The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-11
1.-THE MORE YOU SAY THE LESS PEOPLE
REMEMBER" ONE WORD WITH YOU
SA o. 10

Antonio Maceo Of the Cuban army for
wards the following statement to the
! correspondent of the Inter Ocean:
| Headquarters Second Army, Las
Canas, Cuba, Jan. FL am pleased to
| comply with your request for state
ment regarding the movements of my
| army in this province, and also would |
! like to reply briefly 10 the charges that
! have been made against me 10 the ef-
| feet that there was an i'll feeling be-
tween General Gomez and myself. AS
the last Is the more important in a GER
tain sense, l Will answer IL at the be-
ginning.
In the first place, 1t was intimated in
your request that many in the United
States thought there was a rupture in
the Cuban army. Il was limited that
between the oomnander-in-chief and
myself there was a misunderstanding,
and that my arny-to use the term en-
ployed by the Spaniards-had been de
serted by General Gomez and left in
the province of Pinar del Rio TO be
trapped.
Such statements are so ridiculous
that serious people would not give them
any consideration; but still there are
many others. even among our most sim
cere friends and supporters, who might
be foolish enough 10 think there might
be some foundation for the rumorS.
In the first place. there can be no such
thing as a misunderstanding rupt-
ure, or whatever you may choose to call
it-between General Gomez and myself.
He is the commander-in-chief, and as
such his orders are as laws TO me. / am
but lieutenant general of the army, and
at all times. IN all places, and for all
reasons, am subject to his commands.
Our army is not organized on a rabble
basis. The man who talks the loudest
Is not the commander. But It is organ
lied on the plan of a modern military
force, where order and discipline Is
maintained and respect for superiors
invariably enforced.
But aside from rules OF military dis
cipline there Is not soldier in the Gu
ban army who would consider for an in
slant the disputing of the words or
command of Maxine Gomez. The en-
tire army confides implicitly in his pat
riotims and his military ability. We
who have known him and followed him
In other wars are too certain of our
own comparative weakness to doubt his
wisdom and judgment. AS 10 the state
ment that he took his command and
hurried back to Havana, leaving US, as
the Americans would say, lin the
lurch," l will say nothing regarding It,
We have our own plan of fighting the
battle of Cuba, and it is not necessary
that the whole world be taken into our
confidence. The Spanish government
would like to know why We separated
our forces in Pinar del 10. 1t would like
to know why General Gomez marched
n Ia 49, Of II
would be pleased TO know just why we
make certain moves and just why we
do not make certain other ones.
When the authorities cannot see a
plausible reason for some-to them-1n-
portant action on the part of the rebel
forces, they Immediately concert some |
agreeable theory and spread it broad |
cast. Still. we do not complain, and II |
they obtain any satisfaction therefrom |
We are not worried. |
But it has appeared strange TO me |
that these people seem 10 delight in |
themselves. They have |
done ii from the beginning of the war, |
and doubtless will continue TO the end: |
and yet they do not seem TO realize that |
they picture their own righteousness to |
the world; for what can people think |
who. having read the Spanish diSDa tch- |
pigmy affair, the next day read Of i
more troops enbarking from Spain 10
reinforce the army OF over 100, 90 men
already here?
General Campos was fond OF carrying
out that policy, for while he sent night
~ dispatches to cheer the queen, the |
ministry, and the people, he was pre-
pairing TO leave for home because he
was unable to put down, or even seri-
Ously hamper, the movement OF REBEL
on.
As to the invasion Of this province,
there Is nothing on our part TO complain
IF. l must confess that the whole peo- (
pie Of the province were not anxious
for US 70 come, but IL was because they
cared their crops would be destroyed
This has not, however, been true, for
We have been very careful in all our
marches 20 avoid the tobacco fields. for
he trampling OF several thousand men
would, OF course, ruin The crops
What have We accomplished by our
INVASION Of the province? a great deal
In the first place We drew the attention
y the authorities 10 this end OF the Is
and, and 5000 re-enfOrcements under
Nunez. Sanchez. and my brother, jose
iaceO, We're enabled 70 march from the
astern end OF the island 20 the province
4 Havana without having a serious en-
,agement- We needed a new supply OF
ammunition. etc, and did not wish 20
march our forces back 20 the CLenaga, !
D Sancti Spiritus. or Cubi;as 10 obtain
Our second advantage has been the
alling Of the entire Spanish fleet o. :
ruiSe-s. gun boats. and coasters 20 look ?