The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-01-14
THE CUBANS WILL WIN.
An Insurgent Omoer Talks Of thu
War with Spain.

An Insurgent Omoer Talks Of the
War with Spain.
The Cubsns Are Conadsns q Wlnnins
rndependsnce-lnjury 60 Bust
ness Intsrests In This
Country.
II the people Of Florida had their
way about it Cuba would be free TO-
morrow. The state is practically
unanimous in favor Of the independ-
..ence Of the island from Spanish rule,
The war has practically destroyed the
tobacco and cigar industry Of Key
West, Tampa and Jacksonville, locking
up thousands of dollars of capital in
vested in property At only for tobacco
manufacture In some form, and throw
ing out Of employment thousands Of
men who are unable to fnd employ.
ment In any other industry, and who
are In the main unsuited for any other.
II ann using up my last bale Of to-
bacco to-day" said dealer to the Sun
correspondent, land shall have to close
down my factory. can't get any to-
bacco. How many men will be thrown
out Of employment? A very largo
number, and when added to the others
In this city and the state, will make
quito small army whose means Of
subsistence have been destroyed by the
war In Cuba. But we all, laborcrs and
manufacturers, bear our losses cheer
fully. We feel that It is necessary to
make tho sacrifice that Cuba may be
free, and we feel certain that It will be-"
The Sun correspondent had the good
fortune to meet three officers of the in
surgent army, who have just come over
from Cuba upon a special mission. One
Of them spoke English fairly well. He
is colonel. and looks It every inch.
He said:
"Weyler has under his command in
tho island fully 100000 men. It is es-
timated that from 10000 to $4,000 Of
them are laid up in the hospitals. The
remainder of them stick to the cities.
When they sally forth it is in large
numbers. Are they afraid Of the Gu
bans?" The colonel shrugged his
shoulders, and comical smile agitated
the stiff hairs of his mustache. 1.-THE
idea Of a Spaniard being afraid Of
Cuban" said he. ironically. mo, it
must not be that. Oh. no; something
else must keep them in the cities. The
Cubans have fully 10000 armed men in
the field. and fully 10000 reserves
ready to fill up the ranks as fast as
they are decimated by the enemy.
We have plenty Of men, # we could only
equip them. It Is estimated that we
have three men to every gun.
Every armed column has an umarmed
column following it. and whenever a
soldier falls there is Q mad scramble
for his weapon.
"Gen. Maxine Gomez commands the
eastern department.. Gen. Antonio
Maceo commands the western depart
ment, comprising Las Vegas, Matanzas,
Havana and Pinar del Rio, where the
principal operations are to-day. The
Maceos have glorious record" said
the colonel. There were nine Of the
brothers. OF whom Gen. Antonio Is the
only survivor. All the others were
killed in battle, fighting for the indie
pendence Of Cuba. This 10 . record Of
which Spartan would have been
proud.
what are our prospects, to-day2 We
shall win. We can't fail. In the ten
years' war the insurgents did not in
wade the province Of Matanzas at ALL,
They were rekeptoutof 1t. ButGen.M Maceo
has gone further than that, 30 that
Weyler has not only to drive us out Of
Camaguey and Matanzas, but out Of
Pinar del Rio as well. We have the
eastern department In our grip. II 10
ments, and the inability Of the Span-l
iards to collect any taxes there IL one Of
tho severest blows the insurgents have
inflicted upon them.
''The industries Of Cuba are para,
lyzed. The extent Of the paralysis may
be inferred from ths fact that it u es-,
timated that not one bag Of sugar will
be sent out Of the island this year.
Last year Weyler ordered the planters
to grind their cane. Tho insurgents'
were opposed to their doing 20. Now
he has no power to command them TO-
grind. There win be no sugar crop,
this year. All tho tobacco thst was col
lected has been burned, and that which,
remained in tho fields has been ruined.
Tho policy Of the insmgents has
been TO destroy the sugar and tobacco
estates in order TO cripple ths revenues
Of spain.
'The people Of Cuba are determined
to achieve their Independence. They
ere tired Of 6panish extortion and tyr
amy. and prefer death 10 further sub