San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-20
CUBA GAINS DAILY.

ground in Cuba, by the Spanisrls
seems impossible. The insurgents are
relatively stronger today than at any
time since the war for Cuban lndepeD-
dence begun. There is not n reason
able doubt of this. When the contest
commenced two and hall years ago
Spain had 10000 Spanish soldiers IN
Cuba and $4,000 volunteers. Immed-
lately 1000 picked troops were serr
to General Calleja from Spain, max
ing force of $1,000 men subject 10
his orders. The insurgents commence
ed operations with 5000 men under
Maceo and less than that number M
der Gomez and Marti. Since that time
the Spanish reinforcements sent to the
island have swelled the whole number
of Spanish troops to at least 100000
As soon as the rainy season of 1895
was over Spain began flooding the is
land with troops. In the months of
June and July $4,000 were sent. By
the end of August there were $1,000
Spanish soldiers in Cuba besides those
who were there when hostllities COM
menced. In October $4,000 reinforce.
ments arrived, and by the close of No
vember there were 10000 Spanish
troops in Cuba besides the original
$1,000 that were there at the opening
of the war. At this time the insurgert
army, which numbered only 1900
in August and only 5000 of these
properly armed, was increased to 25,-
900, and half of these armed with riff
es, the rest either unarmed or pc ITALY
provided with machettes. Two
months after hostilities commenced
the ablest general that Spain possess
ed, Campos,was at the head of the
Spanish forces, but with all of his mil
itary genius he could make no head
way against the insurrection, and his
army being defeated in the only en-
gagement into which he could bring
the insurgent leaders, his enemies at
home clamoring for his recall, he was
superseded by Weyler, the butcher,
of the ten years war. Weyler took
command of the army in Cuba one
year from the beginning of HOSTILE
ties, and nine months afterwards there
were 10000 Spanish soldiers that
could not be accounted for, in addi-
ton to the thousands reported in hos
pitfalls, and otherwise unified for ac-
tive service. Steadily through that
year the Cubans recruited their forces
and arms were received from expe-
dition after expedition, something
like 20 in all having successfully land
eu in Cuba. Never have the Cubans
at any time had more than 10000 men
in the field, and with these they
have SUCCESSFULLY resisted the attacks
of the 100000 of the flower of the
Spanish kingdom.Not only so,the Span
iards today have not $4,000 troops,
counting the weak and miserably fed
and clothed of all grades who are
able to shoulder a musket, while the
insurgents are better armed, better
supplied with ammunition, have more
artillery and are in better condition
to resist attack than at any period
| Sinca tho fold was taken NOtwitl-
standing the loss of their ablest gen.
erals they have carried on their oper-
atoms without losing heart, or deter
iorating in the character of their SER
vice. They have more funds and
| greater resources now than at any
perlod of the war, while Spain is
spending $10O,O00,OO0 annually to sup.
port the contest. The revenues OF
Spain were in great part derived from
Cuba in times of peace and these are
all cut of. Bankrupt in treasury
conscription having drained the land
of its youth, her armies suffering de-
feat on every hand, the insurgents
steadily gaining in numbers, in effic
iency and in aggressiyeness, what is
there in the situation to give Spain q
hope of conquering Cuba.
The state grangers are not in love
with the railway commission, they
think there should no n farmer on H.