Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-12-04
DISPUTES GEN.. WEyLER
HENRY VARONA OF NEW YORK
REPLIES TO THE GENERAL.
,surca,ts Able to Hold Their own
for Years and Their Leaders
OutgeneraI Wey1er.

ex-deputy from Havana to the Mairiu
makes a detailed reply 10
Ca ptain General Weyier's statement made
to a. representative of the Associated
press in Havana. Senior Varona says:
"Regarding General Weylers statement
that Maceo Is continually scattering his
forces in order to escape the Spanish COL
1mns. which he says are hunting him, the
conclusion he draws from the scattering
of forces is absurd. 1t does not follow
that. because the forces are scattered,
is because they seek to avoid capture. The
scattering of forces by Maceo Is due to
preconcerted plan The forces are scat
tered and concentrated at Will by Maceo'
and he thereby makes sure Of losing as
few men as possible and of striking blows
when he is least expected by Weyler to DO
60 Maceo can not afford to lose as many
men as Weyler can, for Spain sends men
like droyes of sheep to the slaughter. The
tactics of which General Weyler com
Mains are evidences of MaceoS superb
GRITTY as a military tactdcian over Weyler.
General VIEWERS promises of early pacifi-
cation of the provinces of Havana, Ma
tanzas and Santa Clara are shown TO De
false by the fact that the rebels have sus-
since the arrival of General Campos,
VIEWERS predecessor, Notwithstanding
that the railway and telegraph facilities
are in the hands of the Spamards, the
ease of approach to these provinces from
Havana and easy transportation OF arhe s
of men, and all resources furnished to the
troops by the established government. In
the face of all this and of constant deple-
ton of ranks by fevers, the Cubans have
not been subdued, and will not be sub
dued in those provinces.
His further assurances that Holslin,
Puerto Principe and Bayoma are unneces-
sarily protected is a fallacy in itself. He
bases his claim that the rebel forces in
that section have been weakened on the
single fact of the lamentable death or
Jose Maceo. Approaching fully the great
loss which the rebels have suffered
through his death, 1 maintain that as
leader his successor. General Calixto Car
cha, not only adds prestige to the revolu-
ton but has been instrumental In bring
ing many additional followers to the flag
of Cuba. By their location these prov
inces are most favorable to the cause OF
revolution. We have most of our adher-
ents there, troops are better provided for
and are easily accessible for expeditions.
1.-The 10 years war has amply proven
that war could be easily carried on indefi-
nitely from these provinces, and by hold
ing only these provinces we could make
perpetual war on Spain.'
Leaving the question of military tactics,
Senior Varona turned his attention to
portions of General Weyler's statement in
which the captain general seeks to show
| that Cubans are not such sufferers from
Spanish tyranny as they claim to be. Sig
nor Varona says:
General Weyler told your correspond
emf that after 1868 Spain granted ample
ano numerous Cuban representation, and
| that the Cubans were permitted to inter-
| vene directly in the establishment OF
equal rights with European Spaniards in
| the colonies. He also told your CORE
spondent that provincial and municipal
laws are alike in the provinces as In
Spain. He assures your correspondent
| that the Cubans have the freedom of the
press, meeting and association, and that
the laws Of Madrid are the laws OF
| Cuba.
| 'In reply to that, permit me to state
that the Cuban representation of which
General Weyler boasts was and Is q
sham, for two reasons: First, because the
number of Cuban electors Is limited In
such a manner that they represent abou,
per cent Of the population. Second
the law was framed in such a name,
that the resident Spaniards would al.
ways have major proportion of repre-.
sehtatlon. UP to the present the aver.
age membership of Cubans in parlia.
hno
reached oeing seven. The same state oil
ahairs exists in municipal and proyin
clal governments, so much so that 1t Is g
fact that In the Havana city council II
has occurred there was not a single Gu
pan member. This, Notwithstanding thai
throughout the entire island, in CITY ant
country districts, an overwhelming ma
Jority of the population Is native On
| bans.
General Weyler talks of freedom from
slavery in Cuba as a Spanish achieva
ment. The abolition of slavery In Cub,
Is entirely due to the Cubans themselves
"ho' Notwithstanding the fact that the,
were slave holders, have always bee,
aooltionists. They compelled the inser
tloh OF clause In the treaty of San Juar
whlch provided for absolute freedom IN,
those colored troops who fought unds
the Cuban flag.
Inc spanish government WAS conneu
cd TO grant this freedom, and inasmuc,
az II was impossible to grant privileges
Vi freedom to rebel negroes and not I,
ioSahst negroes who were but partis
slaves 1t became necessary to grant free
dom to all. h'oe
ana finally, General Weyler hastene,
" assure your correspondent that Cub,
mas not been asked to contribute +o,,,or,
, ie expenses of the government in crush
ing the rebellion. That is absolutel,
l"Se' Inc maintenance of the Spanis,
spluiers mas been derived entirely from
.e piaeihg OF hypothecated Cuban bonds
suarahteed by Cuban debt and Cuba,
,oVenues alone. Even now The sacoo,
ntse ior loan which General Weyler ha
enected has been done only after assnr
ne une spanish people that as soon 81,
rSsloie the debt will be thrown inn,
Supa' which will have to pay all the az
victorious o Spahisn p'
lhls state of affairs onlv serv,os >,
:. ease , cuban determination, and make,
impossible for the war to be ended p,
LAY arrangements. In such an evan
oa would be overwhelmed nlungoj
~ ah ABYSS of debt from which - oo,,It
Ur emerge for century to come
Nothlng short of absolnta ora
plete independence will satisfy ~ en-
hiFNrr