Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-16
DIRECT NEWS FROM GOMEZ.
He Shows SPANS Cruelty and Weakness o.
Her Forces in Cubu.

New York, May 15.-Senor Toma
Estrada Palma has received the fol
lowing letter from General Gomez, thu
commander-in-chi of the Cuban
army:
| General Headquarters OF the Cubar
Army Iguara, April %, 1896
To Citizen Tomas Estrada, Plenipoten.
| tiary Delegate in New York:
| Dear Friend-Without any letter from
you to which | may refer, / take adj
| vantage of an unexpected rest to ad-
dress you few lines. with the sol,
purpose of telling you about the recent
doings of big Spanish column, made
| up of the three arms, which has under
| taken the task of preventing my march
to the west. as advised in my last let
ter In order to make this as short as
possible. / Will copy from my diary:
April lion approaching the river
Zaza, by the ford Valdivia. narrow and
dangerous. both shores are occupied by
4 strong Spanish column composed Of
infantry and cavalry. / suspend my
march and explore the field.
April Isl detach some sharp
shooters so as to compel the enemy To
move, placing myself at the right and
trying to leave the Spanish in my rear.
The Spanish do not stir. and the night
prevents further operations.
April 19.--I countermarch. always on
my plan. The enemy advances con-
stantly under my fire, and is brought
to a difficult path where his infantry
can hardly move. Not more than three
miles could we advance during the
whole day. and when night comes we
are face to face.
april POI continue advancing
with nothing to spoil my plans. The
enemy moves with the same. If not
more, caution. as before. and makes
only slight advances. Night again
stops our manocuvres. the Spanish.
seemingly. not caring to press very
much on us. AMI / for my part having
in mind the desirability Of sparing my
men so as To get with alt our strength
in other regions.
April 21-The enemy advanced
scarcely half a league toward me- and.
abandoning the pursuit. camps at Igu
ara, one Of their permanent cntrcnched
FORTS IN our march we have described
seIni-circle of at most 10 leagues In
diameter. and that has taken us more
ehaa three days
I am told that the Spanish column is
lnder Col. Martin. and notwithstand-
ne the many years IF campaigning
hat have made me familiar with the
Spanish atrocities and cruelties in
f'uta, | have felt greater disgust and
1orlor than ever before at this col |
umu & work.
They have sacrificed numberless
heads of cattle. not even sparing the
calves. To deprive us of horses. they |
kill all that come within their reach, |
young and old, good and bad.
To complete the cruel work. a procla-
nation was issued ordering the concen-
tration of the peasants. thus forcing
them TO abandon their homes and take
refuge in the towns, whether they are
provided for or not.
1t has now been ordered that their
houses be burned and their cattle
killed. And all this. with their Gus
tomary hypocrisy. they describe a
having been done by US. Tired waiting
for us to take these savage measures.
they go themselves to the horrible task
and represent their doings as ours.
There would be a rational explana-
ton of this on our part. if we would
recur to il, disposed as we are to hoist
,ur triumphant flag upon the ruins of
the colony. 1t is not the same with
Spain, whose interest is to preserve and
protect everything in Cuba. and con-
vince one and all that there is no justi
ication OF our side
ii is very strange. but at the same
time it is clear and manifest proof of
SPANS weakness. that she entertains
no other hope of success than in the
terror she inspires in the innocent and
disarmed. AT the same time she hopes
to deprive the liberating army of all
resources. ! cannot find any other eX-
nlanation for the measures which Gen.
Neylor has enforced in this war, thus
tddirg shame and misery t. his hated
lame.
l am fully confident of the success OIL
our summer campaign and have no
doubt that we shall continue receiving
your valuable support both materially
md morally through your efforts near
the American government.
1t is useless to say anything about the
'perations in general. The reading of
he Spanish press is enough to show
which of the two armies leads the cam
paiSn and which is on the defensive.
Your true friend,