Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21

leaders, had been intimate to the degree
that they might be willing to trust him.
Gen. PaEdo started for the eastern prov
| inces with amnesty in one hand and the
sword in the other. The sword, however
was half sheathed, so 1t would not be lust
to say that military operations in the east
under Pando have been a failure The in
surgents have harrassed his troops and laid
siege successfully to several towns In Santi-
ago and Puerto Principe, but these are not
conclusive military operations. They
were meant to convince Gen. Pando that
autonomy will not be accepted AS
demonstration they probably served their
purpose, though mysterious rumors con-
tinue to originate in the palace that Pando
Is coming back with the promise of sur
render from one or two important insurgent
leaders. The military prospects in the east
will have to be Judged after the authorities
get the troops there revictualed and sup
piled with rations enough to enable them 20
keep the field for a few weeks without
darger of starvation.
In the central and western provinces
something is known of actual military oper-
ations since General Blanco took command
Ihough 1t is year since Maceos dea tn,
and though his death was said to mark
the end of the revolution in Pinar del Rio,
the new captain general has thrown addi-
tlonal troops into the province under Cen
erals Bernal and Nelasco The only i'm
porsant engagement that has taken place
resulted in the alleged retreat Of the in
surEentS though they left no dead while
the Spanish troops had a long list of casual
ties. Now the insurgents arc said to be
:nassing again in Vuelta Abajo, the range
of Mills from which the sea can be seen on
either side. Their number was reported to
be only 100, but the governor of the prov
ince warned the palace that they were in
reality 2,'N, and were strong enough to
convey their own provisions to the hills
from the expeditions which landed on the
coast. In the fight at Caman, near Bata-
bana, on the south coast General Parade
had four columns under him, and, though
only 100 insurgents were reported, the en-
Sagement was lively one These engage
ments are decisive of nothing. They simply
show that In such military operations
have been carried on since Captain General
Blanco'S coming the Spanish forces have
not been able TO place to their credit a
sweeping victory. The general plan OF
campaign of the new administration con-
templates keeping the troops more cor
stantly in action. Less reliance * to b.
placed on barb wire fences and the fortinas.
or little forts, which crown every knoll or
knob of land. How far this scheme can be
carried out cannot be judged until further
time IS given for the experiment.
The statement of the actual campaigning
thus far accomplished under the policy of
General Blanco has carried with it Incl
dental information about the ability of the
insurgents to resist. Incidental informa-
ton is about all that can be CLEANED at
present. The friends of the insurgents in
predicting ultimate triumph make broad
generalization. They say that Spanish
army of 2oO,o1 against insurgent forces of
5000 to $4,000 has now dwindIed to 10000
against 5000 to 10000 insurgents. With
their relative change in strength so largely
in favor of the Insurgents they see only
cne result and that is victory. Whether
the insurgents have even had 5000 men
both in the field and in reserve may be
doubted, as also whether they now have
10000. This Is not vital so long they
have men enough to keep busy all the SOL
diers Spain can send against them. They
are urGOubtedly weak the prOVncpS of
Havana and Matanzas. When not hunted
by the troops all they can do is to make
an occasional raid or tease the Spanish
columns. But the future of the insurrec-
tion does not hinge on this part of the
island.
Insurgents Well Armed.
The insurgents, it is known, have all the
arms they need. A month ago Gen. Gomez
sent word that he wanted further ammu-
milton and 70 more rifles. Since then his
forces have received additional anmuni-
tion. The dynamite guns, which were at
first handled SO badly, nave been used with
effect. Something like an artillery service
has been established in the eastern PROV
inces. The provisioning of the Spanish
troops there will he shared by the tnsur-
gents, who have never heretofore failed to
attack the ccnvoys. How far the generals
expect to continue offensive opera tions, AMI
whether they are actually planning move
ment toward Matanzas the developments of
few weeks will snow. 1t gives the Span
lards themselves Il shock to read in the
Official news that part of the military
tonS OF the troops is to ''strengt hen
he defense of the JucarO-Maron trocha
which bisecis the eastern part of the is
land. Neither Gcmez nor CaIxto Garcia
mas thus far shown lack of stra tegical in
stnct. Whether, after the ggressive tao
tlcs OF the forces under their command
ana their success in drawing the troops to
the east, they will retire to their strong
holds depends on their view of the ad-
VantaSeS. Unless their own followers have
become impatient they will probably be
content with soon reSuming defensive war
fare and showing the inability OF Spain to
conquer.
Opinions given in the shadow of a mill
tary campaign are not of special value. A
single action may upset them all. Never
lhe!ess, as an indication of the feeling
with which the Spanish officers are engag-
ing IN the operations, l may give an illus
tratlon. have heard dozen speak of
ending the war in one, two or three years
or successful termination within six
mcnths. two or three. Those In the field
nave explanations to give of the difficulties
Whch the nature Of the country imposes
IN the southwestern part of Havana prov
lnce one or the commanders, who was TAX
ing his column out, was talking to me of
the position of the United States with more
Intelligence and less animosity than most
or the officers show. He said Your peo-
pie would be more patient if they under
stood the topography of Cuba The insllr-
rection is in las lomas-the hills" His
hand swept the horizon. where the brown
hills stretched on every side If Cuba had
been created a treeless plain. Spain might
Keep down Instructions
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.
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