The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-02


CITY OF Puerto Principe with fifteen ccm-
panjons. eager TO devote the remainder
Of his life TO the freedom OF his country.
The people, through the Assembly, con-
voked IN the following September elected
him President OF the provisional Govern
ment and in that capacity he has work.
ed quietly arsl faithfully for nearly two
years. The result OF this labor may not
he apparent TO the outside world, but IT'S
benefits are obvious 10 traveller through
the interior OF CUBA
The entire island has been divided. first
into what are known as civil districts.
with q civil governor over each. These
civil districts are divided into prefecios
and sub-prefectos. the sub-prefectos
usually about three miles square. On
GERS known as prefectos. and sub prefec-
tos appointed by the Government. are
On charge OF the territories Each has
his official seal and functions carefully
nrescribed by the constitution. IL Is his
AMY Instantly TO notify the nearest body
OF insurgents troops OF the approach and
strength OF any Spanish column and TO
furnish guide whenever called UPON l.
an insurgent force camps In ni3 district
I, ia his duty 10 furnish so Gar as posi-
bic. any food 1t may need.
no ali complaints or requests for food.
clothes or medicines. coming from fnml-
lies whose fathers or sons nay be fight
ing for Cuba Libre. the sub-prefec,o must
lend an ever willing ear. and II It is i'm
possible to satisfy the requirements OF
tho case IL is his duty to inform his we
fecto and he IN turn relies upon tha cup
mort OF the civil governor. II this ON
cial is unable 10 cope with tn. difficulty
he must appeal TO the Secretary OF III
Interior and lastly 10 tho President OF
tho republic. The President Is easily ap-
preached at all times by the poorest peas
| ant. and is worshipped by the people st
| large.
The carrying and distribution OF mail
matter by means of mounted messengers.
| who traverse the interior. Is both eiFci-at
| and rapid. President Cisne.os told mo
| that twenty-four hours after the pa7saee
| Of the concurrent resolution by our Con-
gress last spring the news was recei,
| by him at his headquarters In Na.asss.
| province OF Camaguey.
Strange as IT may SEEM the President
becomes restless II long compelled 10 re-
main In camp at any one place lie loves
| to travel about. TO visit tho civil COVER
nors and prefectos OF different districts:
TO talk with the people. or. better still.
| TO accompany the forces OF Gomez or
| Garcia and watch the military movements
| from day 10 day.
| with an escort OF only fifty men. he
| has many times made the trip from
| Santa Clara 10 Santiago de Cuba and
| back again. And II is this penchant for
| moving about and changing camp which
| has given rise 10 the absolutely ground
| less report that the provisional govern
| ment was being driven by the Spanish
| forces from one part Of the island 10 an
/ al ave In do nf 10
| ture.
| During July last there were laid before
| President Cisneros the advantages which.
IL was thought. would accrue should he
| see III 10 establish permanent headquM-
| ters or seat Of government at some given
nlace Naiassa. Cubitas. or even in the
| mountains OF the "Oriente."
Generals Garcia and Rabi supported
| these suggestions most heartily. but the
| President, while he admitted that such
| n permanent location OF the Government
| could be easily defended and that Ger.
tain increase OF dignity might follow did
| not take kindly 10 the idea The froW-
| sional Government had travelled about
ana shared the dangers OF battle during
| the ten years war. and he saw no SUM
| oIent reason 10 change his tactics.
1--WE are doing good work" he said'
| .syou have seen the evidences or our au-
ministration on every hand. and you ioun.
no difficulty IN reaching US. nor VIII any
| one else. IL the United States OF any
| oo,r,rv will send us an agent. oihcially
~ sociallv 10 visit and inspect the al
| nlnistration and execution or our ia"s
g. 'C,ha Iibre.' we will not only conduc'
| - bore hut we will entertain nm rs
long as he cares 10 stop. and PROVIDE lol
his return in safety whenever ne may
wish to depart. .,.,.. a,,-,,t,y
-. Salvador Cisneros's life In the
woods which seems almost patheuc'
ceatad IN a leather camp stool, or more
frequently standing, he receives the con-
| stant stream OF officers and messenger
Tho hiring reports from civil Governors
| ord commanders in different parts OF inc
| tsIand THESE are duly filed and copleu
| ~, his two secretaries. Manolo ana Diego
| Petancourt. Long after dark 'heSe III
a,,strious brothers may be seen recordlhs
| =, h,ga Government ledgers the events
~ - Az Yellow, homemade wax
oa,dIos with the lower half coiled ihto
hase furnish a weird light by whicn
,ha STRUGGLES OF patriotic and desperate
roo,ia are transmitted 10 the pages "
No,b,ng hut a canvas shelter stretches
over a ridge pole protects the f'eslue''
u,hite hairs from the sun ana storms ~
| tho tropics. Front. back anu s'usS 80
| the tent are all open TO the e'en' -,
INT M one ever heard compidi"s - -.
within. A folding table surroul'uu -,
four camp stools occupies the 0ens. s-oI
80" mite house Of the woods. sever a.
lets in which are kept the GoVeIhine'''
saeo.ds Furnish additional seats wheh re-
ouired TWO linen cloth hammocAs s~ ."s
mon each side OF the tent. one oi -
| IL occupied by the freslueh| VIC
by Vice President Bartolome M"ss his
| singular. quiet little man OF rei', ,1 -.
learning and sagaclty, whose SCI 90
flee and devotion 10 the cause VI - =
liberty has won for MN the es,eenI az 49,.
! gratitude OF the whole isiahu' -,
$50 rasnects and admires Masso. to'
$3.50 ,oCine the field against Spain NJ
srs,s,ed ON having of a debt OF siooV
-, 80 cnaniards. The Nice-President
,,o,,te Cisneros. does not speak English
oi,bongh he understands u II spokeT
sio.,lv and distinctly. The only other
occmrant of this humble shelter has beer
I,,,la Garonito. the adopted son OF th'
PRESIDENT and the youngest soldier In IN
Cuban army. ,--,.A. ,ooa,
Two wears ago this spring bright-face'
| noy ~ 10 wears rode up TO the President
beadouarters I'm Najassa. He had lett ~
home in the city OF Puerto Principe ah'
sought the insurgent camp.
"senor MARQUES he said. the span
,arSs have killed my father. There Is m
one ~ ms left except me to hight for CUBA
IN, n could have gun I'd like TO tax
my fathers place
ny ~ ro, the gun, together with III