The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-12

fleet. with which we had several 'encoHr-
ters.' 50 70 speak. along the northera coast.
wss keeping good watch between Cuba.
Florida and Mexico. several good expeas-
tionS landed IN the Oriente from Jamaica
and san Domingo. and hv this time The
stores they brought are safely In the hands
OF our friends in the Sierra Maestro noun
tains oar lire Of communication between
this end OF the island and the province Of
Santiago de Cuba IS practically perfect.
and we have no reason 10 fear being cut
on. The Sranisr5S have long since given
up the idea that military line. called a
'tnocha' ttrsnehl. woald keep US within
certain limits. and their plan now is. as
see H. 70 surround with a large force the
smaller bands, one al a time. and end the
war by degrees. Gen. Gomez saw this.
toe. and the army was divided into Sec
tsons that should about suit the tastes 81
the Spanish generals. but none OF the small
bands have been captured yet Ny army,
consisting of about Ssoa- men. principally
infantry. has Travelled ali about FinaF del
Rio province. and Yet We have had no seri-
Gus battle with the exception OF Las Tair-
onas. although there are. as near as / can
learn. about $A.ea government troops be-
tween here and the city of Havana
since entered this preysnee the
strength OF the entire Cuhan army has in
creased at least p per cent. or. In other
standard. About half that number are
mounted and are with Gomez and Nunez
Three thousand are with my command
and the remainder are under Pe,gado. III
We had arms enough 10 supply all who Of
feFe9 their services in the cause OF beloved
Cuba. the army of the republic in Havana
and Mstanxss provinces would today mus
ter $500 men. oRe-haif cavalry. Bnt We
had not arms for them. There s no use
in saying we had and there is nothing for
Us TO gain by bsasfing as does the Span
lard. Our men are not well armed by sny
means. Had they been there would today
be no Spanlsh columns outside the cities Of
Havana. Matanzas ana Santiago de Cuba.
But in this respect a great Improvements
Is noticeable in the last two months. ana
We are constantly getting on better fight
ing bass Tie army is enthusiastic The
idea of liberty permeates the entire force,
and il is Backed by the hopes and wishes
OF large majority of the people OF Cuba
] win not venture. as you ask me, 10 say
how long the war viii last 1t may be a
conflict of months or OF years there IS no
telling. But this much Is certain. that the
red and yellow flag OF Spain viii never
again wave in triumph over an snsiaved
Cuba. Cuba must be free. The long-op-
pressed people have dedicated anew their
lives 10 the work of emancipation. and the
God OF heaven viii strengthen their arms.
The spanish Afraid OF Horses.
The New York sun prints a letter from
Caesar A de Salas. of Gen. Gomez stan.
dated BejGeal, January ~. in whieh he
says:
AT daylight this morning ] rode with
Gen. Gomez over to look at a new fort
which they are building three miles from
BejucaL After glancing up and down the
railroad line for moment. the general
remarked: IT would be pity not 10 cross
that marvellous track after all the pains
they have taken on our part: but hardly
know what point 10 select for fear of caus-
ing jealousy along the line
we had "a great treat yesterday. IL was
an opportunity TO watch the operations OF
tine body of mounted Spanish infantry. A
detachment of about 500 men. who, We
think, belonged 10 Gen. Gaivis' column,
made "a charge CD on our north line OF
pickets lust as we were ready to go into
camp. Two hundred OF our cavalry were
deployed on either flank OF the advancing
enemy TO prevent their disturbing our
evening meal, for We were all very hungry.
These foot soldiers astride animals with
whose eccentricities they were totally un-
acquainted presented very funny sight.
Their effort to maintain line Of ADVANCE
was amusing. The average gait was
slow gallop. Some were trying 10 urge their
animals out of n trot. while others were
making a desperate effort to hold back
The faces of the riders wore expressions
which were ridiculously serious, in some
eases actually panied Arms, legs and ac-
coutrements were doing kind of wind
mill act against which there was an evil
dent protest on the part of the horses.
One officer could be heard calling for a
halt, and most of the troops were yelling
'whoar regardless of the fact that their
legs and swords were beating unmerciful-
~ against the fianks OF their horses.
"On they came In spite of themselves.
Not a soul seemed 10 think of drawing "A
weapon: they were too intent on the man
agement. or rather msmanagement. OF
their steeds. Our boys became so inter-
ested in the funny spectacle that they
could not open fire on the enemy for laugh
ing They got within eighty yards OF us
when this same officer called out: Whoa!
Halt. There are the insurrectos At
this we all broke into a veil OF laughter
and some random shots were fred from
revolvers in their direction. The effect
was simply marvellous. Most of the Span
iarfs grabbed one rein and with a desper-
ate tug wheeled their horses In small cir
cles which Of course caused collisions on
all sides The animals rebelled at this
saving of the bits and there was general
stampede. Many were dismounted, while
the main body eventually got started In
the widest retreat have ever Witnessed.
Those on the ground yelled for their flee
ing companions to wait. Arms and am
rnunitiou were spilled and dropped on all
sides Some got OF and tried 10 lead back
their disgusted horses. -Four miles north
was their unmounted infantry. 10 whom.
7 suppose. they told tale of their FIRST
glorious cavalry charge on the ranks OF
Gomez Those of our command who saw
n could be heard through the night laugh
ing in their sleep