The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-25
SPANS HARD TASK.
Why the Cuban Insurgents are DIM
cult to Conquer.

Brunswick. Ga. jan. 24-Published
comments on the apparent inactiOn Of the
Spanish army in the past and the ease
with which Gomez and his insurgent
troops have traversed the length of the is
land have led TO a great deal OF talk here.
The Morning News correspondent has So
cured an intelligent statement regarding
the conditions which made such progress
on we part OF the insurgents possible The
statement says:
Those who are not familiar with the is
land OF Cuba profess 10 he astonished that
the rebellion can hold out so long, and IL
the ilrst separatist campaign were not still
iresh IN the minds of Spaniards, II might
seem lneNplicable 10 them even. That war
lasted twelve years and cost Spain 800,
VVyD IN That war. as in this, the sepa-
rallstS did something 10 Increase SPANS
difficulties. and il would be unjust to deny
them their share of valOr and persever-
ance, but the real obstacles Spain had TO
overcome were those created by the eli
mate and topography of the country. In
an area OF 10000 square kilometers there
are about 10000 inhabitants, the popula-
ton being only thirteen TO the kilometer,
but as the inhabitants are grouped on the
coast the interior of the island is almost
uninhabited. The country IS enveioped in
tropical growth Of vegetation, well nigh
impcnetrable. In the hills and the level
country, not to speak of the forests. en-
tire armies can easily remain concealed.
Whether IN the valleys or the mountains,
the traveller has to cut his way with the
machete, and the path cut through and
opened up by a world OF labor, is again IN
few days rendered almost impossible
by a few days growth OF the brush. I'M
mense marshes and lakes impede ones
progress, and poison the. atmosphere;
numerous rivers, some Of them deep and
broad, and in some parts naVigable, have
for their tributaries countless brooks,
which during the summer rains, overflow
their banks and turn the country into an
inland sea, thus destroying communica-
ton. Abrupt precipices and lofty noun
tains offer an asylum TO fugitives.
the undulating ground which is so fire.
quently to be seen in cuba offers greater
obstacles to the attacking than to the de-
Tending side. The "Mangua," with its
covering of short trees, long grass and
climbing plants of every description, he
comes an almost impenetrable labyrinth,
a perpetual ambush, a huge net in which
the hunter may find himself involved. In
the theater of the war. skillfully chosen
by the insurgents. although there are no
material obstacles to overcome. the
dangers of tropical climate which is
almost entirely innocuOus to the natives
of the island. The Spanish troops, which
are Obliged to march and countermarch
in their pursuit of an enemy which places
great dependence in the rapidity and
craftiness of its movements, suffer fire.
quently from changes Of temperature, the
poor quality of the water, when on low
ground and from the tropical rays of the
sun after a torrential rainfall. In adj
dition to what is above mentioned are the
lesser annoyances-rendered none the
less tolerable because Of their smallness.
These referred to are the flies of which
there are 300 different species, besides
mosquitoes, ants, spiders and numerous
other insects. some of which can sting a
man to blindness or even TO death. Then
there are the more pronounced dangers
to which the soldier is exposed-dysen-
terry, malarial fever, tetanus, small pox,
consumption and the Vomits. 1t is claim
ed that no one, whatever his country, sur
passes the Spaniard in assimilation and
fortitude, but Notwithstanding this the
former war lasted long and was costly
and the reasons mentioned above are as
signed for it. This leads the supporters
of the Spanish flag to believe that their
troops will yet win in the struggle now on.