New-York tribune., 1896-02-05
|, LETTER FROM A. MACEO.
rur INSURGENT GENERAL has NO ILL.,
FEELING TOWARD GOMEZ

,r SPEAKS OF HIS CHIEF IN THE HIGHEST
rrpNs-DoEs NOT CARE TO TAKE TIL: WORLD
INTO HIS CONFIDENCE. FOR THERE Is
MUCH THAT SPAIN WOULD LIKE TO
Kxow-MANY VOLUNTEERS TURNED
AWAY BECAUSE No ARMS COULD
RE GIVEN TO TIlEM-TIE CAM
PAIGN IN PINAR DEL. RIO.
fpy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TErBUHrl
Washington. Feb. 4-"The star publishes TINS
.rerroon signed statement from General Az
,o,io Maceo explaining the recent operations OF
te Cuban revolutionary forces and describing tho
ondition and prospects of the patriot army The
satement. which is forwarded by s'an corre-
.oondent Of The STAR is as follows:
Headquarters Second Army.
Province Of Fnar del n;o January y. $50
,hrough your correspondent In Cuba for Il
statement regarding the movements OF my army In
Sis province. And also would l like to reply
srieNy TO the charges that have been made against
ne to the effect that there was i-ieeling between
General Gomez and myself. A. the last IS the
most important in a certain sense, VIII answer II
y In a' the nrst pace it was in,lma;ed in your r.
quest that many in the United states thought
hInted that between the Commander-in-ch chief and
mysef there was a Misunderstanding. ana that nay
army to the term employed 10y the 32aniards,
was deserted by General Gomez ana leit In the
nroy:nce of Pinar del Rio to he trapped Such
sSatpm
would not give them any consideration. but sun
there many others, even among our most sim
cere friends and supporters, who might be foolish
enough to think there some foundation FOR the
rumors In the first place. there can be no such
.T.r YOU may choose 70 call it. between General
Gomez and myself He is the Commander in Chief.
but IIeutenant- General OF the army and at all
times. In all places and for all reasons am sub
led on a rabbie basis The man who talks the
loudest is not the commarder Bat II IS organized
der and discipline maintained ana respect for
superiors invariably enforced: But aside from n,
the Cuban army who would consider for an in.
slant the disputing OF the words or commands OF
Maxine Gomez
ENTIRE FAITH IN GOMEZ.
The entire army confdes implicitly in his pa
trio,ism and his military ability. We who have
known him and followed him in other wars are too
certain Of our own comparative weakness TO doubt
his wisdom and judgment. As 10 the statement that
be took his command and hurried back TO Havana.
leaving US. as the Americans would say, IN the
lurch.' Will say nothing regarding H. We haNe
our own plans OF iighting the battle OF cuba ana II
is not necessary that The who'll world lie taken into
our confidence. The Spa nsh Government would like
70 know why We separated our forces in P!nar del
marched back to the border Of Matanzas 1t would
Of pleased to know just why make certain moves
and JUS; why do not make certain other ones.
When the authorities cannot see plausible reason
the nsurgent forces they Immediately concocj some
agreeable theory and spread il broadcast St we 40
therefrom we are no, worried But It has appeared
strange 10 me that these people seem to delight In
the beginning of the war. and doubtless VIII con-
tnue to the end. ana yet they do not seem 10
realize that they picture their own righteousness TO
lhe world: for what can people think who. having
read the Spanish dispatches saying that the rebel
lion is only pigmy affair. the next day read Of
more troops embarking from Spain 10 reinforce me
cnmno srg OF over fopS % Of fr e hs poy fo
while he sent nightly dispatches 10 cheer the Queen
lpe
or even seriously hamper the movement OF reVoW-
As to the invasion Of this province. there is moth
ing on our part to complain oi must confess that
for US 10 come but il because they feared their
crops would be destroyed. This has not. however.
marches TO avoid the tobacco fields for the tramp
ing OF several thousand men would. OF course rum
the crop.
THE CONQUEST OF PINAR DEL RIO.
What have we accomplished ty or Invasion Of
the province? a great deal. In the first place. We
drew the attention Of the authorities to this end OF
the island. and 5000 reintorcements. under Nunez.
sanchez and my brother. Jose Maceo. were enabled
10 march from the eastern eHd OF the Island - me
prov,nc. of Havana without having serious en-
Cagemert We needed these rcinforcements 10 make
a better showing in the capital province. and we
needed supply of ammuni,lon eiupH'eh,S,
etc. ana did not Visa 70 marcn our NAN
them our second advantage has been the c@il"g
of ire eniire sDanisn eet OF cruisers gCn5olts ana
coasters look after the norn aid soutn shores OF
the western end of the sand to prevent the landing
of expeditions that supposed 70 be oestns1
ieet with which / ad several "encouite:s, 70
10 speak along the northern coast was keeping
good watch between Cuba Florida and Mexico sew
eial good expeditions landed in the orlsh'e IRON
storcs fhey brought are safeiy ia the nards of
friends in the Sierra Meestra Mountains. Our line
Of oom.nUncC ton between this end OF the ISLAND
and the province OF Santiago &c Cuba Is practically
perfect and haze no reason TO fear being cut OH
The spaniards have long since given up the idea that
military line, calico "tfocha' tTeHcn), wou.u
keep within certain limits and their pan now
s as / see H. to surround with a large force the
smaller bands, one at a time. and erd Tire war by
degrees. General Gomez this. too. and the
army was divided into sections that should about
suit the tastes OF the Spanish generals, but none Of
the small. bands haze been Captured yet. My army,
consisting OF about eignty-iye hgndIed men. pr.n,,
Rio province and yet we have nad no se:lous b1ttIe
are as near as can learn. about thirty thousand
Government troops between here and The city Of
Since we entered his province the strength OF the
entire Cuban army has increased at least . per
cent. or In other words. lO,"C recruits have come
70 our standard. About half that number are
mounted and are with Gomez and Nunez Three
thousand are wiin nay ommand, and the remandeT
are under Pegado. II We had arms enough 70 sup,
ply all who offered the!r services IN the cause OF
and Matanzas PROVINCES would to-day muster 5000
men. one-half cavalry. But we mad not arms Tor
them. There Is no use in saying we had ana th.re
Is nothing for 10 gain by boasting as does fhe
spaniard our men are not wei. armed ~ any
means. Had they been there would today be 40
Spanish columns outside the cities of Havana Ma
tanzas and sant.aso de Cuba. But IN ths r.spec,
great Improvement is noticeable In the last two
months and we are constantly getting on a better
fighting basis The army is enihusiasl!c Tne .dea
backed b. the hopes ana wishes of large majority
OF the people Of Cuba. VII rot venture as you
be a confic; OF months Of years; there is ro
telling But this much is certain. that the red ana
triumph over an enslaved Cuba. Cuba must be free
the oppressed people have dedicated anfT their
lives to the work Of emancipation ana the Hou oi
heaven will strengthen tEelr arms