Evening star., 1896-01-25

he had passed. Together they conspired,
and after time escaped from Ceuta- The
Moorish maiden-that-was has long since
been the wife of Maceo's black lieutenant.
Banderas furnished an escort of three
mounted men, as night was coming on rapid
ly, and 1t was by no means certain that
Gomez was not hurrying toward the east.
If he was marching in his usual manner it
might indeed be morning before his rear
guard would be reached. So the horses were
not spared. The road for several miles was
fairly good, but after passing a little village,
called San Pedro. it was the greatest COM
bination of mud and rocks to be found any
where. Surely Gomez could not march fast
on such a roadi But there was little con-
ISOLATION in this, because what would hold
back the tireless rebel leader would unques-
tionably have like effect with others.
Arrival at Gomez's Camp.
At about o'clock campfires were seen
ahead, and an hour later the party rode in
among the rebels, who were enjoying the
first meal of that day. 1t was not because
of a scarcity Of food, but Gomez does not
| believe in eating when he has marching to
| do, and, even when matters are not un-
| usually lively, the army stops to cook but
one meal, although the men may MUNICH
bread or crackers from their saddle bags.
| The army was strung out along the road
| for several miles. The horses were picketed
| In large punches together, and near at hand
| to lie several companies. A number Of
| large iron pots of water, from which ema-
| mated strong odors of coffee, were boiling
| over fires made OF dry cane and dead pieces
| of timber. Everybody was eating bread and
| drinking strong, black coffee. There was
no barbecue Of beef, and, as was afterward
| learned, the lack of cattle in Havana and
! Pinar del Rio provinces induced Gomez to
| divide his forces and return with about 1900
men to MatanZaS.
| There was a surprisingly large number Of
seriously wounded. They were together in
| their hammocks which, while the meal was
| cooked and eaten, were suspended from the
| stubby trees of the vicinity. The wounded
| had been fed and attended to before the re-
mainder of the army began their meal
| Gomez and his staff were found with the
4 vanguard. He had finished his supper of
| chicken, potatoes. bread and chocolate, and
was smoking a small twisted cigar. He was
seated on a camp chair made of leather and
iron. He wore fatigue cap with a single
| star over the visor, blue frock coat, from
which were missing couple of the buttons,
and black leather leggings. His face was
clean shaven, but his collar and shirt front
| were not immaculate.
| Interview With Gomez.
The Evening Star correspondent rode to
within rod of the Cuban Napoleon, dis
mounted, and then, to one of Gomez's ad-
| jutants, who came forward, Brigadier Carlos
| NJ. Cespides, announced his name and mis-
| sion. Gen. Gomez arose and was very cor
dial in his greeting.
| Il am pleased to welcome an American
| newspaper man." he said 'but 1 don't
know what 1 would do to an American
| Congressman who would come to my
camp" Then the little general laughed al
most iInmoderately at his own joke, while
he beckoned all to be again seated.
Then, turning to The Star correspondent
| Gen. Gomez asked, What news from Ha-
| vana?'
"Campos has gone" was the reply.
There was chorus of ordinations and
the rebel commander-in-chief stood erect
| 1T cannot be true,' he said; and then
: after standing several moments in silence,
he added: Yes, rather expec ted it,"
you see," he went on, after a pause,
"Campos did not want this war. He ab-
hors bloodshed. and does not like to see
men meet in mortal combat. But even
more repulsive to him would be the employ
| ment of methods such as the Spanish gov
ernment, and the people Of Spain, for that
matter, have been clamoring for. They
wanted him to treat and fight the Cubans
| not men, but dogs, to be shot down
| in the streets murdered in the dun
geons.
'It is sad day for Cuba that Martinez
Campos leaves. More than that, 1t is a
dark day for Christianity and civilization.
I myself have said unkind things regard
ing him, and only the other day, at Guira.
I told the people that Campos had muir
dered our prisoners. But 1 was not refer
ring to the man, but to the despotic and
tyrannical government which he unwill-
ingly represented, or was supposed to rep
resent. in Cuba.
Indeed, I love Martinez Campos. All
Cubans love him, for 1t was his hand that
has stayed the bloodthirstiness of Spain.
He wanted peace; peace with honor; not
peace with crime and barbarism
"But the pressure was too great, and the
grand old commander was compelled to
give way.
His enemies, within his own ranks have
| said he lacked military ability and force of