Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-04
TESTIMONY ON CUBA.
Rumors Of Stuff ring Among Amefl-
cans Said 10 Be Exaggerated.
The Insurx.n;s Holding their own
Against General wsyisr's
Forces.

NEW YORK, june 4.-W nen NnlJ r
VIM. ID. Smith, VINO testified on Gu.
ban affairs bafore the Senate commit.
tee on foreign relations Ia Washing.
ton, was in Now York, he was inter.
viewed by the Herald, which says:
Major Smith was formerly a captain
In the United States army, and 10 the
only America n officer who has
reached the fed In Cuba. AS second
chef OF the personal escort OF Gen.
uJmez he has taken part in all the
recently promoted him T., the rank OF
major Tor bravery displayed on the
field, and to more fully show mis-
gratitude ordered him on this special
mission to New York, Mt the same
time granting him long iurlough to
visit his family at Mount Stirling,
Wis. He also gave him an order %
the iunta tor his iull pay, amounting
to about 81, 500, which has been paid.
Major smith, when questioned
about The condition OF the pacificos In
the country, denied empnaticslly that
there was any suffering among them
In the province OF Las Villas, saying
that although vegetables were some
what scarce about month ago, re-
cent abundant rains have bnstened the
crops and that at present sweet pots-
toes end yRms can be found In plenty.
Major Smith stated that he believed
that the reports that many Americans
were starving In Cuba was greatly OK.
agQerated. He bases his belief on the
following facts:
While in Trinidad he was shown O
letter from Consul General Lee to
MIR. Quayle, American consular agent
AZ that place, requesting q list OF the
destitute American citizens In bis dis.
trict. Mr.. Quayle said the letter was to
the effect that there ere no starving
America ms in the district OF TriniJad;
neither had he heard OF any distress In
the nsighboring couniry.
Major Smith also leurned while In
Cisaiuegos where the bulk OF Ameri.
can capital is Invested in the sugar fac
tries OF the district, and where const-
quently there 10 fair represe tation
OF Americans employed and residing,
that there was not single family that
needed relief. This Information WAS
corroborRteu by the American consul,
who had already made report to
Gen. Lee, similar to that OF the
United States consular agent ut Trini.
yad.
Major Smith afterwards stayed a
short time In the harbor OF Santiago
de Cuba, where several prominent
Cubans and Americans came to zee
him. and they also said that up 10 that
time, owing u tho failure OF General
Wey or 10 operate In the east, the pee.
llp were mol destitute nor In need OF
relief.
Recently General Gomez placed
uuuer arrest Colonel Juan Bravo, VINO
commanded the btiga 70 Of Trinidad.
He was charged with missappropria.
tion of Cuban lands, Receiving u bribe
lor perm ting large numbers OF cattle
to pass into the Spanish Iints, aud
general In com potency. He WAS eouGl
martisled, anu Major Smith believes
that by this time he hss been snot.
MSjor Smith says that q meg sharp
ly reprimanded General RouIigu,z for
hts lukewaim campaign anu ordered
him to the nils OF Trinidad. The
coiored volu heers infantry, under
Brigadier Q iintin Banue.s. was
placed undei ans orders. Gomez, Ma.
jur smith sail, hai awakened to the
TACT that these hilIs WIRE OF grea,
strategic imp rtaDce TO the Cause aud
II d rigutz aud Baudefa we've or ERE
10 prevent al, all hazards the further
incurslons Of the Spanish. II his or.
ders ars not carried out, Glms2 threat
ems 10 degrade every tfficer In the
command.
That q meg VIII keep his word 10
show In ths case OF Bravo, who To.
peRteuly disobeyed instructions t.
destroy the sugar cane and factories o.