Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-19
IN GOOD SHAPE.
Maceo Amply Able to Give
Good Account of Himself.
f. G. Pierra Of the Cuban Junta on
the Situation on the Island.
HAS Every Faith in the Ultimate Success oi
the Patriots.

| New YORK, NOV. lS.-When so vel
! informed a man as F. G.. Pierra, ex-
secretary of the Pan-American Con-
| gress and member of the Cuban
Junta, says that Spain will, as a last
resort, go to war with the United
States there is reason in the govern
ment's present preparation for that
emergency.
| Being asked to give his views on the
state Of affairs in Cuba, and the prob
able outcome of General WeyIer's as
sumption OF the personal command of
Spanish forces in the field in Pinar del
Rio, Mr. Pierra said. substantially:
Not since hostilities began has the
! Cuban army under Maceo been so we'll
equipped. so we'll disciplined or SO well
| provisioned as at this time. Maceo
has ample ammunition for the present,
! and has been so long in possession of
| the strOnghOlds west of the Trocha
| Marel (the westernmost trocha on the
| isianO that he has completed a sys-
TEN of defenses which are impregna-
HE to Weyler.
Large quantities of dynamite have
| been safely delivered to Maceo, and
| should the Spaniards succeed in cross
Ing one of Maceo's subterra obstruc-
| tons they would have gained practi-
| cally nothing by the loss of men which
would invariably follow. There are
| many of these subterra distractions,
and no force which General Weyler
can command will succeed in crossing
all of them. and unless all be crossed
nothing of vital injury to the patriot
army will have been done"
| DO you believe, Mr. Pierra, that
| Spain would have the termerity to
| make war on the United States"
| Whenever Spain has been unable to
hold one Of her colonies after a re-
| beilion she has preserved her honor,
as they say by bringing on a quarrel
with some other Power, and that will
be her course when she finds it impos-
sible to continue the war in Cuba.
The Spanish government knows
| that war with this country would be
ridiculous on their part. and when the
time comes the war will be what l
might term pro forma, and not actual.
1t will be declaration. not action. and
its sole purpose will be to prevent the
overthrow of the present dynasty by
the loss of Cuba.
The government knows that the
people would stop at nothing if the
ministry We're to confess that Cuba
had achieved her independence I'M
aided. 1t is for that reason that the
Spanish press harps on the alleged
assistance which citizens of the United
States are giving the Cubans. When
the time comes Cuba will be aban-
ha Svo ,;c,v
ignorant as they are. will believe that
the loss of the island is due to war
with this country. That will pacify
the populace, and Spain's honor will
be saved
What do you argue from the dearth
of news from Weyler's army"
1T may be construed in two ways.
If Weyler had accomplished anything
he would have informed the world of
what he had done. 1t may be that he
has temporarily cut off Maceo's means
of communication with Havana. which
would account for the fact that we
have heard nothing direct from him
lately. If he has done this. it is of no
consequence. for our regular lines of
correspondence cannot be permanent
ly closed. and We shall soon hear how
things are going on with the patriots"
What. in your opinion. will be the
result of Weyler's taking the field in
persona"
1T will be without practical result
If he proposes to act against Maceo in
Pinar del Rio, he must act quickly. If
he does not Gomez may advance upon
Havana, which his army could reach
within a week. Our latest advices
showed Weyler to be about fortyfive
miles southwest of Havana. Maceo
was then on his west. in a. country
which makes it safe for his army and
highly dangerous for Weyier and ms
troops. To the south of Weyler is a
swampy country, into which the Span
iards dare not follow Maceo if he
deems it desirable to retreat
why is it that filibusters are able to
land their cargoes so frequently. Mr..
Pierra?"
That is the simplest thing in the
world. Spain has As vessels of one sort
or another watching for fiilibusters. If
she had twice as many and pursued
her present plan. we would have no
difficulty in getting men and supplies
ashore.
'Spaniards from time immemorial
have been wretched sailors. The COM
manders of her vessels patrollling the
Cuban coast are afraid to navigate the
waters when it is dark. To avoid dos
iEs so. the gunboats, if they leave one
port in the morning will drop anchort
before darkness comes in some other
port, or lie at anchor in place of
safety in case of storm.
when we wish to land we take the |
Of navigating in the night |
the darker the better. This is why |
SPANS fleet is 20 incapable of doing |
at all commensurate with it's
cost of maintenance"
How about the rush to take the |
latest loan in Spain?'
1T is all childish prattle. Spain cam
not raise money in England. and her
people have none"
You may remember her attempt to |
float loan of 5000, 0OO.OO in England |
The loan was to have been |
made on September rs. On September |
&c l received cable message from a |
banker in London advising me that
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