Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-05
INSURGENTS WILD WITH JOY.
Action of the United states Has Pro-
voked Much Enthusinsm.


| Copyright 1896, by Press Publishing Company }
HAVANA, (via Key west) March 4-(New
York World Cablegram-Special Telegram
The news of the action of the United
States congress has penetrated to every in
surgent camp within thirty miles of Ha-
vana and the Cuban patriots are wild with
| joy. Comment is various, depending upon
comparative intelligence. All rank and file
seem to take President Cleveland's concur
renee as a matter Of course. All are ju-
bilant over what they feel must soon be a
glorious final. The more ignorant honestly
believe that now Spain must lay down her
arms They cannot distinguish between
diplomatic recognition and armed inter-
ference. The less ignorant think that now
cartridges and rifles will Immediately be-
come plentiful and that expeditions from
the United States will land daily.
The intelligent or about is per cent Of
the Cuban soldiers, realize that II will be
at least a mon'h before any real effects
will be felt. The feeling among the COM
mon soldiers Is that something great Is to
happen at once.
The educated leaders are uneasy. They
fear the effects of disappointment upon the
men when they find that, should 1t be COM
pleted, the recognition CT Cuban beligerency
does not produce immediate and great re-
suits in favor of the Cuban cause. TO con-
duct successfully prolonged fight with the
sword alone against the finest Of modern
rifles requires high courage in the Cuban
cavalry. This they have, and this 1t is
that the leaders are afraid disappointment
may weaken. The machete must be de-
pended upon until they get cartridges. These
are what the Cuban leaders want. They
have men enough and guns enough-they
want cartridges. And they want their men
to keep their spirits up until cartridges
come. They feel that their agents in the
United States would have an easier time
holl
rights than without.
Gomez, Maceo, Sanchez and the other
generals believe that beligerency should be
accorded them, If only out of respect to
humanity. They prize 1t principally for this.
Gomez wants it so that the Spaniards will
be forced not to butcher those few of my
poor boys they take prisoners" Nine-tenths
of this kind of work is done without the
knowledge Of the Havana authorities.
Should President Cleveland oppose the
measure, the Cuban leaders think that be-
yond momentary disappointment there
will be absolutely no difference in the final
result Of the insurrection in Cuba. The war
will be prolonged That is all. The insur-
gents think that their organization of the
friendly people of western Cuba will enable
them to continue to keep away from
the Spanish soldiers, even If their
number should be doubled, until either
| cartridges or the rainy season
arrives. II the former they will fight. They
Ndul W Dduly, anu lTom lUuf HlCHlHS SuCCeSs-
full sword fight it seems that with arms and
ammunition, in addition to their machetes,
they should win, but IL cartridges and con-
gres both fail them, they still think that
Spain will have to spend more money than
she can get to win the war. The Spanish
troops have not been paid for three months.
They are without money, and there is not
sufficient food to sustain them properly.
This question is not SO serious to the
Cubans, for their "prefects' have been
storing up food in safe places for months
and the mountains with their thousands of
cattle are always close at hand.
No difference has been seen in the field
movements since General Weyler assumed
charge. Vigor in the field depends entirely
upon the column commanders. There is no
more reason for them to fight actively under
Weyler whom they do not fear. than under
Campos, of whom they did stand in whole
some awe. q
General Gomez says to the World CORES
pondent, speaking of General Weyler, PRO
clamations in the cities and victories in the
field are two different things"