The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-16
ENROLLED, FOR CUBA.
FIFTEEN THOUSAND MEN ORGANIZED
BY GENERAL L. w. COLBY.

No Dinicuity Expected From Spanish Cum
boats When the Expedition Lands-To
BE Called the American Volunteer Le.
gion-How Money Can Be Raised.
The organization Of an army Of Amer.
ican volunteers in aid Of the Cuban re-
public has been completed, SO far as the
enrolling of $4,000 men is concerned,
and the obtaining Of the requisite sup
plies is advancing rapidly. The plans
of General L. w Colby, the commander
Of the army. have only partially been
made public. He has selected a rendez-
vous outside the territory Of the United
States for arming. equipping and mobi-
lizing the troops, where there will be
no danger of interference from our gov.
ernment and no violation of any federal
or state statutes.
The plan in general is to safely land
on Cuban soil an American volunteer
legion Of not less than 10, 600 ablebod.
led men, Of which 10000 will be in
fantry, 1000 cavalry and 1000 artil
lery. In 25 states and territories there
have already been companies organized,
and others are being formed. The infan
try will be armed with the springfield
breechloading rifles, the cavalry with
springfield carbines, and the artillery
will be composed Of four batteries Of
six guns each-steel, brass and hotch.
kiss guns-and each infantry regiment
will have gatling gun section attached.
The cost required for arming, equip
ping, rationing and transporting is esti.
mated at 81, 800, 900.
General Colby is confident when this
army of American patriots is safely
landed ON the island it will mean vic.
tory from the start and the early estab-
lishment Of the Cuban republic. In con.
versation General Colby said:
"The story Of Spain for centuries has
been but record of treachery, cruelty
and dishonop. and this record is contin
ned in the Cuban war. Spain has de-
stroyed private property and plundered
its own citizens, murdered unarmed wo-
men and children, killed General Macec
under a flag Of truce, and only week
ago another typical Spanish victory was
reported in the capture Of Cuban hos
pital and the indiscriminate slaughter
of its helpless inmates, the unarmed
nurses. I tell you, there is no longer
room on the American continent for o
province owing allegiance to Spain.
Taxation without representation il
tyranny in Cuba as well as in the Unit
ed States. This Spanish tyranny adjoin.
ing our free republic has always been
menace to our commercial relations and
business interests. Our people, by their
investments in the sugar and tobacco
plantations in Cuba, have for years
largely supplied the revenues for the
maintenance of the monarchy Of Spain.
Our patriotism as well as the CONNER.
cial interests of our country demand
Cuban independence. This continent
should be governed by republics alone
The Cuban patriots have shown theii
capacity for self government, and every
lover of our free institutions should give
active aid to these people who have been
SO bravely struggling for the right OF
self government as against Spanish op-
preston, barbarism and the worst forms
of human servitude.
How do you expect to safely land
your troops?" was asked.
There will be no trouble about that
whatever, replied General Colby. "The
island is only imperfectly patrolled by
Spanish gunboats, her navy is entirely
inadequate to guard coast line Of over
1900 miles, and the gunboats are nee
essarily kept at the principal ports. A
landing could be effected in 1000
places with very little chance Of mo-
lestation. The greatest problem is that
of obtaining the necessary funds"
How do you expect to obtain these,
general?''
"I want the patriotic people of this
country to take hold Of the matter, the
rich and the poor, and each one to dc
his part. There certainly are 2, 900, 600
patriots in the United States who are
each willing to give 81 to help the cause
Of human liberty and the establishment
Of republican government in the island
Of Cuba. / want the patriots to contrib
ute what they can as early as possible,
and the brave men who have enrolled in
this cause to do their part are ready fol
immediate action.
'The junta, or Cuban organization Of
this country, with headquarters in New
York, is not raising money for the
American Volunteers legion. The or
ganization of this army is strictly Amer
ican, but is in perfect accord with the
plans of the president Of the Cuban re-
public"
General Colby is man Of enthusi
asm and patriotic instincts. He is full
Of vigor and courage and seems to know
exactly what he is doing. He has seen
active service during the rebellion and
in number Of Indian campaigns in
Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming and other
western states. He has served in the in
fantry, artillery and cavalry and In
nearly every position from private up
to brigadier general. He is thoroughly
in earnest, is confident and is possessed
Of the enthusiasm which compels sue
cess. New York Journal.