The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-17
FAIR PLAY
GENERALS GARCIA AND RABT SEND
STi1EMENTs TO THE sun.

vss, m, the Cusans DO Not Want Our inter-
yent,on nor Ask Material Ala or US-Ir
we Give Thorn BsiiiEerent Rights. they
win Drive Their Enemy Out or Cubn.
NASzAN11Lo. Cuba. June IL have authority |
m saw that the great majority OF Cuban patriots
in Orient and Camagucy are not in favor of in
tsrycntion 10y the United States in this war. but
they long. as an act OF justice due them. for the
recognition OF their belligcrency, which would
enable the Cubans to drive the whole Spanish
army from the island by their own efforts. l
have statements to this effect for THE Sun pre-
nared by Gen. Jesus Rabi and Gen. Calixto
Garcia.
Gen. Rabi is the Commander.in-Chie OF the
cavalry forces in Orient. His headquarters nre
in the district of Manzanillo, which he abso-
lutely controls. the Spaniards holding only the
seaport of Manzanillo, which is protected by
their navy. His courage and military talents
made him famous as long ago as the war Of 1868,
and he Is further distinguished among the
Cuban leaders from the fact that he is one OF the
few living descendants OF the aboriginal race of
Indians who Inhabited tho island when Column
bus discovered 1t in 1492, and who were in a
short time practically extcrminatcd by the
spaniards.
OF the native Siboneyes, those OF Orient, which
has always been the more warlike part Of the
island, fought under Hatnei, q native Of Santo
Domingo. TO liberste their country. Hatnei was
caught, burned alive. and almost all his follow
ers were slain by order Of Gov. Vclazquez. A
few took refuge in the mountains of Santiago de
Cuba and for 400 years their descendants,
among them the Rabi family, have lived there
refusing any contact with the Spaniards.
Time and their isolation reduced their num-.
bers still more. In 1868 they Joined the Revo-
lutionists. Jesus Rabi. then a very young man.
led TO the Cuban camp the last survivors of the
Indian race. By his bravery he soon won the
rank Of General. He was one of the Cuban lead
ers who were most honored by Maceo, and in
Orient he was the man in whom Maceo had the
greatest confidence. He did not surrender to
the Spaniards in 1873. and he took up arms
again among the first in 1898. His hatred Of
the Spa niards is intense and he is proud Of his
aboriginal descent.
I met him Eve days ago at his camp near
veguitas, in the Manzanillo district His forces
are composed of 1900 cavalry and 500 infantry.
He is the second in command in the province
under Garcia's orders. He said to me:
Intervention by the United States in Cuba
In any way which would mean material help to
us. or would give a pretext to Spain for declar.
ing war on the American nation. is, in my opin.
lon, unnecessary. II the United States will
recognize our belligerency, and remain perfectly
neutral in the struggle. that would be a wise
and Just measure, and 1t is all we ask. At pres
ent the United States, by prosecuting our expe-
ditions from that country and thwarting all the
efforts of our friends to help us. deprives the
Cuban army of an adequate supply Of munitions
OF war, and is, therefore, practically an ally Of
Spain. I go so far as to say that in this respec,
the United States is to US q moro formidable foe
than the Spaniards themselves The Spaniards
fight us and The United States does not let III
have arms to defend our lives.
But II the American nation will remain
neutral so that We may buy in the United State.
rms and ammunition and send them in our owl
armed vessels to Cuba, then we can fight tn,
spaniards on even terms. II without a regula,
supply of arms and ammunition we fought 70
ten years in the first war. and now, for NOR
than two years have checked 2OO.OOO Spanish
regulars besides their irregular troops, you cal
imagine how easily we will whip them II they d.
not have such potent assistance as that tn
United States Government has given them.
Spain knows this perfectly well. and for thi
reason she is working as hard for her cause l.
Washington as in Cuba. 1t is a shame for a ma
ton that boasts OF being courageous and chiv
alrous to take such an attitude. What woul
you think of a man who, fighting with anothe
whose hands were tied. should object that
looker-on should unite his Adversary Will
"Sh e c bd1o maj VIC " u Hkul pllCIlt
battles against his 200. 900 soldiers. Spain
willy diplomacy prevents the United States fror
recognizing our belligerency and induces tn
United States Government to hunt down on
expeditions. There IL no courage nor chivalr
In such conduct"
Iwrote down the above statement in Spanish
and Gen. Rabi, after reading 1t twice, signed 1
The statement OF Gen. Garcia is In the follow
ing letter. dated near Moron, east side OF tn
trocha, on May 25:
SIR: In answer to your question whether
should prefer Intervention from the Unite
states or the recognition of our belligerer
rights, l declare that the recognition of or
oelligerency is, in my opinion, the right thin
Tor the American Government TO do. To recoi
niEe us as belligerents is neither to declare WI
upon Spain nor to give Spain any cause to d
clare war upon the United States. nor to NAL
any material sacrifice for Cuba. 1t Is only to
Justice. 1have always believed that the Cuban
Alone can win this war II We have only fair pla
thank you for the copy you sent me OF Sc
etor Morgan's resolution, which l think Is
wise document. Yours faithfully,
Gen. CALIXTo GARCIA,
Commander OF the Cuban Army in Orient ar
Camaguey."
ny the courier who brought me this letter
learn that Gems. Gomez and Garcia have plann,
an ATTACK on the lncaro-Moron trocha on bo
~ naes' and that they are gathering forces 4
uat purpose to the east and west OF Moron.
Inc situation at the trocha inside OF the Spa
d lines Is really awful. Yellow fever is makiI
ia'ages among tho Spanish soldiers. and sin
april more than 5000 have died of 1t.
'en' AroIas has been recalled from the trocl
"cn' Weyler on the ground that he refus
" ,Ocarry out the orders OF the Ca~ptain-Gener
~ meyler's opinion. Arolas is responsible I
.ne failure OF Weyler's plan TO crush Gomez /
"eeh The estate la Reforma and the trocha.