Evening journal., 1897-01-18
RIVERA Is FULL OF HOPE
Maceo's Successor Gives His
Views on Cuban War.
HAS NO THOUGHT OF SURRENDER.

VIM Continue the Fight Untn Freedom
Is Obtained-More Men Not Now Need
cd. bnt Cartridges Necessity--Almost
the Entire Population Against Spain.
NEW YORK. Jan. 1S.-The World pub
lished the following interview with Gen
crai Rivera, the successor of General Ma
Geo. obtained by correspondent in the
field near San Coyetano, Pinar del Rio:
II do not wish to criticise our friends in
the United States, for believe them ire
ferring 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 upon Gener
al Maceo, our beloved commander and it
was Thought that he could not only defeat
the enemy in the province but finally
make n junction with Gomez. But we
know and our friends should have known
also that 1000 or 5000 or 10, 600 men,
poorly armed and most of the time with
but scanty ammunition could not prevail
against $4,000 well armed and well fed
troops One or two small expeditions land
ed--one at Corrientes bay-but otherwise
for nine months we have been depending
upon our strategy and knowledge of the
province to keep us out of pitched battle.
Long ago General Maceo divided the
second army, and / was given "a separate
command TO skirt the north coast. to cap.
ture a village now and then and to send
messengers to New York by way of Hava-
ma or across the Florida strait to Key West.
Brigadier Ducasse had command of
force on the south, and General Maceo oc.
N lrt1f nd ~
the Cataranba range. As the main Span.
ish force was concentrated against the Ru.
bi and Cataranba camps General Maceo
was compelled to do most of the fighting.
He won many battles and the big fight at
Artemisa. At the latter place he received
an ugly wound in the thigh, but did not
retire from his saddle until the fight was
done About 40 Of our soldiers were killed
there. The enemy's loss must have been
much more, according TO the word l re.
ceived from General Maceo. 1t Is not true
that dynamite gun was used at Artemi.
81. We have dynamite gun and two shell
pieces, but they have been useless for some
time since we have not had ammunition
for them.
Cannon Useless to Rebels.
80 1t would be wrong for me to give oul
friends IN the United States the impress
sion that we are perfectly able TO take care
Of ourselves, no matter what happens. In.
deed now that you are here representing
a paper that has been true to us from the
beginning l hope my statements viii
reach those who are cndeavoring to aid Us
directly and assist them in arriving al
proper conclusions
Some of my best friends may criticist
me forspeaking so plainly, but l wish the
Cubans of New York, Philadelphia, Jack.
sonville and Key West to know that we
here in Pinar del Rio, like our brothers OF
the orient, are willing to die for Cuba OF
TO win We cannot fight alone with ouI
hands, nor even with machetcs, against an
enemy that is fully equipped, fcl an6
drilled
1--WE do not need men, and above all W
do not want foreigners to come unless they
are 1nen'of military science. 1t is not, a
you know, because of any lack of apprecia
tion for the sympathy or assistance of tn
foreigner. We pray and we thank Cor
that the American nation exists and W,
know and appreciated the great help it ha.
been TO us.
But we do not want young American,
to come to Cuba as fighters. Not one il
ten knows a word of the language of oul
country-a language we would change il
we could, since we dislike everything
Spanish.
"There were perhaps 40 or 80 Americans
with Maceo when he entered this province
but I do not believe there are half dozer
of them left
II do not know how General Conner
feels i'm this particular, but as far as | AT
concerned I do not want any foreigners
There are plenty of Cubans in the United
States who should be, and l presume are
willing and anxious TO come to the assist
ance of their fighting brethren. If mel
are to be sent, let Cubans be the men.
Not In Need of Men.
But as a matter of fact we are not il
need of men at all The whole native pop
ulation is with us, and 1 am confident m
army Of $4,000 could be placed in Havan;
province before the winter is over if w
had bu the arms and ammunition. Gu
Cuban. are brave and patriotic and will
ing to die for our republic, but they ar
not crazy enough TO face an enemy's bul
lets with empty hands Tell the Ameri
can people 20 give us 10000 rifles and
supply of cartridges, and we will whip hel
out of Weylcr and his trocha before tn
winter ends.
we have that many men waiting il
uhs province, which was tine last 20 TAX
up arms.
You must not think that the fore
with which Maceo entered the provinc
has been killed off by the enemy. No! Hi
men are still in Pinar del Rio and are onl
awaiting the ammunition. None have SUI
rendered They are more earnest tha'
ever In various places throughout tn
province we Have gunsa machetes store
and hidden-perhaps ,, 600 of the forme
and $500 Of the latter-but ammunition
is wanting, and we must wait.
"Shall make an aggressive movemen
soons I cannot answer that definitely
will not call upon those who are livin
quietly on plantations or in the towns an
villages until I have arms. AS it is an
able TO keep 40, 600 or 30, 600 troops Of th
enemy worrying and yet not suffering an
serious loss ourselves. For two weeks q
more we have been entirely inactive her,