Evening star., 1896-12-15
MACEO PRAISES RIVERA.
The Last Letter Received by the
Cuban Junta I'm New York.


The last letter that the Cuban junta i'm
New York city received from Antonio
Maceo, curiously. contained an estimate OF
the qualities of Gen. Ruiz Rivera who. IL
Maceo has been killed. is now generally
admitted. will succeed to that insurrection-
list leaders command.
General Maceo wrote:
Rivera is not only brave, tireless and
indomitable. but he is great tactician.
He is a thorough soldier. and has had mill
tary advantages enjoyed by but few of the
men in my command. He knows the map
of Cuba well as the oldest guide and
can hold Pinar del Rio against the Spanish
army for ten years. If necessary. His ideas
of mountain fighting have always met with
my cordial approval. and i'm those instances
where he has been compelled to think and
act for himself, he has shown GOODNESS.
A wisdom and strategic talent even su-
perior TO my own ON several occasions hs
has converted defeat into victory. ON
Others, when ii looked as IL he and a small
fierce were absolutely shut In by a large
army, he has escaped without losing a man.
In establishing his post he has picked
out invariably positions that were almost
fmpregnable, and which at the same time
permitted him an avenue of escape i'm case
the worst should come to the worst
I'm storing and concealing munitions Of
war and camp equipments he has shown a
cunning that at times has made me even
laugh | believe he could conceal a regi-
ment of horses inside of a Spanish army
and keep them undiscovered a month
He had great record in the ten years
war, and since that time has continued his
military studies and experience. He was a
good organizer and a good disciplinarian
and at the same time is very popular with
his men. He is what is called a Yankee in
his methods, being very careful of his SOL
diers. cautious of losing life. and extremely
strict in keeping the weapons of his men
i'm the best possible order Ii is well to
write you of these things. because at any
moment l am liable to be killed by the
enemy. and some one to take my place II
1t be Rivera, am certain you will have a
general of such ability and greatness"
Much indignation is expressed 10 the
Junta over the announcement made by ex-
United States Consul to Cardenas. s. p. c.
Henriques, that Gen. Weyler. on gloating
over the murder of Maceo, had given au-
thor1ty TO band of 800 negroes TO march
through the island and pillage and ravage
everything they met in the way.
kilograms conveying expressions of con-
dolence and promising to purchase powder
and arms for the continuance of the fight
i'm Cuba were received from Jacksonville
Dallas, Tampa. Key West New Orleans
Atlanta, Guaymas, Mexico, and Port au
Prince.
The Cuban junta has not yet received a
complete list of the members OF General
Maceos staff who were killed recently.
Some of the little band that fell with Ma
fornia, but the junta cannot confirm that
report part Of the stan, which con-
sisted of sixteen men, was recruited in New
York city.
Jersey City, has offered to the junta a large
cannon. which will probably be accepted.
Rev. DIR. Scudder of Jersey City had a
Cuban flag in his pulpit Sunday.