Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-08-28
THE CUBAN WAR.
Great Mortality inSpanish Camps
Due TO Yellow Fever.

OuU w lVilVu VtVh'
100000 MEN In TEE FIELD.
The Spanish Commander to Be CIV
en- Another Chance to Crush
Out the Rebellion Before
the Administration Takes
Any Action.
despatch from Washington says:-For
more than year the government OF Spain
has been struggling to subdue the uprising
in Cuba and has employed her best gener-
ais and the flower of her standing army.
Her two leading commanders, Weyler and
Campos, both OF whom had previously seen
active service in Cuban revolts. have been In
charge OF the Spanish forces, and 80 far
neither has apparently brought the war any
nearer a termination than it was nine
months ago. Now Spain is to make what is
generally regarded as her last onslaught on
the rebels, and, failing In this, it is declared,
she will ask eithor for peace or acknowl-
edge the independence of the island.
Great Loss of Life From Disease
None but the military authorities in Mad
rid know the actual cost OF the war to Spain
nor the number OF lives sacrificed in the
campaign. Probably in no recent war has
the slaughter in camp through the rayages
of disease been greater and the loss in
actual conflict been less. There has bcen
season of inactivity in which both sides have
almost declared q temporary truce, laid
down their arms and agreed to wait until
the rains ceased and the weather becomes
more suited for fighting Not since Juno
has there been any serious engagements, and
in the few meetings between the insurgents
and Spanish troops the loss on both sides
has been light compared to that caused by
the sickness in camp
General Lees Reports.
General Lee has thus far made no impor
tant report on the situation and his dis
patches to the State Department are merely
routine in character and throw no new light
on the future relations OF this government
toward the Spanish instruction. They tell,
however, Of the disastrous effect OF the sum-
mer on the Spanish ranks, and show that
yellow fever and other scourges incident to
such climates have played the usual havoc
with the men and will probably continue to
thin out the ranks for month yet.
knowing that the insurgents are better
physicalIy-adapted to withstand the eli
mate General Weyler has remained passive,
and comforted himself with the cheering in
formation from home that next week the
first embarkation OF additional soldiers from
Spain will occur and that these will be fol-
lowed week later by another detail OF equal
strength and fighting efficiency, so that by
September Is Spain will have in Cuba 40
600 more soldiers to augment the already
large force OF men camping in and around
Havana and waiting for the cool weather for
active service to be again resumed.
Weyler VIII Have 100000 Men.
There are now under Weyler probably 3d.
| 900 men, and with troops now preparing for
| C1ban duty he should have in month near
" 100. 900 men under his control to oppose
the insurgents. The strength Of the latter is
difficult to estimate, but probably 1t does not
exceed %. 900. OF this number two-thirds
are we'll equipped, while the remainder de-
pend for equipment upon those who fall or
are disabled for active service. Weyler, not
withstandlng his unpopularity at home, will
| probably remain in charge OF the Spanish
army and conduct the campaign, although
serious charges are said to be on their way
70 Madrid from subordnates alleging cruel
ty. incompetence and other &C .'laints,
which. il true would seem to demand his
recall. Spain, however, it ia recognized in
Washington and at Madrid, must fight out
her Cuban cause under WeYler's direction.
Policy of the Administration.
The Secretary OF State and the President
are said now to have reached perfect I'M
Outstanding with the Spanish government
relative to Cuba, and from sources believed
to be most trustworthy 1t is learned that nc
further declaration of policy on the part oil
the administration may be expected for a
reasonable time 1t can be announced on
the authority of an assistant Secretary oil
State. who presumably knows whereof he
speaks. that Weyler will be allowed to try
his hand once more, before any action is
taken by the United States looking to the
recognition OF the insurgents belligerency
or recommendation to Congress for some
decisive move The administration has in
officially been made cognizant of SPANS In
tentions, and desires to perform friendly
act In permitting her to use her best efforts
to bring the war to close.
The Outlook for the Insurgents.
General Weyler has made known to hi
government his purpose Of making vigor
Gus warfare on the insurgents soon after the
arrival of reinforcements, and seems conf
dent that before the close OF autumn he vii
have the battle won. Among military meE
It seems remarkable that the insurgents
with their inferior force poorly armed, fec
and equipped, should stand so long against
modern army like Spain's, and they canno
foresee victory for the followers OF Mace
and Gomez when the additional troops reacl
Havana and begin active operations. At NJ
time has the insurgent army been hall tn
strength, they declare, of the Spanish forces