New-York tribune., 1896-09-28
CHAOS ~ CTB4.
OBSERVATIONS OF THE PRESENT CONDITIONS
BY AN ENGLISH VISITOR.

From The London Daily News
The nf9 following p1ss2ses f fGm prT5tS St S letter
lively account of the state Of things i'm Cuba:
rs rSm SG9 Sf S5beT 70 of fS6a d
ness or motonony at the present moment But what
used TO have such gay times. Havana in fact used
to be our West Indian substitute for Paris; now
It IL crowded with refugees from the country who
have been ordered In by the Spanish officials. who
then take advantage of the opportunity TO pillage
and destroy the estates so deserted and consid,
ering that only twelve hours grace IS allowed
stand that it is impossible for the owners TO do
more than secure very mail portion OF their
Warfare in cuba is turned into a money ma king
transaction. Every man in authority blackmails or
or fear to accedc TO his deman Is The consequence
this is the condition not only Of the country peo-
pie but also of the troops. Tho poor wretches ars
very much worn and patched. huge straw hats,
and most Of their harress is in dreadful state Of
n is no wonder that the poor fellows are driven
by want TO beg. You will hardly believe IT, but
becm there to see the state Of affairs with me L
would not surprise you to know tnat when unner
fire numbers of the troops go over to the cuban
THE Spanish troops are, a rule, fine lot of
men. but ! cannot say as much Tor the oincers;
many of whom should mover have suspected OF
E%rTn eclTG rhe Toopl d"rns @ y Ta1 oi neys 3. for
the whole railway right along is fortified 20 pre-
shock it would be to English travellers TO see each
man as be enters the train pnhitch his bowie
The scat beside him ready for acton. The troops
are planted between the rawaE S'aons d wners Jd
stone with wooden Lighthouses on top with holes
through. Every station on the line is barri-
caded with railway iron. and the wating-rooms are
converted into barracks. The trains stop constant
" all the way along to distribute food 10 the troops
and to pick up the sick and wounded. Travelling
under such circumstances Is not rapid mode OF
transit. assure you. but al the same 1t was most
interesting and novel though It was sad enough
in all nc M 70 eS M r h houses Sms d
factories are burned down and the land that used
those districts where lighting has taken place the
ground is scattered over with skeletons. both hu-
When reached the ancient town OF BatabanoH
found everything turned upside dow1; the churches
fortified as an attack on the nsurrectionsts was
expected that night. True enough. About o'clock
fire upon them as they advanced. but little they
clearing the earthworks and forcing their way into
the town. 7 cannot describe tho scene that fol-
Gwed It ps W rnS S % %nf the spssaes to % me
partiality at his next neghbor without fear or favor.
e %p n tp hn nbans that
they were greatly outnumbered and retired. The
Three rebel niggers' were captured by the Span.
Very bravey. one dar rkey flnging open his Jacket
and pointing to his heart as he shouted. Shoot
AT Cienfuegos. wnere next went found things
In deplorahe conditioning mines closed, ana tne
yation. yellow fever and smallpox, These diseases
are working terrible havoc among the troops. who
night long and the bell rings the dead are brought
out and carted away for burial So many are young
a nd unseas asoned. and succumb almost as soon as
they arrive to the heat and pestilence So far as
can fudge there Is little prospect OF the war
coming to an end yet awhile. for on the one hand
Spain continues TO pour fresh troops into the ISL
and meet their death one way or another and
as for the Cubans they seem inclined 10 fight to
the bitter end and although the big towns on the
coast have, far. withstood them. still they are
gaining ground day by day. and doubt the
knowledge of what fate would await them in the
event Of ultimate defeat helps TO spur them on,
be but heabte to what they must anticipate In
the future should they be conquered
''rhe Texan fbusters are great boys who came
over for "A good time and. in their opinion.
having II. They fight like demons. and even go
far as asso the riders of their horses occasion
ally. This playful mode OF warfare naturally
strikes terror into the hearts of their adyersares
though their colored comrades admire IL greatly
The Cuban rebels make good OF the machcte
(cutlass) when engaged at close quarters with the