The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-06-13
STRAIGHT CUBAN NEWS
The Insurgents Are Strong Nu-
merically and Are Hopeful.
FACTS FROM THE ISLAND
President Cisneros Was Alive Long After
the Press Censor Reported His
Death-Dr. Danforth Tells
All About IL.

New York. June l2.-AmUng the pas
scngers who landed in New York to-
day on the steamer Valencia, from
Cuba ports. Via Nassau. y. H.. was DR..
II. w. Danforth of Milwaukee. Wis,
who for IL months has been the per-
sonal physician Of the president OF the
Cuban republic, Salvador Cisneros. The
doctor is in the United States on "a six
months leave of absence. having left
Cuba May ~.
According To Spanish reports. Presi-
dent Cisneros died In February last.
and this news was semi-uilicially
confirmed in March last. but Mr.. Dan
forth was with the president as late as
April last and has letter dated
April ~ from the president. When
Danforth left him he was full of en-
thuslasm and animated by the most
| confident feeling for the eventual sue
cess of the Cuban cause. Danforth said
the seat of government OF the Cuban
republic is at Agura, Puerto Principe.
where the insurgents have erected IA
capitol The president however. Is not
now at Agura, but In the province Of
Santiago de Cuba.
Danforth was asked to express an
opinion as Ia the numerical strength of
the Cuban insurgents. being informed
that late advices from Cuba placed the
| number at 5000 men. He said: 1t Is
| difficult. III not impossible, To arrive at
n correct estimate. But YOU can say
that the Cubans. for n certainty, have
at least 10000 To 5000 to-day. armed
and IN good shape, The Cubans have
I been importing arms and ammunition
right along. They ar. fighting a des-
/ perate fight and are In good condition
/ TO continue. The Spaniards are also
engaged In desperate contest, but
/ they are exhausted or almost 80. GER
taiply think the Cubaus will succeed.
not by reason OF numerical strength.
for the Spaniards have about 10000
men In the field. All the Cuban leaders
| are sworn not to give up until they all
/ are dead. They are bound by oath to
| fight until the last and they will do
So
"As to Spanish atrocities. what do
you know of them uf your own per-
sonal knowledge" Danforth was asked.
THE position which uccIgied with
I the insurgent forces necessarily pre-
! cluded my obtaining personal knowl-
edge OF the atrocities complained of.
D
| ters there is absolutely no doubt of
/ their existence. ! remember one Incl
dent. Last September 1000 Spanish sol
! diers had been sent To relieve Cascarrio.
| In the fight which followed the Spanish
column killed, among others, an insur-
| gent captain. When we secured his
tody II was horrible sight, completely
covered with bayonet wounds and
machete cuts. hacked and stabbed with
the most horrible unnecessary cruelty
| feel justified i'm asserting that men,
women and children have been mos;
outrageously treated by the Spanish in
nearly all the devastated parts of Cuba.
Homes have been burned property de-
stroyed and the prisoners have been
ielcgated 10 zones Of starvation"
What, in your opinion. will be the
next steps taken by the Spaniards in
Cuba"
1t IL to be presumed that Weyler
will continue wandering in the island,
certifying To the pacfcatio n of the
provinces. According To reports cur
rent when 7 left Cuba. Weyler will bc
recalled and Campos will succeed him
and hc viii be instructed In do the best
he can under the circumstances. Ii Is
q shame" continued Danforth that
United States citizens ar, not more pro-
.
shoot first and inquire afterwards as To
the standing of tht man, American or
Cuban. and they they say he was shot
by his own friends. When | left the
president and party they were all filled
with hope and trusting in the United
States. Should the United States inter-
Vene? Most emphatically yes. | sin
cerely hope the United States viii soon
decide to recognize the belliserency OF
the Cuhans.'
What Is the present condition of the
Cuban Insurgents.
Their condition vs. satisfactory. "
Is true they are hard pressed In the
provinces on accountof rations, but, as
a whole they are doing very well. In
Santiago de Cuba there are no cattle.
but plenty cf vegetables, and In the
rovincc OF Puerto Principe ther, Is an
abundance uf cattle and 10 vegetables.
In santa Clara, On the other hand.
there is plenty of vegetables and the
same holds good with the provinces oi
Matanzas and Havana. They stu
want arms and ammunition and want
them very badly"
nN rLE TRACY