Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10

found in the fact that the city's water sup
ply comes from several miles outside the
town. the water being conveyed through a
brick conduit. This is constantly guarded
by several thousand soldiers; but If the in
surgents should get possession of it in any
way, surrender of the city would be abso-
lutely necessary for the preservation of life.
Many OF the Spanisrd in Havana are only
interested in the result of the conflict from
The standpoint of dollars and cents, and
would be as well pleasedsto see the island
Spanish rule. But they are afraid to show
their hands there while the city is in the
fands of the Spanish armies
1t has been charged here that the Cubans
were destroying the tobacco crops as well
as the sugar cane. Is that fact?"
"Erlphatically not fact. There are too
many CubanS and loyal sympat hZers en-
gagged in the tobacco industry i'm Tampa and
Key West, Florida, Philadelphia and New
York for the patriots to do anything that
would seriously endaneer their interests in
Cuba To destroy the tobacco crop would be
to lnJure their friends, and cut off leading
source OF supplies with which to carry on
the war for independence, and this the pa
triots are not likely to do"
Asked what he knew about the Hawkins
expedition which stranded the other day
on the New Jersey coast, ard about the al
legged war ships now being fitted out for the
revolutionary party in Cuba Mr.. Jones was
very reticent. and clearly did not wish to
discuss those subjects
HohCu " Say OF Inc personal
ity of the leaders of the insurgent forces
in Cuba, Mr.. Jones said he was not per-
sonally acquainted with Maxine Gomez,
but that he knew Antonio Maceo very
well Both were said TO be excellent sol
Giers. ard the latter to be 1.-The bestowed
man who ever led an army. He is as brave
as lion defending its young" said he,
enthusiastically, land his followers will
follow him anywhere he may chose 10
lead"
In, NJ n,
Asked for an expression of opinion con-
corning the latest phase of the plan for
recognition of the insurgents as belliger-
ents by this government at Washington,
Mr.. Jones replied that he was surprised
that such action had not been taken long
ago, as soon as Congress assembled. 1t
was the one thing needed he said to
bring about hasty solution of the diff
Guilty.
Gould the Cuhans sustain a government
of their own if granted the privilege to
form Cne?' was asked.
Il do not think they could" was the de-
liberate reply. But they would form one
and try to maintain il. This they would
probably be able to do for a time: but
ultimately the United States will surely
be asked to establish protectorate there
with annexation AMI a territorial form of
government as the final outcome"
Annexation.
Would annexation be desirable to the
people of the United States?'
why not? Those who contend that we
have no use for any further intermixture
of negro and Spanish blood with that of
the American seem to overlook one i'm
portant fact viz: Cuba has an area of
over $1,000 square miles, capable of sup
porting at least 12,ooo.0oo of people, and
today has an aggregate population of only
about 100000. With the stars and stripes
hoating over the capitol at Havana il
would not be one year before the islands
would be repopulated with Americans ard
the coast lines would not be able to carry
the people and capital seeking homes and
investment in that island. 1t is the garden
SPOT of this continent. The soil is the
richest imaginable. and is from twelve 10
twenty feet in depth. The climate is
grand, the temperature ranging from about
ID degrees in the coolest season TO IS de-
greeS In the warmeSt days OF the year
The resources Of the island are almost
unlimited. Everything grows there and
there are twelve months in every year in
which to grew it, as compared with about
four or five months of a season in most
parts of the United States. The forests
are rich in mahogany, ebony and teak
wood, all rich timber and much sought
after. There is but little sickness. although
the cities are not yet paved. severed and
otherwise improved they should be, and
as they would be in short time after the
islands were annexed.
And another thing continued Mr..
jones, warming up to his subject, the city
of Havana is but six hours ride from our
shores. Can the United States afford TO
leave those islands, with their fine har-
bors, in the hands of q foreign power? L
think not. Cuba is much more desirable
as an acquisition than Hawaii or any other
group Of islands in either ocean,
After paying quiet visit to 10 Broadway
again, Mr.. Jones left the city and is said
to be on his way TO Havana.
A. NJ. DEW Ely.