Evening star., 1897-06-12
Testimony Of Dr.. q. W. Danforth,
His Physician, Just Arrived.
saw CUBAN PRESIDENT APRIL 6
Doctor Says Cuba Has Over 80, 900
Men Under Arms.
ARE SWORN TO WIN OR DIE

the steamer Valencia from Cuban ports
via Nassau, N. p, was DR.. H. w. Dan
fcrth OF Milwaukee, Wis, who, for the
past fifteen months has been the personal
physician Of the president of the Cuban
republic. Salvador Cdsneros, the Marquis of
santa Lucia. The dc ctor Is in the United
states on six months leave Of absence.
having left Cuba In a sixteen-foot omen
boat on May 20 for the Island of New
providence. After much suffering and ex-
posure he reached Nassau, and there
awaited the arrival of the Valencia, Ac-
cording to Spanish reports, President Cis-
neros died in February last, and this
news" was semi-officially confirmed in
March last. But DR.. Danforth was with
the president as late as April last ard
had In his possession a letter, which he
showed to the representative of the Asso-
ciated Press, dated April % from the
president. The latter is not only not dead.
but when DR.. Danforth left him he was
Iuli OF quiet enthusiasm and animated by
the most confident feeling for the eventual
success Of the Cuban cause
Capital ut AEunrn.
Questioned as to the seat of the govern
ment of the Cuban republic, Dr. Danforth
sa1o II was at Aguara, province Of Puerto
Principe, where the insurgents have erect
not now at Aguara, but is in the province
of Santiago de Cuba.
DR.. Danforth was asked to express an
opinion as 10 the numerical strength Of
the Cuban insurgents, being informed that
late aGvices from Cuba placed the number
at 500 men. He said:
Il think the gentleman who made that
estimate could have made a little more
careful enumeration; but he would find 1t
very difficult, If not impossible, to arrive
at a correct estimate. The Mariel, or Pinar
Del Rio military line, is impossible and
the Moron, or military line across the
province Of Puerto Principe, is also i'm
passabie. How, then, could he form any
estimate OF the iEsurgent forces? 1t would
be as II you sat in your chair here in New
York and estimated the number of men
the Turks were sending into Greece. 1t is
somewhat difficult for me to make such an
estimate, although, as you may imagine. 1
am liable to have been able to obtain cor
rect inform alton on the subject. But you
can say that the Cubans, for certainty
nave today at least 10000 to 5000 armed
and In good shape. The Cubans have no.
been idle during the past few years, and
have been importing arms and ammunition
right aleng.
The situation in a nutshell? You ask
dinicult question But, in brief, the Gu
bans are fighting a desperate fight and
are In good condition to continue it, The
Spaniands are also engaged in a desperate
contest, but they are exhausted, or almost
SO.
Thinks Cubanh VIII Succeed.
DO I think the Cubans will succeed? :?
Most certainly 1 do. Not by reason of nu-
merical strength. for the Spaniards have
about 10000 men in the field, but there is
no question at all that the Cubans will ul-
timately win. All their leaders are pledged
and sworn not to give up until they are all
dead-and even then i don't know whether
they will give up. They are bound by oath
to fight until the last, and they will do So"
Now, as to Spanish atrocities. What do
you know of them, of your own personal
knowledge?" DR.. Danforth was asked
The position which 1 occupied with the
lnsurgent forces necessarily precluded my
obtaining personal knowledge of the atroc-
ltles complained Of. But, from the reports
received at headquarters, there is abso-
lutely no doubt of their existence. 1 re-
member one little incident. 1t was last
september. Some 5000 or 1900 Spanish
soldiers had been sent to relieve Cascarro
In the fight which followed the Spanish
column killed, among others, an insurgent
captain. Poor fellow. He was to have
been promoted the next day to the rank of
major Well, when we secured his body It
was horrible sight. Completely covered
with bayonet wounds and machete cuts,
hacked and stabbed with the most horrible
and unnecessary cruelty.
But from good sources 1 have heard end
1eel Justified in asserting that men women
and children have been most outrageously
treated by the Spaniards in nearly all the
devastated parts of Cuba. Their homes
and they have been relegated to Weylers
zones Of protection'-zones of starvation is
what they should be termed"
Next Step of Spaniards.
What, in your opinion, will be the next
step taken by the Spaniards in Cuba?'
1T Is difficult to answer that question.
But 1t Is to be presumed that WeyIer will
continue wandering about the island, GER
Trying to the pacifcation OF the provinces
This may be followed by putting the
scheme in operation. But they will soon
fnd-out the errors, If not the lies told them.
Weyler will then be recalled, and some
other general will be sent to Cuba in his
place. According to reports current in the
Island when !! left there. Campos will be the
man who will succeed Weyler. and he win
be instructed, broadly, TO do the best he
can under the circumstances.
1t Is crying shame" continued Dr.
Danforth. with energy. that United States
citizens are not more thoroughly protected.
AS for the Spaniards why they shoot first
and inquire after as to the standing of the
man. American or Cuban. and then they
say he was shot by his own friends
when left the president and his party
they were all filled with hope and trusting
In the United States.
Should the United States Intervene?
that the United States will soon decide to
recognize the belligerency Of the Cubans.
How would that assist them? Why,
by giving the Cubans the right to float
their bonds and by compelling the Span
iards to treat their prisoners with some
show of considera: ton If the Cubans
were recognized as belligerents any Cuban
taken prisoner would have a chance to be
created as a prisoner of war"
What is the present condition Of the
Cuban insurgents?"
Insurgcnts' Condition Ia Satisfactory.
'Their condition is satisfactory. It is
true they are hard pressed in the provinces
on account of want Of retions, but as a
whole they are doing very we'll In San
tiago de Cuba there are NO cattle, but
plenty Of vegetables. and In the province of
Puerto Principe there is an abundance
OF cattle and no vegetables. In Santa
Clara, on the other hand. there is plenty Of
everything. and the same holds good with
the provinces Of Matanzas and Havana.
In Pinar del Rio there are no cattle at an:
only vegetables"
''As to arms and ammunition? How
are the Cubans situated In that reepcct?'
They still want arms and ammunition
and Eanf 4 A<Iy3 .Sar1lrr