The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-04-14
Cuba, rs Seen by an American who
There.

HAVANA, April 5.-Every mail brings
to General Lee letters of inquiry regard*}
| ing missing Americans. supposed to bf
somewhere on the island of Cuba. E5peA
| cially touching are those penned by thtl
hand OF some poor, widowed N other, wig
| appeals to the American consul to assisa
her in finding her boy, whom she hay
every reason to believe has cast his log
with the Cuban patriots.
A few extracts from some of their letterE
| are interesting: Il
"My only boy, General Lee, and he wsl
so noble and handsome. I almost knoJ
he is in Cuba, possibly in some loathsomS
prison, or maybe dead. For Gods SAX
| grieving herself to death about her boyS
look him up for me, general" s.
Another: ooh, General Lee, if you onlf
| knew of the agony Off mother who has
not heard from her boy in over si$
months! How listen for the coming q
the mail man day after day, and each da3
/ think perhaps tomorrow will bring nj
| news of my boy. He was on his way
Cuba when l last heard Of him. Ever
night take his picture, and, with th
| golden curls l cut from his head when H.
was a baby boy hold them to my breaS
and pray TO God to keep him safely anS
some day bring him back to me. An
now it seems to me that he must be thelT
in some Spanish prison. Oh, Gener4
Lee, search for my boy and send hi4S
| back to me-" r.
And another: have something bea1o
| ing on my mind, and it has almost broke
my wife's heart. We had dear son VIZ
left home on the 18th day of Decem be
| 1895. 1 wish, as a parent, you would place
your honored self in our place for mo-
| mont, and then know that you will use
your utmost endeavors to find out wheth-
or our dear boy is in Cuba or not"
AS to Americans in Cuba and in the
Cuban army, there are not as many as
might be supposed, and should say that
| approximately there are not over 200
| native Americans on the entire island,
and there has been from twenty to thirty
| inquiries weekly since the war began
This con flict has been going on now for
more than two years, and with tho Cuban
| patriotic army estimated anywhere from
| sc, 900 to 60 900, and 800, 900 Spanish troops,
supposed to be actively in the field, with
| an average of three to five engagements,
officially reported per day, there has not
| been 5000 killed in battle.
According to the files Of the Lucha, the
semi official Spanish organ Of Havana,
| however, there has been more than $4,000
ca uOanS killed IN DatLl9 anu aC leaSG HUI
miles of mules captured and enough am
| munition to supply the armies of the
civilized world for two years.
There has not been, during the whole
war, tenth rate battle
At the present time there is very little
| fighting, and when the rainy season sets
| in next month there will be even less.
| The Cubans have shown some good gen.
eraship while the effort of the Spaniards
| have been the subjec of ridcule from all
| who have even a limited knowledge Of
| military tactics.
| What prospect does the average Ameri-
can have in the Cuban army? None what
ever. Nearly all of those who come over
in filibusters know absolutely nothing
| about the Spanish language. There is no
military Sciencs necessary to dodge the
| Spanish columns in the hills. There is
no promotion, and it is almost certainty
| that the American will catch fever or
smallpox or some other disease pee lllar
to the country.
If he gets wounded or sick he is sent to
one of their hospitals, and if the place is
| captured he is murdered along with the
| Cubans. There is neither money nor
! glory to be gained.
Many Americans join the Cuban army,
but few remain. They find the rough
Cuban insurgent so different from the
picturesque descriptions in the press and
| instead of the bold machette charges, day
after day they are dodging here or hiding
| there, and soon the American volunteer
has gotten his fill, and then he manages
as best he can to get away.