation,
deplorable as 1t is in some respects. is
favorable to the Cuban patriots. aud
when the pestilencs is over we may find
that the rule OF Spain will also have
come TO q close In Cuba