The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-05-06
CAMPAIGN FOR FREE CUBA.

CAMPAIGN FOR FREE CUBA
Hox IT Is wAsE0 sY eonEz AND Ms
PATRIOT COMMAND.
An Eye Witnsas Describes The sitsasis
- He Saw is J.st Before the Rainy So
son Bsgss-spain's Lesipg 0sns-Cs.
dition Of the 1roopa.
Of the newspaper correspondent
who have visited Cuba during the
past few months, probably no ono il
better qualified than Mr.. Stepher
Bonsal to speak intslligently OF the
progress Of the war. Mr.. Bonsel
contributes to the Review of Re.
views for May az able and dispas.
sionate study of the whole stu ration
from which We quote tho following
paragraphs:
"ln the country which the insur.
gents command-that is, in at least
four fifths of the island-into which
the Spanish columns do not venture
except in large force, food grows on
every bush and every root is edible
for the Cubans who know how to
prepare it. There are hill-locke
valleys which the Cuban forces hold,
and where their cattle Craze in safe
ty. Eere they have even planted
quick crops, like sweet potatoes,
which ripen Eve or six times a year.
Gomez and his leaders have. one
and all, availed themselves of the
advantages presented by the nature
of the ground to the fullest extent.
Indeed, the campaign has shown
Gomez to be not only q man born to
command, but one who is abreast OF
the military science Of the day, SO
far as it can be applied to the pecu-
liar welfare upon which he is en-
gagged. His mastery circular move
ments never fail to puzzle those who
would bring his army to bay, and
worn out by the chase, the Span
ish columns never succeed in cor
nering him. The half grown and
immature boys, the raw recruits
which Spain has sent to the island,
serve as but fodder for fevers and
other diseases to feed upon. With
halfrations, scant clothing, and lit
tie or no pay, and that in q depre-
ciated currency, the soldiers are only
capable of dong one days work in
seven, but the wonder to me is that
they are able or willing to shoulder
a musket at all.
"The result of the campaign is,
then, that the life blood Of Spain is
flowing from every pore. The price.
less lives Of her sons and all her bor-
rowed treasure are being poured out
upon this thirsty island with as lit
tie result as though it were all pour.
ed into the Caribbean Sea. Ger
tainly tho campaign closes without
the patriot army having placed to
their credit any exploit which can
be compared to Maceo's wonderful
march from Camaguey to Pinar de-
Rio in the winter of 1896. But
even had it been possible, the repe
tition of such q movement woulG
have been useless, and, unlike thu
Spaniards, the Cubans never waste
man or cartridge.
STARVATION VS.. FIGHTING.
'The campaign has been one o.
starvation rather than of fighting
and out of this the patriot forces
have emerged successfully. The
have with them cattle sufficient fo
several years to come and crops
growing in places where the Span
iards are unable or do not care to e,
to destroy them. In the Cienaga d,
Zapata, or the great salt swamp OF
the south coast, which the Spaniard
has never dared to penetrate, tn,
Cubans maintain their hospitals
their factories for the repair of ri
fles, their depots of stores, their tan
neries, and their salt wells. Indeed
with the exception of the question o
ammunition, which is not overabun
dant, they could stand isolation from
the outside world much better thai
could the Spanish forces. Wer'
Cuba to be blockaded by q hostil'
power, within two weeks the Span
ish army would be compelled t.
evacuate or to surrender, as almos
everything that Is necessary for tn
support of the army, even in tn
wretched condition that is main
tanned, is brought from abroad, from
Spain, the United States, or Mexico
"Seeing that the waiting gam
has brought them within measure
BILE distance of complete success
the eubans are naturally reluctan
to hazard their present position
upon a battle. They have very lit
tie more to win, and great deal t
lose, and so, in tho main, they con
fine their operations to harassin,
the Spaniards as much as possibl
with the least expenditure of mel
and ammunition, and to the hus
banding of their not overabundau
resources. and they do we'll. Isa,
General Weyler six weeks ago i
Santa Clara, and he was loud in hi
expression of contempt for Come
and his army. i have never bee
able to get up with him. he sale
It was the most complete and III
conscious confession of failure ths
l have ever listened to.
EVACUATION NEAR.
"Of course, the situation is ver
generally understood in Havan,
though this understanding ver
rarely finds expression in word
Many a man has been sent to Fe
Inanda Po for less. But within tt
precincts of the palace itself, an
!; from the lips of a Spanish officer,
have heard the war characterized .
la luncha de dos impotentes, or
struggle between two antagonist
neither strong enough to conque
as it is q true description of the 81