Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-08
FRENCH ARTILLERY FOR CUBA.
Four MitraiIleuse, with Gunners,
from st. Cyr, All Veterans.


CNew York Herald)
Seniors Hector de Saavedra and Fer
nando de Freyre Andrade, the former
prominent lawyer and political writer,
and the latter former member OF the
bench in Spain, were commissioned by
the Cuban Junta In Paris short while
ago to bring to this city. and place at the
disposal Of the Cuban delegation here
fully equipped battery OF French mitrall-
leuses. manned by French veteran artll-
lery. The battery consists OF -FOUR nit
railleuses and seventeen men,
The guns and four gunners have arrived
here with Senior Hector de SaaVedra.
The others will come in pairs ana IN
fifteen days the entire battery VIII De
here. The men and pieces viii then pc
sent to Cuba by the Cuban delegation III
this city.
saw Senior de Saavedra at his motel
yesterday, and he said:
1--WE are doing a great deal IN Parls
for the Cuban cause. During the last
two months we raised nearly $4,000 for
the purpose OF sending TO Cuba fully
equipped battery Of the most improved
French mitrailleuses. Every artillerymah
i'm the battery-and there are seventeen
of them-is a graduate of the famous
is a veteran of the late F'ranco-African
wars in the Congo and in the Soudan.
HARDENED TO SEVERE WORK.
"They are all young men, and hardened
to severe work under a tropical sun.
Having served their terms in the french
armies and having no opportunities lot
advancement in France in these times OF
neace they were Induced, through attrac-
g, hqpprg and fortune IN
cuba. We are taking complete charge
OF these expert gunners and providing
them with all they want. There will be
four men to each mi.railleuse, and the
chief of the battery. They are all artil-
lery engineers and high priced soldiers.
This battery only forms a part or a
big expedition which has been almost
completely fitted out in Paris and when
shortly sails from the southern port or
the limited States. There will be many
prominent Cubans in this expedition VINO
have been schooled in the armies or
Europe. ,..,..,
"The Cuban Junta Of Paris has worked
in perfect harmony with the New York
delegation. presided over by Delegates
Palma and Castillo. In Paris we nave
followed implicitly and without question
the directions OF the New York central
delegation. where we recognize the Min
lister Plenipotentlary OF the Cuban re-
public IS established, thus giving to the
world the great and inspiring spectacle
OF all Cubans working In unison.
FRANCE NOW FAYoRs CUBA.
"But we have done something else,
about which the papers should tell their
readers. Besides this expedition which
we have organized in Paris ard the bat
terv OF French magazine guns, the large
- rrrhfn
we make for the Cuban colony i'm Paris
represents many millions OF dollars. We
have shown 10 the French people the
business OF our cause, and have converted
popular opinion in our favor.
Several months ago had the United
States gone TO war with Spain about
Cuba. France most surely would nave
given a helping hand to Spain. To-day
sentiment all over France has changed.
We have enlisted French sympathy, and
have eradicated the false notions created
by agents Of the Spanish Government.
The French press is now aiding us.
Henri Rochefort is making a lively cam
paign in our behalf. A paper called La
Republique Cubaine, published In French
and Spanish, Is the official organ OF the
Paris-Cuban delega ion.
Lectures are being delivered nightly
all over France by prominent Cubans,
and 50 the light is being spread. DR..
Betances, OF Paris; Ezequiel Garcia. Vim
cente de Mestre Amabile. Nicolas de
Cardenas, ID. Guillermo Collaco, DIR. Al
barran. Of the Paris College Of Medicine,
and many other prominent Cubans and
Frenchmen OF Paris are working In be-
half Of the Cuban cause. ! can state
positively that there is absolutely no
danger now OF France espousing the cause
Of Spain against the United States in the
event Of trouble between the countries"