Evening star., 1896-12-01
SENIOR De QUESADA
Talk With the Charge d'Afaires Of
the Cuban Legation
ABOUT WEYLER'S MURDEROUS POLICY
The War Situation Favorable to
the insurgents.
RE ECEN IT Gee S s E S

Szror Gonzalo de Quesada. charge daft
faires of the Cuban legation. who has re-
established the legation at the Raleigh. III
this city. was interrogated by a Star re-
porter this morning on the conditions IN
Cuba. and the progress OF the revolution.
Senior ore sGda said that the Spanish au-
thor1ties Rad evidently become alarmed
over the constant publication in American
papers of true stories of the atrocities
prlcticed by their troops in the island, and
were now engaged in sending emissarles
through the country under the guise Of i'm
partial observers. who secured the puDilca-
ton of Interviews with themselves pur-
porting to be correct views of the real
facts and seeking in this way to overcome
the frGignant sentiment of the American
people
WcyIer's NurderOus Policy.
The murderous policy being pursued by
Weyler and his agents in Cuba" said Senor
ouesada mas been indicated by the re-
ports of every newspaper correspondent
who has gone there from this country.
These correspondents have given the names
of persons brutally tortured and killed. the
places where it was done and the dates oil
the occurrences. Not Cubans. bnt Ameri-
cans have been the worst witnesses against
u.
repC rts too, tell every day of the shooting
of prison ers. the majority of whom are
only suspected of sympathy with the Gu
tan cause, while hundreds of others are
SenteI ced TO penal servitude, which Is
worse than death.
The recent DEGREES of Weyler. con-
tinued Quesada, all show that extermlna-
tion is the purpose of his policy. But Wey-
Ter is merely carrying out SpalnS orders
,Th. same course has been pursued in the
Philippine Islands, and scores of reputable
EESi.Sn witnesses have testified. In the
Philippines all of the tortures OF the inqul-
sition have been brought into requisition.
and the proof is positive that sixty revo-
lutionists We're put in the black hole at
Manila and asphyxiated.
The Military situation.
What is the military situation in Cuba
inquired the reporter.
In the past few months, was the re-
ply, the Cuban army has been strength
ened and made ready for the active winter
campaign by the landing of over $500 rifles
and several pieces of artillery. large
supply of ammunition has also been safely
landed, as we'll as a quantity of medical
and other necessary supplies. We have
now about 35.mo men fully armed and
equipped and twice that number ready to
take weaporS as soon as they can be sup
Piled. The stories of sickness ravaging
forces are pure Spanish inventions.
Our men are in the best Of spirits and.
being thoroughly acclimated., are in good
health and determined to keep up the
fight indefinitely if necessary.
How about the food SupplieS?'
We have abundant food supplies, an
swered Senor Quesada. "the Cuban gener-
ais having long ago taken the precaution
to drive the cattle in the territories of
their operations into secure places. Even
Maceo. who occupies the least favorable
province. that of Pinar del Rio, has cattle
enough 10 last his forces for two years.
1T,
weapons, and are living under the various
projects in the three eastern provinces.
are cultivating large areas in all kinds of
vegetables. The Cubans have also estab-
lished salt works at different points on the
coast. and there is complete interchange
of products.
Cubans Hold Three-FOurths of the
Island.
II: must be remembered" continued
Senor QusSada. that more than three
fourths of the Island of Cuba is In the
hands of the Cubans and under the con-
troll of the civil government. Public
schools are being established in the interior
and the first book published has been
primer containing the primary lessons in
the language. In the provinces of Santiago
lie Cuba and Port au Principe the Span
iaris hold but five six inland towns, and
they heavily garrisoned. Some of these
towns are now being besieged by the
I
forces being Guaimaro. Gen. Calixto
Garcia took this town after twelve days
siege There were sixteen forts protecting
the town, and one by one they were dis
abled by onr artillery, and abandoned by
their Spanish garrisons. who took refuge
and barricaded themselves in a large stone
church IN the center of the town. Gen.
Garcia ordered twelve-pounder and six
FOUNDER guns to be used against the mas
sive old building.
The Spanish sent messages to Gen. Cas-
tellanos for reinforcements. but were COM
PEELED to surrender before help arrived.
One captain. four lieutenants. twenty-five
subaltern officers and nearly 300 privates
surrendered. Weyler's policy of shooting
prisoners was not carried out by Gen.
Garcia, who sent nineteen wounded to the
Spanish ranks. The Spanish commander.
Gen. Castellanos. sent six carts to get the
wounded, thus accepting the prisoners, who
were delivered by the Cuban general. Lope
Recio Thus 1T will be seen that the Cubans
are recognizing the humanties Of war,
despite the murderous policy of their
enemies.
Money and Ammunition Captured.
In Guaimaro we captured $21 1000 in
Spanish gold. over 800 Mauser rifles. 125,-
600 rounds of ammunition, 500 machetes
and a large supply of clothing and medical
stores. An active campaign will be con-
tinued by our forces while Weyler is fruit
lessly attempting to catch Maceo."
DO you think Havana will be besieged
this winter" asked the reporter.
IF We can send enough artillery, in
Guiding our dynamite guns. to Havana,
which is probable, I think the investment
of Havana will be possible"
DO you expect action on the part Of the
United States?
Il will answer that question:" replied
Senor Quesada, with a smile. when Con-
gress meets and the Presidents message is
read. 1 do not believe, however, that a
civilized and free nation like the United
States will much longer submit to a con-
tinuation of such brutal and inhuman
warfare as Spain Is prosecuting at her very
doors