The San Francisco call., 1896-03-18
How the Insurgents Have Often
Overcome Some Tremendous
Obstacles.
A DAREDEVIL ARMY, INDEED
Graphic Description of the Forces
Whose Recognition as Insurgents
Is Demanded.

L
Fla. March 10.--The present strength
of the insurgent army is close to 49,
000s Cubans themselves estimate the
number of men in the field as high as
$4,000, but even if unarmed camp follow
ers, men in charge of provision trains,
hospitals and camps were counted it is
doubtful if that number could be found
actually in service. There are thousands
of Cubans who would willingly cast their
lot with the patriotic army, but lack OF
arms and ammunition prevents.
The insurgent forces operate as a rule in
zones or districts and are organized on
military lines. The columns of Gomez,
Maceo, Lacret and Banderas are, however,
limited to no one province, but pass from
one to another under direct orders of
Gomez. The commander-in-chief is now
in Matanzas and the others have rein
vaded Havana province.
The following is a statement of the
strength and location of the forces of the
principal leaders: Maximo Gomez, in
Matanzas, 5000; Antonio Maceo, Miro
Zalas and others, in Havana, 50OO; Serafin
Sanchez. in Santa Clara, 40O0 Jose Maceo,
Rojas. Rodriguez, in Santiago $500; La
cret, in Havana, 5000; Quintin Banderas,
in Havana, 5000; Masso Alvarez, Castillo,
Mestro, Nunez, in Havana, 5000; Delgado
BermudeZ, Sanchez and others, IL Pinar
del Rio, $500; Aguirre, DiaZ, Hernandez,
Palacios, in Havana, $500; Mayia. Rode
riguez and others, in Camaguey, 1900;
Reyes, Benitez, Vasa, Wilson, Mendicita,
in Santiago. 1000; Rafael Cardenas, in
Matanzas, 500; Verona. Ruperto Sanchez
and others, in Pinar del Rio, 500; Olivia
I'd others, n Pinar del Rio, 600; GARLIC.
Joaquin Garcia and others, in Santiago,
800; Roloff, Pancho, Perez, in Santa Clara,
500; Mlrahel, Ferrez, Veita, in Santa Clara,
500; Rego, Sixto, Rogue, Palao, Sanchez,
in Santa Clara, 500; Cortuna, Vidal,
Juan Bravo in Santa Clara 4Ge; Juan To-
Iedo, Ell Inglesito. in Santa Clara, 400;
Matagas in Matanzas, 400; Robau, Cebreco,
Ruen, Pfanas, in Santiago, 400; Borroto,
Lancho, Sardinas, Eduardo Garcia, in Ma
tanzas, 400; Aulit, Mosion, Demas, Mar
tinez, Sorolongo, in Matanzas, 400; VII
lancoa, Acosta, Aguilar and others, in
Havana, 800; Munez, Chapotin, Sosorro,
Limo Perez, in Santa Clara, 200; total,
$500.
The distribution according to provinces
Clara, $500; Santiago, $500; Pinar del Rio,
5000; Camaguey. 2100; total, 42, 800.
In addition to the foregoing there are
innumerable local bands from fifteen men
to fifty or even 100. These do not form
part of the fighting force and should not
be counted as part of the army.
Their chief functions are to carry out
the orders of Gomez, prohibiting the
grinding of cane, the movement of troops
and supplies by rail. the shipment of pro-
visions to cities, the suppression OF ''pla-
teados," who rob, burn and commit other
crimes. These small bands serve as re-
cruiting agencies, and when they grow too
large for local operation they are attached
to one of the army columns. OF the army
proper, fully two-thirds are well mounted
and about half are we'll armed. The others
are armed with shotguns, revolvers or
machetes. Some of Maceo's men have
old-style muzzle-loading guns, and lead is
SO scarce that telegraph wire chopped into
short lengths is used for the charge. Span
ish surgeons have on several occasions re-
ported soldiers wounded with bits of wire.
The insurgents have a few pieces of
mountain cannon captured from Govern
ment troops. There are perhaps dozen
of these guns, which have been used with
disastrous effect against the small wooden
forts which the Spanish troops have erected
at various points. The Cuban army of
liberation, as it is called, has grown to it's
present size in the face of almost insur-
mountable difficulties. From the begin
ming it has been outnumbered by the army
of Spain in never less than four to one.
1t has escaped annihilation in many en-
counters when ammunition ran out. 1t
has lived on forage, been almost constantly
under fire and is to-day reckless, dare
devil army with but one idea in view, and
that is to free Cuba. What comes after is
not given thought. J. FRANK CLARK.