Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-04
cienaga, to sancti splritus or cuoitas to

Cienaga, to Sancti spirtus or Cubitas to
obtain it.
Our second advantages. has been the call
ing of the entire Spanish fleet Of cruisers,
gunboats and coasters to look after the
ncrth and south shores of the western end
of the island to prevent the landing of
expeditions that were supposed to be des-
tined for the vicinity Of San Antonio cape.
While the fleet, with which we had several
"encoun ters,'' SO to speak, while along the
northern coast, was keeping a good watch.
betw cen Cuba, Florida and Mexico, several
good expeditions landed in the Oriente from
Jamaica ard Santo Domingo, and by this
time the stores they brought are safely in
the hands Of our friends in the Sierra Macs
ira mountains Our line Of communication
between this end Of the island and the
province of Santiago de Cuba is practically
perfect and we have no reason to fear
being cut off at any time. The Spaniards
have long since given up the idea that
military line, called a "trocha" (trench),
would keep US within certain limits, and
their plan now is, as 2 see 1t, to surround
with n large force the smaller bands one
at time, and end the war by degrees.
Accommodating the Spnniards.
Gen. Gomez saw this, too, and the army
suit the tastes of the Spanish generals,
but none of the small bands has been cap
tured yet My army, consisting of about
$500 men. principally infantry, has trav-
eled all about Pinar del Rio province, and
yet we have had no serious battle, with the
exception of Las Taironas, although there
are, as near as l can learn, about SO, 900
government troops between here and the
city of Havana.
Since we entered this province the
strength Of the entire Cuban army has in
creased at least % per cent or, In other
words, 10000 recruits have come to our
standard. About half that number are
mounted, and with Gomez and Nunez.
Three thousand are with my command, and
the remainder are under Deigado. II we
mad arms enough to supply all who Of
fered their services in the cause of beloved
cuba the army of the republic in Havana
and Matanzas provinces would today muster
$4,000 men. one-half cavalry But we had
not arms for them; there is no use in say
Ing we had. and there is nothing for US
to gain by boastng, as does the Spaniard,
Our men are not we'll armed by anv
means. Had they been. there would TODAY
be no Spanish columns outside the cities
OF Havana, MatanZas and Santiago ds
Cuba
But In this respect great Improvement IS
nouceable in the past two months, and we
are constantly getting on a better fighting
basis.
Patriot Soldiers Enthusiasttc.
The army Is enthusiastic The idea of
liberty permeates the entire force, and it Is
backed by the hopes and wishes Of very
large majority of the people of Cuba.
Will not venture, as you ask me- to saw
now long the war will last. 1t may be a con-
Net OF months or of years; there is no tell
ing But this much is certain, that the red
and yellow flag Of Spain will never wave
again in triumph over an enslaved Cuba.
Cuba must be free. The long g-oppressed
people have dedicated anew their lives to the
work Of emancpation.an the God of heaven
win strengthen their arms
ANTONIO MACEO,