The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-22
Gen. weller. POLICY.

The WlcIe Civilized NOrlQ IS interested
in knowing what the policy OF Gen. Wey-
Ter. the newIy-appointed general Of the
Spanish forces in Cuba. viii be. Lon
don dispatch in the Morning News states
that he left Madrid for Cuba last Mon
day, and that just before starting he de-
clared that his policy would be the oppo-
site OF that OF Gen. campos. He said IT was
his purpose TO suppress the revolution
lists with a strong hand. He denied. how
ever, that he intended to consent to cru
city OF any sort.
It may be that he will find way to
prosecute the war with more visor than
Gen. Campos has done without re-
sorting 10 means that would
make him Infamous i'm the eyes
Of the civilized world. He could much
better afford to fail in putting down the
revolution than to stain his name with
deeds Of cruelty
1t is difficult to see how he is going TO
make any better progress than Gen. Cam
pos did. The reyolutionists have a meth
Cd of fighting which enables them to keep
striking their enemies without exposing
themselves to a great deal OF danger.
They have persistently refused to fight
with the Spaniards such battle as would
practically end the war. II would be fol-
ly for them to do so. The Spanish army is
large, Web disciplined and amply supplied
with arms and ammunition. The revolu-
tionary forces are poorly armed and are
scantily supplied with means for car
rying on the war. In great
battle, therefore, the advantage
would be decidedly on the side
of the Spaniards. The policy the revolu-
tionists have pursued, and which they
will adhere to. in all probability. is to har-
rass the Spanish forces in every possible
way, destroying their resources and at
lacking them whenever it is possible to
do so without risking a great battle. If
Gen. Campos could have met the entire
revolutionary forces in one great battle
the war would have been over long ago.
He was unable to do that, however. and
the kind of fighting the revolutionists in
sisted upon. together with the fever. dis
couraged his soldiers and decimated his
ranks.
How will Gen. Weyler make his cam
paign the opposite of that of Cen Campos?
Will he divide his army into small squads
and send them in pursuit of the revo-
lutionists? If he should do that the rev.
olutionists would have great advantage
of him. They know the country thorough
ly, and they are acclimated. They are
very much in earnest-so much in fact
that they are more than a match for the
Spaniards when they are equal to their
opponents in numbers and are as we'll
armed. The hearts of the Spanish soldiers
are not in their work if reports are to be
credited, and while they fight well they
would much rather be back in Spain. We
don't understand, therefore, what Gen.
Weyler meant when he said his policy
would be the opposite of that OF Gen.
Campos, unless it was that there would be
greater severity shown towards those
taken in arms against Spain, and that
sympathizers with the revolutionary
cause would be shown little or no Glenn
ency. He says he does not intend to
countenance any cruelty. 1t is to be hop
ed that he does not. Gen. Campos COM
manded the respect of the revolutionists
as well as of his own soldiers. and If Gen.
Weyler is wise he will adopt a thorough
ly honorable and humane policy in dealing
with the revolutionists. Any other poll
cy would likely result in condition of
affairs that would make Cuba a greater
object for the pity of the Christian world
than Armenia now is.
Gen. weyler will soon be in command
in Cuba, and then it will be quickly
known what his policy is. His friends
ought to hope that it will be such that
it will compare favorable with that OF
Gen. Campos. whatever the outcome OF
the struggle may be.