Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-01-21
GEN. RIVERA TALKS.
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL
MACEO'S SUCCESSOR.
An Appeal for AmmunltIon-Tha is tho
Greatest Need of the Cubans at Present
Want No More Men, but Only Guns
and Cartridges.

NEW YORK, Jan. ls.--The World
prints the following interview with
General Rivera at Cameo, Pinar del
Rio province:
IL do not wish to criticise our friends
in the United States, for believe
them referring to the junta) patriotic
men and striving to do their best for
Cuba, but we here in Tinar del Rio
have been somewhat neglected.
Great reliance was placed upon
Maceo, our beloved commander, and
it was thought that he could not only
defeat the enemy in the province, but
finally make junction with Gomez
But he knew, and our friends should
have known also, that four or five or
ten thousand men, poorly armed and
most OF the time with but scanty am
munition, could not prevail against
$4,000 we'll armed and well fed
troops One or two small expeditions
landed-one at Corrintcs bay-but
otherwise for nine months we have
been depending upon our strategy and
knowledge of the province to keep us
out of q pitched battle,
speaking with reference to cannon,
l wish it could be communicated to
our friends in the United States that
cannon are more in the way of our
selves than that of the enemy in this
province. In the first place, they are
inconvenient to take out over the hills,
through the district of Managua and
among the woods. Of course, when
we are in position to assault Havana,
heavy guns will be necessary. DO we
expect to do so? No; not very soon.
About the end of the winter, hope.
There is certainly nothing to be
gained by making statements that are
untrue, or that do not believe in my
self. 1t would be wrong for me to
give our friends in the United States
the impression that we arc perfectly
able to take care Of ourselves, no mat
ter what happens.
Some of my best friends may criti-
else me for speaking so plainly, but l
wish the Cubans of New York Phila-
delphia, Jacksonville and Key West to
know we here in Pinar del Rio, like our
brothers of the orient, are willing to
die for Cuba OF win. We cannot fight
alone with our hands, nor even ma
chetes, against an enemy that is equip
ped, fed and drilled.
I'VE do not need men, and, above
all, we do not want foreigners to come
unless they are men of military science.
1t is not, Us you know, because of any
lack of appreciation for the sympathy
or assistance of the foreigner, We pray
to God that the American nation exists
and we know and appreciate the great
help it has been to us.
I'VE do not want Young Americans
to come to Cuba as fighters Not one
in ten knows word of the language OF
our country-a language We would
change ii we could, since we dislike
everything Spanish.
There were, perhaps, forty or fifty
Americans with Maceo when he en-
tered the province, but | do not be-
lieve there are half dozen of them
left.
Il do not know how General Gomez
feels in this particular, but as far as l
am concerned do not want any for
eiGners. There are plenty of Cubans
in the United States who should DC,
and presume are, willing and anxious
to come to the assistance of their
fighting brethren. If men are to be
sent, let Cubans be the men.
Tell the American people to give
us rifles and supply of cartridges and
we will whip Wcyler before the winter
ends We have $4,000 men waiting in
the province which was the last to
take up arms"