Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-12-05
HENRY VARONA OF NEW YORK.
REPLIES TO THE GENERAL.
Insurgents Able to Hold Their own
for Years and Their Leaders
OutgeneraI WeyIer.

roma, editor of the Patria, the official or
gan of the Cuban junta in this city, and
eX-deputy from Havana to the Malrid
| parliament, makes a detailed reply TO
| Captain General Weyler's statement made
to a representative of the Associated
! Press in Havana. Senior Varona says:
Regarding General Weyler's statement
| that Maceo is continually scattering his
| forces in order to escape the Spanish col
umns, 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, it
| is because they seek to avoid capture. The
scattering OF forces by Maceo is due to a
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 90
so. Maceo can not afford to lose as many
men as Weyler can, for Spain sends men
| like droVes of sheep to the slaughter. The
tactics Of which General Weyler COM
plains are evidences of Maceos superb
GRITTY as a military tactician over Weyler
General Weylers promises of early paciii-
cation of the provinces of Havana, Ma
tanzaS and Santa Clara are shown to be
false by the fact that the rebels have sus-
tanned themselves in those provinces eve
since the arrival of General CamDOs
Weyler's predecessor, Notwithstanding
that the railway and telegraph facilities
are in the hands of the Spaniards, the
| ease Of approach to these provinces from
Havana and easy transportation of armies
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 HolsIin,
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 of
Jose Maceo. Approaching fully the great
loss which the rebels have suffered
through his death, 1 maintain that as a
leader his successor. General CaliXto Car
cha, not only adds prestige to the revou-
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 indeti-
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
anQ 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
SIain 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
sham, for two reasons: First, because the
number of Cuban electors is limited in
such a manner that they represent about
per cent of the population. Second,
the law was framed in such manner
that the resident Spaniards would al
ways have a major proportion Of repre-
sentation. Up to the present the aver
age membership of Cubans in parlia-
ment has been three the highest number
reached being seven. The same state of
affairs exists in municipal and provin-
cial governments, SO much SO that it is a
fact that in the Havana city council it