Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-08-26
GOMEZ HAS HIS SAY.
He Tells What the Cubans
Have Done.
WILL PUSH THE FIGHT AHEAD.

Never Believed President Cleveland
would Recognize the Belligerency Of
Cuba-He Says SPANS Weak Point Is
Lack of Money and He Is Going TO
Take Advantage of 1t.
NEW YORK, Aug. 25.-The Herald
this morning publishes the following
eo.rsspoldence from Santa Ana, Cuba,
under date of Aug. 10. In speaking OF
the attitude of the United States to-
wards Cuba and the possibility of Presi-
dent Cleveland recognizing the belliger-
ency of the Cubans, Gomez said;
II have forbidden the discussion OF
the question in my camps. For weeks
my men fairly held their breatns wait
ing word from Washington. 1t was
waste of time. Long ago realized that
we must fight this war alone and I'M
aided. We can win our Independence
while the executive of the United States
is considering the question of our pos
sible belligerency.
Il have no doubt of the sympathy OF
tho American people as whole. In
fact have the best evidence of their
good will. Many Americans are fight
ing in my ranks, and good, true men
they are. The chief of our artillery is
an American from | os on, and ne
drawer man lives "
'How long do you think the war will
continued
Il prefer not to appear in the guise OF
a prophet. leave that to General
Weyler," was the response.
'You are confident of success in the
end"
las certain of it as [ am that Cuba is
an island, but must fight the battle in
my own way. I know that we are
called guerrillas that some people mar
vel because we prefer to fight from am
bush, but we are in this war to win.
Ammunition is scarce and think l
know how to use it to advantage.
'sGuba is now ours. 1t is true the
Spaniards hold most of the seaport cities
and some of the interior towns, but in
the latter they are getting very tired.
We don't let them sleep much and now
we will see that they do not eat. +"
will there be this coming fall any
exceptions made in your order against
grinding cane?p
Not one,' replied the general
Nothing viii be tolerated which may
yield revenue to Spain. Lack of money
is Spain's weak point, and am going tC
take advantage of it. I have no desire
TO destroy property. but Cuba must be
free. But will have no more Of bar.
ter. Communication between the coun.
try and cities held by Spanish troops ia
now cut off and will so remain. Their
only hope OF relief must come from con-
yoys, and ever waiting for the enemy s
conveys, are our ambuscades.
"All our fighters are not from am.
bush. however. The battle Of Saratoga,
which lasted four days and nights, was
anything but an ambush. General Cas-
tellano had more than 1000 men, while
we made the attack with force of less
than 600 Not all of my old trained
veterans, W ON left in the west, but
comparatively raw recruits, hastily
gathered together in Camaguey.
THE troops fired 90, 900 shots, accord
ing to their own report. We fired about
$4,000. There were nearly 80 graves,
only II of which were of Cubans, and
yet, according to Havana reports, they
always drive us out of our camps, kill
many and capture a quantity of our am.
munition. My men may not be possessed
Of superior workmanship. but they fire
at hollow SC fare or at mass, while on
line, being SO extended, permits most Of
the Spaniards' bullets to pass between
us.
"They say we won't come ont and
fight" said General Gomez, with a
laugh What have they built that wire
fence around the city of Puerto Principe