The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-04

=
v-araen were confined there. Amolg the
latter was a Moorish maiden, ard she, at
ter The manner Of Desdemona loved Ban
s4ras for the dangers he had passed. To-
rethsr they conspired and after time es-
caDed from Ceu;a- The Moorish maiden
fsat was has long since been the wife OF
ass eos black Lieutenant
F.andsras provided an escort OF three
mounted men, as night was coming on
ransfiy and It was by no means certain
that Gomez was not hurrying toward the
east II he was marching n his usual man
uer. i might. indeed. &c morning before
his rear guard would be reached So the
horses we're not spared. The road for sew
eraI miles was fairly good, but after pass
ing a litsIe village called San Pedro. L was
the greatest combination ol ulSi9 and rocks
"a g. found anywhere. Surely Gomez could
nor march fast on such a road. But there
was little consolation in this. because what
would hold back the tireless rebel leader
would unqaestionaoly retard others 70 a
slight degree.
The Camp of the Cuban Napoleon.
About o'clock camp fires were seen
ahead, and an hour later. the party rode
among the rebels, who were enjoying the
first meal OF that day. Il was not because
Of a seareity Of food. but Gomez does Tot
i'elieyS'la eating when he has marching To
do, and. even when affairs are moi ungsu-
ally lively. the army stops 70 cook bat one
meal although tae men may MUNICH bread
or crackers from their saddlebags-
The army was strung out along the road
for several miles. The horses we're pick
eted n large groups. and near al hand
10 the several companies A number OF
large iron pots Of water, from which en-
apatad strong doors Of coffee, were boiling
over fires of dry cane and pieces OF dead
timber Everybody was eating bread and
drinking strong. black coffee. There was
no barbecue Of beef. and. as was after
ward learned. the lack of cattle in Havana
and PInar del RIO induced Gomez to divide
his forces and return. for the meantime,
with about 3, o99 men to Matanzas.
There vas a surprisingly large number
of seriously wounded They were together
in their hammoeks, which. while the meal
was cooked and eaten. were suspended
from the stuhby trees of the vicinity The
wounded had been fed and attended to be-
fore the remainder Of the army had begun
their meal.
Gomez and his staff were found with the
vanguard He had finished his dinner OF
chicken. potatoes, bread and chocolate, and
was smoking a small twisted cigar. lie
was seated on camp chair made OF ieath-
er and iron. He wore a fatigue cap with
A single star over the visor. blue frock
coat. from which were missing a couple OF
the buttons. and black leather leggings-
collar and shirt front were not immAcu-
late.
Your correspondent rode to within a rod
NJ the Cuban Napoleon, dsmounted. and
then to one of Gomez adjutants Brig.
Carlos NJ Cespedes. who came forward
announced his name and mission. Gen
Gomez arose and was very cordial IN ms
greeting. -,
II am pleased to welcome an American
newspaper. man." ne said, but l don
know what / might do TO an American
congressman who might come 10 M
camp" Then the little general laugnea
almost immoderately at his own Joke
r,htla he beckoned all 10 be again seated
Turning TO Your correspondent, Gen 10,
mez asked: What news from Havana
..Nartlnez Campos has gone, was the
reply.
Gomez Praises Camps.
-rhara x.as a chorus OF EXPLANATIONS,
and the rebel stood erect
or cannof be true" he said; and then,
after standing q few moments in silence,
n. AIDED "Ya4.sI rather expected u.
YOU see,'' he went on, after pause
Cannes did not want this war. lie alb
bors bIoodshed. and does not dixie 10 see
,nen meet in mortal combat. But even
more repulsive TO him would be the en-
r,Iovment of methods such as the spanish
government and the people or SPAN TOT
that matter, have been clamorlng LOT.
They wanted him TO treat ana hght the
C,Ihans. not as men, but as dogs, 10 ne
shot down in the streets or murdered III
dungeons.
III is a sad day for Cuba that Martinez
C,amnos leaves. More than that, it is
a dark dav for Christianity and civiliza-
ton T myself have said unKind things
regarding him. and only the other daF'
at Guira. ] told the people that Campos
had murdered our prisoners. But ! was
not referring TO the man, but TO the des-
motto and tyrannical government which
he unwillingly represented OF was sup
posed to represent, in Cuba.
Indeed. I love Martinez Campos all
C,uhans love him, for II was his hand that
STAYED the bIoodthrstiness OF SPAN. lie
wanted peace: peace with honor; not peace
with crime and barbarism.
But the pressure was too great anu
the grand old commander was compelled
to give way
'.TTis enemies within his own ranks have
said ne lacked military ability and force
of character and decision. As TO the nrst
! am satisfied that not general IN the
world could have MADE better Military
disposition OF the troops at his command
that ne did. His columns seemed to meet
us at every turn in all our march from
the Oriente: hut the fortunes Of war IA
vored us. and we succeeded in our original
plans.
AS 10 the charge that he lacked force
OF character and decision. we all know
what that means. Had he been possessed
Of those requisites dubbed force OF enar-
acter he would still be the captain-general
% her maiesty's forces in Cuba, and the
ulaudits OF Spain would be echoed across
the ocean TO him. But he lacked them.
He lacked the desire to shoot, hang. and
imprison men indiscriminately. He lacked
desire 10 break up homes and scatter mis-
cry and ruin abroad. His loyalty 10 Spain
cannot be questioned: but he was more
loval 20 his God and his manhood
Gen. Gomez seemed much affected by MS
own words He turned 10 the members of
his stan. and each acQuiesced in what their
CHIEF had said and expressed regret nj
Martinez Campos' retirement
20 not misunderstood me-" again went
on Gen. Gomez, ";t is not from military
posYt OF view that We are sorry. He was
the most efficient general Spain could have
placed In command Of her troops, ana Tor
that reason we should rejoice. But as men
We cannot for we loved and respected Nm
we regret because the change win mean
more bloodshed and misery for Cuba II
will mean the secret hunting Of suspected
-s,,otutsoulstS In the cites. the sending 10
Ceuta OF hundreds u innocent nen' ana
-a~hars the r1urlsr.ng OF prisoners taken.
'.Rut the spanish government must ot-
vya~e Spain cannot ride r0ughshod over
Cuban hearths as she ai1 in The year%-fr IRON
lS-7 10 IS7s Then the forces IN the hsli
we've weak. and we could not. II We @oui'
-.~,uata Not 50 IN tsss Tire revolution
e. e.reaf from one end Of the Island 10 The
o.b4~ we have a total force ~ nearly
" an men. ard w have the eyes OF TIE CIV
D!z@f world uron rs.
TT would not p. wei for he spaniar -
,a mike war upon the fefenseiesS y me
-..-- - IN 4has -aae liberty would de-