Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-07-24
Continued on Fourth Page.
GIVE CUBANS AUTONOMY
~
Is the Reported Cry of the Span
iards, Not the Cubans'
REVOLUTION is STRONGER
Than Ever Before and Spain viii Be Forced to
Leave the Island Soon-Recent
III moo Telegram Refuted.

Jacksonville, Fla, July 29.-Gen. Emil
Nunez arrived from Key West today. A
prominent western paper latsly printed
the following in a dispatch from CUBA:
.aThe movement for Cuban independ-
enceiseems ITO be on the verge of collapse.
This is the information that reaches the
state department. This is fully contirm-
ed by repants received through private
channels. The movements of the insur-
gents have come almost to stop. The
iunta, seems to accept the determinat on
of the admihistrat tfon to open up nego-'
tiations with Spain"
In explanation of these assertions Gen.
Nunez says:
'sThe revolution in Cuba is stronger
now than ever before Spain VIII be COM
pelled to leave the island soon If ca! o.
vas government does not strike a decls-
II ,have seen letters frcm all the COM
manders In the field, and each of them
speak ofthe early success of the revoiu-
luton. sfsh
"From Pinar del Rio, where our forces
suffered more. severely than anywhere
else in the island, Gen. Ducas writes:
Tine Spanish government is evidently
trying 10 create The impression that this
province is pacified, but recently We
have had several engagements with the
Span.nrds. We have held our positions,
while they have been compelled to re-
treat with heavy loss. We have a to'al
Of, s, 900 swela drilled and disciplined m n
in this province, and all are in hlgn
spirits ard loyal to the cause:
From Havana Gen. Rodriguez writes
to me giving assurarcSS that the Spanish
in thhf province are weaker than ever
befora and that this summers campaign
will be4-the last before we shall achieve
our independence.
i'I have statement of the condition
OF The forces in. Mantanzas province
which was given to me by Gem Alvelinas
Rosas comma nder of the Cuban forces
of that province, showing that the forces
are in better condition in that province
than ever bsfore.f
Regarding the sta tement that in Cam
aguey and Santa go the Cubaps do NOS
pay any al, H,ention TO the war, can say,
with truth that they are pacified for the
reason that In the whole territory no
Spanish soldiers have ever made their
appearance.
$50 far as the reports sent out from
Washington are concerned to the effect
that the Cuban cause was weakened and
disappointed. we have never expected
much from the American administration,
and. therefore have no reason to be disap-
poirl ed. We have never really expected
that Anne RIGA would recognize the bel
ligerency OF the insurgents, not that we
naQ unc right 10 suO 50, -DecduSe Ill UHe
ten years war we learned the lesson that
in a struggle beltween strong power and
u weak one, the weaker has the right
0o ask for nothing.
p 'sWhoever says the Cuban junta is pre-
pared, to accept autonomy from Spain
makes "a big mistake. THE only ones who
sp4ak of autonomy or reforms are the
sa me aSipanSards who a year ago spoke
of war without mercy for the Cubans.
la Lueha, the paper in which Gen.
Weyler used, to make his declarations,
has come to be an autonomous journal.
1t has come to the conclusion that the
only way to save Cuba for Spain is to
give Cubans autonomy. The thought
that Cubans are crying for autonomy is
mistake. The Spaniards have simply
put into the mouths of the autonomists
what the Spaniards themselves are cry
rg for
"That we have not sent any expeditions
to Cuba lately Is true and what is more
we do not intend to send any more to
Cuba until January. if we are not free
hy that time. There is no reason to send
any more at present for the army is large
enough to carry on the summer cam
paig-n, ~