The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-21
GEN. RIVERA INTERVIEWED
MACEO'S SUCCESSOR SAYS THE
JUNTA HAS NEGLECTED IN
sURGENTS IN DEL RIO.
ARMS and AMMUNITION NEEDED
They Have Plenty of Men to Do the
Rest-A Few Poorly-Armed Men
Can Not Face Well Drilled
Regular Army.

New York, Jan. 1S.-The World prints
an interview with Gen. Ruiz Rivera, OBJ
tanned in the field near Cameo near Pinar
del Rio. In this interview Gen. Rivera
says:
Il do not wish to criticize 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 Pinar del Rio have been
somewhat neglected.
Great reliance was placed oil Gen.
Maceo, our beloved commander, and it
was thought that he could not only de-
feat 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 good men, poorly armed, and
most of them with scanty ammunition,
could not prevail against $4,000 well
armed and well fed troops. One or two
expeditions landed-one at Cirrientes bay
but otherwise for nine months we have
been depending upon our strategy ard
knowledge of the province to keep us out
Of a pitched battle.
Speaking with reference to cannon,
wish it could be communicated to our
friends III the United States that cannon
are more in the way of ourselves than
that of the enemy in this province. In
the first place, they ere inconvenient to
take about over the hills through the
district of Managua and among the
woods. The cannon we have now repre-
sent an outlay of $4,000 or $4,000, and
yet almost 1000 rifles could be purchased
for that sum. OF course when we are in
a position to assault Havana heavy ar.
tillery will be necessity. Do we expect
to do so? No; not very soon; about the
end of the winter, hope. There is GER
tainly nothing to be gained by making
statements that are untrue or that | do
not belief in myself.
1T would be wrong for me to give our
friends in the United States the impres-
sion that we are perfectly able to take
care of ourselves, no matter what hap
pens. Indeed, now that you are here
representing paper that has been true
to us from the beginning.
II hope my statements will reach those
who are endeavoring to aid us directly
and assist them in arriving at proper con-
illusions.
Some of my best friends may criticise
me for speaking so plainly, but | wish
the Cubans of New York, PHILADELPHIA
and Key West to know that we here in
Pinar Del Rio, like our brothers of the
Orient, are willing to die for Cuba. We
can not fight alone with our hands, nor
even with machetes, against an enemy
that is fully equipped. fed and drilled.
I'VE do not need men, and, above all
we do not want foreigners to come nm,
less they are men of military science II
is not, as you know, because of anv Incl,
of appreciation of the sympathy or MS.
sistance of the foreigners. We thant
God that the American nation exists. and
we know and appreciate the great holm
il has been to us.
I'VE do not want young Americans n
come to Cuba as fighters. Not one in
ten knows word of the language of orr
country-a language we would change Il
We could, since we dislike Spain.
There were, perhaps, forty or fftv
Americans with Maceo when he entered
this province, but l do not believe tbara
are half dozen left.
Il do not know how Gen. Gomez feols
in this particular, but as far as I am
concerned l do not want foreigners
There are plenty of Cubans in tho lint
ed States, and l presume they are viii
ing and anxious to come to the n ssstonno
of their fighting brethren. If men nre
to be sent, let Cubans be the men
But as matter of fact we arc not :,
need of men at all. The whole no.;, "a
population is with us, and I am none
dent an army of $4,000 could he nIann5
IN Havana province before the wintor u
over, if we had but the arms and ann Is
milton. Our Cubans are brave and ,iu
triotic and willing to die for our renr rh-
lie, but are not yet strong enoneb puo-
face. an enemy's bullet with ar 10
hands. empty
Tell the American people to g;vo -,
rifles and a supply of cartridges and and us US
VIII whip Weyler before the winter orS we
We have many men waiting in tba mus MUS
ince which was last to take up arms pf -
81
NARROWING SITUATION
London, Jan. 1S.-The Daily Nm