The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-14

Absolute Want Thinning the Ranks oil tue
Devoted Patriots

Devoted fatrloN'
ELPn.ON. CUBA, April H-(via KING
ston. Jamaica. and New York; Absolute
starvation is fast thinning the CUBAN
ranks Heavy rains alone can prevent
f.mino az intense AZ that in India.
Tte misery nom hunger IS beyond ade-
orate description and men. women ana
children. throughout the island are u"'S
suCcumbing. -. ,,,o
Hunger is taking the bravery from 'he
daring cuban soldiers. and the shaoo"
OF death is cast everywhere.
II is lot tAaggoraung 10 say 'nas
cvcrv nut has become hospital ana
every garden graveyard. These con-
diuons have caused temporary che'h
on offensive operations by Gomez and
Garcia. - H..
had n talk with Garcia the other day
near TuuIs. and ne led me TO inier py
what he said. that Gomez had instructed
him TO stop movements wherever posi-
bic. to furl0ugh me sick and spread MS
men generally.
MUST KEEP MOVING.
Food is so scarce that a body OF $40
,,o,, cannot exist for more than ie"
49,. In anv single locality. Tho troops
-, leon continually on the march. Ihis
H. Weakening men and killing horses
vras with Garcia last month m ms
.,onderful march through the Otie"''
t,vou then he dared remain no longer 80"
t,,,, 1avs in one camp. Last month hles
tho same army again. Inc Wen
living ON the meat of burden cattle i"o
yreat herds OF cattle had been cousu'ieN
months ago. Sweet potatoes ana i i'e1'
ro.ned the diet Of the Cuban soldiers
with sweet potatoes gone ana ineae n'n'
Iv exhausted the situation Is discour-
aging. ..,,..,a,.
tial improvement. The hardness Of the
rainy season has wrought dismal state
of affairs IN Cuba. not only In the army
but among the peasantry some DAYS
AGO | was discharged from the Ifeiee-
turate Hospital. whore | had been lalu
nm with fever for over month. since
then [ have passed through many OF the
lorgest settlements among the peasant
closs whore most misery exists. Hahn
clad women and children are stricken
down by fever and hunger in such mum
hers as TO make systematic reflex inl-
possible.
MEDICINE SCARCE.
Medicine is not TO be had. ! secured
A000 capsules Of Quinine from Jamaica
and distributed them in the district OF
Holouin. the medicine being consumed
as fast as given out. ..,.
The Cubaus would rather that me truth
about the serious condition should nor
he made public in America and mad
quite an argument with General RIO
about the matter
lie finally agreed that the truth ousi
IA elicit sympathy in the states, rather
than create the belief that the scattering
Cuban forces means Spanish triumph. IL
Is sickness and not Spain that has con-
ouered so far and I honestly believe the
situation to-day proves that the Cuhan
revolution will never be put down BY
force Of arms.
There Is but one power TO which the
Cubans can appoal-the United states.
IL was supposed that Congress would
take some action ere this. but none has
come. and this adds to the general dis
couragemcnt.
General RIO made an attack on Media
Lunar April 18th. and took tho town. with
some prisoners \ report from Aracoa
states that 800 Cuban patriots were poi
soned by the Spanish. The Cubans raid
ed a small village. looting the stores The
supplies had been poisoned and seventy
five soldiers died