The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-12-15
WOULD PREcIPITATE CRISIS
Such Action Would Involve the Unit
ed STATES In War With
Spain.
What Few American Guns Could do
In Cuba-New Statues In
Washington.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l4.-[Special.l when
IL was proposed by the owner Of big New
York newspaper to organize IN expedition
for the purpose Of fighting for Cuba, most
people smiled. They said IL was a mere
advertising scheme and could not result
In anything of tangible nature. But
find the men who are familiar with Cuba
and the situation which prevails there not
SO incredulous. 1t certainly would be O
dramatic performance II an American
newspaper were to organize an expedition
of armed men that should march through
the island, defeating the Spanish and Civ.
ing encouragement to the iDsuSgent cause.
was talking about this with an army
officer who knows Cuba pretty well, and
what he said was very interesting.
Strange as 1t may seem," said this
army officer, 81 believe thousand Amer.
leans from the western country, sharp
shooters with the rifle and experienced In
Indian fighting, would march through
Cuba from one end to the other. be.
lieve, furthermore, that II such q troop
were sent out and were supported by the
insurgents, ga 1t would be, great results
would follow. In the first place, these
men would be fighters. They would fight
In American fashion. They would bring
to bear against the Spanish GOODNESS, pre-
cision, courage, strategy. II they did not
accomplish so very much from the mill
tary point Of view, they would certainly
stir up the diplomatic world. Land such
a party of armed Americans In Cuba and
Spain would go wild. She would lose her
head. She would demand all sorts OF
things from the United States and the
result In all probability would be an In
ternational row. II the newspaper in
question sends on, an armed expedition,
suppose 1t will be with this result in mind.
What an advertisement that would make
for the enterprising paperl
spains Weakness.
EVERY military authority in the world
Is surprised that Spain has not quelled the
rebellion before this, continued this army
officer. "If Spain had the proper sort OF
fighting material, she could put down the
revolt in short order. Does IL not seem
strange that the diplomatic world should
be- stirred up and the peace of two such
nations as the United States and Spain be
endangered by little one horse rebellion
which, In all probability, 1900 American
troops would wipe out In so daysf II is
the opinion of most military authorities
that our regular army or the troops OF
England OF Germany would put an end
TO the Cuban rebellion in two or three
months. The trouble Is that the Spanish
troops fight only in platoons. They will
not adopt the method Of warfare which
alone can produce results under the con-
ditions which prevail.
do you suppose General Gomez's scat
tered bands could withstand such fighting
az that which the English did at Darkal
ridge or such warfare as that which
our troops have time and again been com
PEELED to wage against the Sioux, the Mo.
docs and the ApachesS No. England or
the United States would have brought the
trouble to an end long before this. The
Spanish soldiers appear to be all right,
but they lack leadership. We hear In
Washington that Spain would have good
deal better chance to succeed II her gov
eminent would suppress every cafe In the
island. The Spanish officers do not care
10 get far away from the cafes. They en-
Joy themselves too we'll. II they make a
little sally out into the wild country, they
turn back In day or two to have good
time at the town. American or English
soldiers would follow up trail till they
got what they were after. II necessary,
they would take their kits OH their backs,
live ON the country and penetrate the very
Businesses, just as we had to do In Indian
fighting and as the English have to do In
fighting the tribesmen on the frontier OF
India"
Speaking Of fighting men reminds me
that we are now erecting In Washington
statues to two famous American military
heroes A statue Of General Sherman is
soon to be put up just south OF the treas
ury department, near the White House.
while a fine figure Of General Logan Is
about ready to make Its appearance In the
center Of beautiful Iowa circle, In the fash
ionable residence part Of the city.
Stories OF Sherman and Logan.
A retired army officer told me the other
day couple OF good stories concerning
these two military heroes who are soon 70
be honored In marble and bronze at the
capital Of their country.
"Did you know old General Shermanf"
said the officer. Well, he was the bluff
est old fellow you ever saw. He had a way
when people started 10 enter his Office
probably for the purpose Of asking favor,
OF snortlng out al them;
~ Take 'em away. am too busy 10 see
any one. Lot me alone.
zone day was in General sherman's
ONCE and witnessed performances like
this. After quiet had been restored said /;
Sherman, l know you through and
through. You are an old pluffer, You
scare people on when they are At arms
lenath, but when they gee 10 you they
dnd you soft and easy You are buffer
that's what you are, and underneath tho
surface you have heart as soft as awom-
ana
"'That's Just Il. You've hit II, re-
piled Sherman. It's true. admit IL.
That's why try 10 scare 'em on. II they
ever get TO me | am goner. no matter
what they want. whether tendency 70 an
offender or subscription for starving
family.
The other story was characteristics Of
General Logan, His command while on
the march once came 10 river There 10
halted The engineers SGT 70 work 70 build
bridge. Their plaus were elaborate IL
hooked a. n 10 would take Them . couple
a days 10 got tho structure up 80 she army
could cross Dpi LOGAN wns ina hurry