The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-27

observations as to the war in Cuba, which
he kindly consented 10. as follows:
1T Is d very difficult matter to get at
the true situation or condition of the war
In Cuba. as each side tells his own story
and makes 1t as much in his favor as
possible. In Havana everything Is Span
sh and If you ask them regarding war
they say there is no war on the Island, the
troops are beiug withdrawn and there is no
further need OF them. They say there ere
no insurgents and all the island is paci-
fled. but /. one watches a little closely he
will see wounded Spanish soldiers being
brought in daily from even near Havana
and Matanzas. and the daily papers, whose
reports ara all submitted TO the censor be
fore being published give accounts OF not
skirmishes in the provinces which they
claim TO have pacifled. But 30 a little
further into the island, especially the east
ern end in Santiago de Cuba and Puerto
Principe provinces, which are very noun
famous, and note the difference. Here tho
Spanish hold the selports but the insur-
gent reigns supreme In the interior and
from all indications will remain until
Spain is ruined government and gives up
Cuba like hot potato.
This part OF the island is favorable to
| Gomez policy OF fighting. which is to at
tack the Spaniards only when he Is suro OF
victory without entailing much loss 10 his
| forces, and fall back into the mountains
when attacked by the Spaniards in superior
numbers, endeayoring TO entice them into
! following the insurgents into the noun
tains. But the Spaniards have learned to
know better than 10 follow the insurgents.
| for II they did their places in the army
| would have 10 be filled by u fresh sup
ply Of soldiers. they would not be able
to return. The mountains are very rough
and rugged and covered with a dense
! growth of Managua, which the soldiers can
not pepetrate. but TO the native insurgent
ie m all fl1n N 4 fts
can subsist upon the wild fruits, which
abound In the greatest pTofusion at all sea-
sons of the year.
The general appearance OF both armies
indicates that the insurgents are much
better taken care Of and fed than the Span
ish soldiers. The soldiers are in bad con-
dition, poorly fed and clothed and are
actually pitiablc creatures To look upon In
their rags and bare feet with oriy pieces
OF straw hats on their heads. They are
paid 50 per month in paper money, issued
by the Spanish Bank of Cuba. This money
is worth 30 cents on the dollar, and is fall
ing in price daily, showing the weak finan-
cia condition of ths Spanish government
and this Gomez realizes
Mr.. Malone had with him some OF the
Spanish paper money in which the soldiers
receive their pay, in denominations OF 8
10 and 20 cents. When he first arrived on
tho island nearly two months ago, this
paper was worth so cents on the d.llar
put When he left was SellinR Tor ~ cent?
and was daily deprccating The bills looi
: very much like the old Confederate shin
| plpsters- are just about as valuable
j They are made by the American Bank Note
company. and a new issue was made while
, Mr.. Malone was In Cuba.
The insurgents can maintain their army
and prolong this war for years under theil
system without suffering much lose, ant
! eventually bankrupt Spain and succeed il
4 forcing her 10 grant them their independ
ence. Conservative parties in Cuba whf
are In a position to formulate an opinion
On this subject estimate that Spain vii
: have 10 ahsndon the island within six OF
eight months.
Expeditions continue to land freluentl!
? In spite of the fact that tho Spanish hay
from one to three gunboats in every sea
port on the island. As heard spanis
n officer remark fThey land right under GU
0 noses and in the mouth Of our cannon."
There is much bitter feeling .sis,inl
among the Spanish against the Unite
States, They claim that the United state
approves OF and aids filibustering nxrtdi
lions and makes no EFFORT to prevent tber
leaving for Cuba. The newspapers IN Cub
. condemn General Lee ~ an insursent !