The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-14
COMES WESTERN MARCH.
a sun CORRESPONDENCE SEES MIN
CROSS INTO MATlNEAS.

nv Wv ~
ne says ne Proposes to rerce wey1er 70
Recall His Array from East Cubs-Hs
Believes the TTIumphof TIE Patriots IL Year
CARpENAs, Province Of Matanzas, Cuba. July
Fit il not an easy task to start from the city
OF Cardenas on the north coast Of MatanSss, On
horseback and meet Gen. Comes on the east
side of the river Hanabana. To do this tho
correspondent of THE Sun travelled south from
June 20 to June %, lodging the many Spanish
columns which swarm In the province OF Ma
tanzas. Had he met, for instance, the column OF
Gen. Molina, nothing could have saved him
from being killed on tho spot. In respect OF
his cruelty, Molina can only DO compared
with weyler himself. No human being in
tho path Of Molina escapes death IL he
f. not q Spanish soldier. Flames and blood are
always left behind by the snnguinary column Of
this butcher, who. after ono Of his marches OF
two or three days, returns TO MatanEas report
ing his list Of assassinations and robberieS a.
great victories over the Cuban army.
But taking the route from Cardenas to tho
east the correspondent was not 30 likely to find
Molina, who generally operates moro to tho
west and close to Matanzas city. Still. the
other Spanish columns arc not less to be dread
cd, and NO friend Of Cuba cares to meet single
handed tho guerrilla forces Of irresulars, who
are chiefly composed Of natives OF tho Canary
Yslands, and who are committing the most tor
Eihie o~utrages in this war.
After O journey of this kind. ono can easily un-
derstand how Gen. weyler. in spite Of his 2oo,-
600 soldiers, 10 outwitted by the Cubans. Tho
Spanish euerrillas, in d~otachneuts of1oo to 200
mon. march before the columns. leading the way,
but never more than half q milo from the main
force. Each column 10 composed OF at least 5000
to q. 1000 men. A column and the guerrilla ad-
vance guard march slowly, especially when they
have their artillery with them. Furthermore.
the Spanish soldiers, whom they march, are
always talking loudly to each other. and
on o quiet day, with q favorable wind, the hum
of conversation is heard at q distance Of two
miles, giving ample notice of their approach.
To tho buzz Of their talking 10 added the ding
dong Of the tin pitcher, plate, spoon. and fork
that each soldier carries, and which makes
music at each step. A long distance away the
approach Of q Spanish column sounds like the
coming of a large herd of belled cattle. In ad-
dition, the flock OF ~vultures above the column.
which In Cuba, as throughout the tropics, al
ways follows crowds of men moving through
the country, is infslliblo evidence thatthe Span.
aards arc near at hand.
The Cubans, who move in far smaller bands,
and who are almost all cavalry, before they SEQ
the Spaniards know OF their approach and can
either prepare an ambush for them or avoid an
encounter at their will. A mar on q good horse,
anu IaIllllhE Win IL COUNTY "iBht pacb III
whole life lodging tho Spanish columnsi In Cuba
without ever falling into their hands.
The river Hanabana. called also Jatibonico. 10
the south boundary line between the provinces
of Matanzas and Santa Clara / reached 1t on
June 81, near sunset, but could not Cross be-
cause the Spanish column of Vizcaya. 5000
strong, was encamped on the north side In
Matanzas. We were three miles from the town
OF Amarillas, and 1 and my guido concealed our
selves q mile from tho town in q thick manigua or
forest. from where wo could easily and safely
watch the movcmentso of tho Spaniards. During
the night we slept solndly. Next morning at s
o'clock the Spanish trumpets calling every man
to his place. or diana, az the Spanish say, awoke
us. The column was four hours crossing the
river to Santa Clara province on the railroad
bridge. An hour later We also crossed the Same
bridge with our horses. When we reached the
other side tho column was disappearing
toward the northeast. Tho men of Vizcaya
wero going to moot Gen. Gomez and o
few moments after thelast Spaniard had disap-
peared from view. we saw the first scouts of
Gen. Francisco GARLIC. commander of Corners
vanguard, coming from the southeast. Ono of
them. recognizing US. advised me to wait there.
Over 200 Cuban cavalry crossed the river into
Matanzas, and an hour later Carillo's force,
100 mon, nearly all cavalry, arrived
Gen. GARLIC would not DO recognized now by
those who saw him in New York in 1895. Tie Is
twice as fat rs he was then and wears q long
beard. Shortly after Carrillo arrived Maxine
Gomez. with a force of only 500 cavalrymen,
also reached the bridge.
1 could not speak to Gomez until late in tho
evening. GARLIC crossed the river into Matan-
Eas province and he remained there until night.
At last DIR. Fermin Vald6s Dominguez, Gen.
Gomez's secretary. led me to the Generals tent.
Gomez now looks very much older than he
really is, and he stoops q little moro than he did
. year ago, but he appears as strong as over
and his eyes sparkle with all his old energy.
Al first he refused to say anything more than
what he had already said In his last letters ad
dressed 10 Tomas Estrada Palma, the Cuban
Delegate in New York. But when l spoke to
him OF the report circulated in Havana by
bitter enemies, he said:
"That Is the only sort Of war that Weyler
knows how TO make-a war of lies. His evident
failure before the whole world, whom he prom
ised to overcome the revolution in loss than a
year, compels him to employ falsehood in order
to raise the hopes of Spain and induce the
Spanish Government to mortgage and sell the
last properties OF the nation to send him money.
II Garcia and I were divided our campaign
would not be so effective as it is"
To the question how long, in his opinion, the
war would last, he answered.:
ct never like to pose as q prophet, as
the Spanish Generals do. Martinez Cam
pos said that he would win after the rainy
season of 1895 was over. He did not.
Weyler said the Same thing q year later. His
prophecy also was worthless. I can only say
that Cuba will be freed by this war and that I
believe the end is near. Now we are moving to
the west, and how far west we shall go I cannot
say, because that depends upon the necessities Of
&ha naucnofup I will N arch IN the oato. -
Havana IL necessary to force Weylor to bring
back to tho west the formidable army he has
taken to the cast. II I succeed In this / will be
satisfied for the moment.
"The great object in this war Is to tire out tho
Spanish until we get our opportunity to strike a
big blow. II had 10000 rifles and five good
cannon I could take Havana, but without these
munitions I must wait. Not having such a large
and well-provided army as Spain has put In tho
field, me is my great resource. The result Is that
in six months Of campaigning in Santa Clara
proyinca i have diaabled nv thia plan nj vxarfnra