The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-01
The War in Cuba.

me war III IuDu.
After thus giving an account of his itin-
erary, MIR. Malone was asked to give read
| ers of the Leader the benefit of his observa-
tons as to the war in Cuba, which he kind
ly consented to, as follows:
1T is very difficult matter to get at the
true situation or condition of the war in
Cuba, as each side tells his own story aud
| makes it as much in his favor as possible.
In Havana everything is Spanish, and if
you ask them regarding the war they say
there is no war on the island. the troops
| are being withdrawn, and there is no fur
ther need of them. They say there are
no insurgents, and all the island is paci-
| fed, but if one watches little closely he
brought in daily from even near Havana
| and Matanzas, and the daily papers, whose
reports are all submitted to the censor be-
fore being published, give accounts of hot
skirmishes in the provinces which they
claim to have pacifed. But go 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
the Spanish hold the seaports, but the in.
surgents reign supreme in the interior, and
from all indications will remain so until
| Spain is a ruined government and gives up
Cuba like a 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 sure of
victory without entailng much loss to his
forces, and fall back into the mountains
when attacked by the Spaniards in supe-
rior numbers, endeavOring to entice them
into following the insurgents into the
mountains. But the Spaniards have
| learned to know better than to follow the
Insurgents, for if they did their places in
the army would have to be filed by n fresh
supply of soldiers, as they would not be
able to return. The mountains are very
rough and rugged and covered with Il
dense growth of manigua, which the sol
diers can not penetrate, but to the native
insurgent is quite an easy task. Here the
insurgents can subsst upon the wild fruits,
which abound in the greatest profusion at
all seasons of the year.
"trhe general appearance of both armies
indicate that the insurgents are much bet
ter taken care of and fed than the Span
ish soldiers. The soldiers are in bad con-
dtion, poorly fed and clothed, and are act
ually pitiabe creatures to look upon in
their rags and bare feet, with only 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 80 cents on the dollar, and is fall
ing IN prlce daily, showing tne weak uidii-
cial condition of the Spanish government,
and this Gomez realizes.
''The insurgents can maintain their army
and prolong this war for years under their
system without suffering much loss. and
eventually bankrupt Spain and force her to
grant them their independence. Conserv-
ative parties in Cuba who are in a position
to formulate an opinion on this subject es-
innate that Spain will have to abandon
the island within six or eight months.
''Expediti0ns continue to land frequently
in spite of the fact that the Spanish have
from one to three gunbOats in every sea
port on the island. As heard Spanish
officer remark, they land right under our
noses. and in the mouth of our cannon.
He had many interesting experiences,
learned much about the island, and return
ed in the very best of health, but Mr.. Ma
lone says he is glad to be at home in Texas
again. and does not care to visit Cuba again
real soon as long as conditions are like they
are at present.
After spending the day in the city and
making a report to his company, Mr.. Ma
lone left for his home at Austin, where ms
wife anxiously awaited his return, no
doubt thankful indeed that he had passed
through his experience safely without be-
ing given taste Of Spanish prison life or
ANYTHING worse