The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-18

Do When He Takes Charge OF Things.
NEW YORK, Nov. 12.-Ncw thai
Mckinley has been elected President
of the United States, Cuban sympa
thizers arc beginning to ask what steps
he will take TO put an end 10 The
bloody struggle nov going on in that
unhappy island.
There was no uncertain ring 10 Tie
Republican platform adopted IN st.
Louis. and the very least the new
President can do when he takes the
Presidential chair will be to bring the
matter before g sympathizing con
gresS.
In the meantime, what are the Gu
bans going to do to help themselves!
For the last six months they have re
mained practically idle as far as etfec'
tive warfare is concerned. They have
burned several towns and have fought
several battles, but nothing strategic,
ally important has been effected. A
great deal of this idleness has been i'm
posed by the rainy season.
It is no easy matter to move troops
over a country that is knee deep IN
water and reeking with fever and ma
laria. Another thing that hampers the
Cubans just now is their lack OF hor-
ses. Thousands Of animals were rid
den to death on that long zizag march
down the island to Pinar del Rio, and
thousands more were shot by the
Spaniards. At present the Cnbans are
in bad way for horses, and without
horses they cannot move with celer-
ity sufficient 10 circumvent mounted
forces such as the Spaniards have.
This, according to reliable Cuban
information, is why nothing has been
heard from Gomez in such a long
time and why Maceo has remained 50
quiet in Pinar del Rio.
The latter has done almost all the
fighting during the last summer, but
he has done the most Of it with his
foot soldiery. At present it is said that
he has barely sufficient horses to trans :
port his camp equipages.
All this, however, is to be remedled
at an early day. Until then the Gu
bans will remain quietly in the noun
famous districts, avoiding open en-
gagements and confining themselves
to occasional sorties on the Spanish
lines.
I am told that arrangements have
been made 10 land between 4, 600 and
5000 horses in the Nuelta Abajo dis
trict at an early day, and an equal
number will be landed in the vicinity
of Cape Maisi. Then the patriots will
begin their old scheme of marches and
counter marches and their quick at
tacks on the Spanish positions.
These horses will practically drain
the Cuban treasury, butif they can be
safely landed the wornout soldiers
will welcome them with far more sat-
isfaction than they would welcome
guns and ammunition.
1t is not likely that 10000 horses
would last the Cubans over season
at most. Unacclimated horses are in
evitably stricken with fever-a sort OF
equine yellow fever in fact-which
carries them off in great numbers.
Within two months, however, it is
expected that the Cubans will make
decided move in the direction of Ha
vana province. Maceo has already de-
monstrated that he can cross the rocha
when and where he pleases, and as
soon as Gomez gets his horses he will
move westward from Puerto Principe.
VIII they attack Havana? Most GER
tainly, If the Spanierds do not beat
them back before they reach that city.
Not that they would have any chance
of capturing the place. Such a thing
without seize guns would be practical
ly impossible, but an hours dash
through the streets of Cuba's capital
and possible dynamite attack on the
palace Of the Governor General is by
no means an impossibility.
The Cuban Junta says that such a
thing will happen within the next
three months. 1t would be a serious
thing indeed if Havana, the last
stronghold of the Spaniards in this
hemisphere, should be attacked by the
Cubans.
AS for the Spaniards themselves,
they would not hesitate to lombard
their own city in their efforts to oust
the Cubans. From the Moro Castle,
the Cabanas and the Punta there
would come steady rain OF shot and
shell. 1t is doubtful, however, if such
bombardment would do much dam
age to the invading forces. Havana
streets are so narrow and the houses
are so strongly made that hitting an
invader would be work of art.
Most Of the forts are exceedingly
antiquated. The guns on the bastions
of Moro Castle are all of the ancient
Dahlgren pattern. Two or three shots
from modern battleship would utter
iy dismantle the Notification. The
Moro stands at the mouth of the bay.
In the olden times-that is, hundreds
of years ago-when it was built, the
fort might have been formidable. At
present it is not worthy of the name.
Just behind the Moro is the Cubanas,
little more modern, a little more
roOmy and little more formidable.
At The same time, both of these forts,
even assisted by the low stone fortlli
cations of the Punta or La Reina,
could not stop modern battle ship on
her way up the bay, provided there
were enough water for her to proceed.
The fort on the Punta is just oppo-
site of the Moro Castle, and it is quite
as futile in the matter of defence.
Further around on the ocean side is
the Batera la Raeina, at the foot of
Gale del Belascoin.
1t is ricketv structure of stone and
will probably prove quite as dangerous
as old Fort William, on Governors
To1o~l