The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
Cuba.

CuUeu Une war as actively III INC uRly ulonIu
of September as they had prosecuted it in
the three previous months of tropical heat,
heavy rains. mire, and plague. What
ever may be the condition of affairs at
Madrid, whatever plans Spain may devise
for retaining possession Of Cuba, whatever
changes may occur In the Spanish Ministry,
whatever negotiations with other European
powers Spain may enter into, however
great may be the reinforcements sent to
the Spanish army in Cuba, whatever may
be the savagery of WEYLER, whatever may
be the conduct or the purpose of the Govern
ment of the United States in the case of
Cuba, the Cuban revolutionists go on with
the great war for liberty. They fight
against an enemy whose army is six or
eight times the size of their own. They
meet with defeat at times. They have to
endure severe h%ardships all the time. They
suffer from the maladies that come with
every summer season. They see their COM
rades fall in unequal combat They know
that their unprotected wives and children
are maltreated or killed by Spanish troops.
Yet they are ready for the enemy on every
battlefield and assail him at every oppor-
tunity. They are white men, black men,
and brown men; but are all united In their
hatred of oppression and their devotion to
Cuba libre. The revolution is one the like
of which has not before been seen.
The past month of September. barring
the last week of it, was a time Of constant
activity for the revolution. In the four
weeks we had reports of between forty and
fifty assaults upon the enemy, at least one
of which was ON important victory for the
patriots. The month began brilliantly
with the capture of Las Tunas, which was
soon followed by the capture Of Candelaria,
which was followed by active operations in
the vicinity Of the capital, and by yet
others at many places which need not be
here named. In every province of the
island Spain had to fight for her life dur
ing the month of September.
We nave been asked to explain why, II
the patriots nave met with so large a meas.
ure of success during the two years and
seven months of the war, Spain has not yet
been driven from Cuba. 1t is because Spain
has in Cuba an army Of so great a size, and
has strengthened 1t with enforcement
whenever they were needed. 1t is because
| Spain has in Cuba a number of military
strongholds and other bulwarks which the
forces in the service of the revolution nave
not been able to reduce. 1t is because the
army of the patriots Is so far inferior
in number to that of Spain, and is
poorly equipped, and is not possessed
of siege guns. 1t is because the
Cuban troops can fight only in small
bodies, as they have fought from the first,
- ,ra,lI h. ,,,nlIn t1 noaat The , -
a general engagement on account of the
disparity between their numbers and those
of Spain, and have not the means needed
for the capture of Havana. 1t is because, in
brief, Spain has military resources vastly
greater than those of the patriots, who, in
consequence must follow such methods oil
prosecuting the wal as their distinguished
commander has always followed, which
as he believes, contain the promise Of
final success. This belief Is not an un
reasonable one, hut Is, as 1t seems to us
we'll founded. The Spanish army, in all the
long time of war, has never gained any
success bearing encouragement to Spain
while the Cuban army has discounted
WEYLER in every campaign, and has dem
onstrated the incapacity of Spain. TIL,
spanish army udTc ndTuly SeubuTc beyoHt
it's s~trongholds, while the Cuban army
marches from one province to another a
the will of its leaders. The Spanish arm!
Is in possession of but a small portion o
Cuban territory, far the greater part o
which Ia under the control of the patriots
1t seems to us, considering the smallnes
of the resources of Gen. GOMEZ, that hi
method of making warupon Spain has beef
fully justified by results.
Under the circumstances that now exist
and looking back upon SPANS record II
Cuba, where Is there any sign or prospec
of Spain's success against the revolution
1t is within the ability of the revolutionist
to maintain the war for more years than
has lasted. 1t has been made manifest tina
it is not within the power of Spain to crus
them, however great he army which sh
may be able to send against them.
And certain it is that the Cubans Wi
always hold out for full independence
Those of the Spanish politicians who still
talk of reform and autonomy under Spai
are unaware of the character Of the situs