The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-02-07
THE FIGHTING IN CUBA.

Opin ions and Estimates from Two Es.
perts ON the GroUnd-The Devotion
ana Enthusiasm of the People How,
They march and Bivouac ana Fight.
An interesting letter from former
lieutenant of British cavalry, who il
now with Gomez in Cuba. has beer
printed by the New York Sun in which
he says: The Havana papers, copies
of which occasionally fall into oul
hands, record nothing but Spanish
victories. But that which causes Gen.
Gomez to lose his temper is to read re.
ports that the Spanish commanders
cannot find US; that we "disband and
disaprear F." Disappear, the devil
We can't crawl into the ground, and
there are not enough trees in this dis
trict to shelter a picnic party" Sc
remarked the general this morning.
Our three columns, those of Bandera
on the south, Gome2in the center, and
Maceo on the right, frequently stretch
out nine miles in length. and in the
open plains of Matanzas and Havana
we could not well keep out of sight.
Suarez Valdez has several times
pressed our readers guard quite close,
and as long range with his Mausers
has done us more or less damage. Ten
husband our ammunition is the one
great lesson which necessity has com
peeled us to learn. We indulge in long
range fighting. About 200 yards is our
limit. When the enemy gets within
that distance and threatens to give
trouble we, usually get the order to
let go" with Remingtons, Winches-
tiers and revolvers, and then finish up
with the machete. And the latter
weapon in the hands of the Cuban is
a very good finish. Speaking of a Skin
mish near Sabanider the writer says ::
The Spanish rout was complete. We
fired but four shots each; cane knives
did the rest. The fleet of foot fled
northeast in the direction of Limonar.
Many fell down between the rows of
cane and begged for mercy, which they
Invariably got But we got their guns
and ammunition. Those we escaped
from lis rushed into Maceo's advanced
guard, which, hearing the report of
our AIS, so different from that Of the
Mauser, had made detour toward the
southwest Just in time to receive the
flying Spaniards That evening we
distributed 1856 captured rifles and
Those who escaped from us rushed in
to Maceos advanced guard, which,
hearing the report of our 44's so
different from that of the Mauser,
had made detour toward the south
west just in time to receive the fly
ing Spaniards. That evening we
distributed 4S6 captured rifles and
about 1,200 rounds of ammunition.
Since that afternoon, when followed
too closely, it is necessary only for a
few of us to wheel about in the sad
die, wave the machete n the air, and
the whole pursuing column falls into
a military fit trying to get into hol,
low square.
We have lost at times quite heavily,
usually from the enemy's artillery
but we have inflicted far greater
damage to them and without using
one tenth of the ammunition. Ii we
could get hold of onehalf of the
powder and ball wasted on us, | am
pretty sure Gomez would end this
S truggle in 60 days. There is, how
ever, one pleasant feature which IN
this instance greatly relieves the
terrible realities attendant on armed
strife. | refer to the hearty welcome
given us by the residents of the towns
through which we pass. They look of
hope pictured on the faces of the fam
lilies who crowd to the doors and win
dows is most gratifying. There Is
smile of welcome IN the eyes of nearly |
every woman and child we meet DC
casionally some more venturesome one
will shout CUBA libre - although /
such an act endan gers liberty as soon
as Spanish authority, following our
departure, resumes its sway. Inc
arrival of Gen. Gomez has
brought us more white recruits IN the
province of Havana than in any portion
Of the island have yet visited: Out
,ide of the city of Havana there IS
hardly father, son, or both. in our
.anks, OF course this leaves the
women and children without support.
for it is not easy 70 us to get money TO
hem. and destitution is met on all
,ides. But. as Gen. Gomez says, Bet
,er for Cuba to suffer few months
more than be in bondage for another
.enturv ;, and his views are evidently
,bared bv the people. They have
locked To his standard by thousands.
We can arm them only as we capture
files from the enemy.
Carrillo's force in Remedies district,
santal Cara, is being augmented very
much faster than we can flnd guns,
md in Matanzas province the negroes
anne TO Gen. Maceo in droves, refus-
no TO be left behind. You could see 1
hem as we passed, peering out IRON ;
,etween the cane rows, eagerly trying +;
o catch a glimpse of the mulatto {
hief of whom they are, with reason {
q pIoud. "Donde estate zen
Iaceo?'' and the moment they saw s
i'm. they dropped into line and went {
y work with their machetes ike oid s
eterans. Their devotion to and faitn
n him are simply sublime. | yester-
law heard a Matanzas negroe say 20 d t
javana black who seemed little her-
ons under Just keep close along c
de of Maceo. De bullets what come '
= ~ his direction is hoodooed; they
anti hurt YOU if dey hit. Ana !
on,t wonder at his reputation: for s
have seen him expose himseil 10
re in way that even IN battle '
aemed criminal. careless: But as
q odd balls have penetrated nis
y L..