The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-05
Described by a Man Who Has
Been Among Them.
NO SUFFERING
AMONG The PACIFICOS
FEW IF ANY AMERICANS NEED
ASSISTANCE.
In the Harbor of Santiago de Cuba
Gomez Will Soon Recross the Tro-
cha-Election OF New President
Will Be Controlled by the Army
Some Very Warm Skirmishes.

New York, June 4-When Major Will
liam D. Smith, who testified on Cuban
affairs before the senate committee on
foreign relations in Washington, was in
New York, ne was interviewed by the
Herald. which says:
Major Smith was formerly a captain
in the United States army, and is the
only American officer who has reached
the field in Cuba AS second chief Of
the personal escort of General Gomez,
he has taken part in ali the engage
ments of the last year. Gomez recently
promoted him to the rank OF major for
bravery displayed on the field, and 10
more fully snow his gra altitude ordered
him on this special mission to New
York, at the same time granting him
lon% furlough to visit his family at
Mount Sterling. Wis.
Aasor Smith denied emphatically that
there was any suffering among the
pacihcos in the province of Las Viii
las, saying that although vegetables
were somewhat scarce about a month
ago, recent abundant rains have hast
ened the crops, and that at present
sweet potatoes and yans can be found
in plenty.
Major Smith believes that the reports
that many Americans were starving IN
Cuba was greatly exaggerated. He
bases his belief on the following facts:
While in Trinidad he was SHOWN a
letter from Cons Ul-General Lee 10 Mr.
Quayle. American consular agent at
that place, requesting a list OF the des-
titrte American citizens in his district
Mr.. Quayle said the letter was that
there were no starving Americans in
the district Of Trinidad; neither had
nj in he
neighbcring country.
Major Smith also learned while in
Cienfuegos, where the bulk of Ameri-
can caDital is invested in the sugar
factories of the district, and where. con-
sequently, there is fair representation
Of Americans employed and residing,
there was not a single family that
needed relief This information was
corroborated by the American consul,
who had already made a report to Cen
eral Lee, similar to that of the United
States consular agent at Trinidad
Major Smith afterwards STAYED
short time in the harbor OF Santiago de
Cuba, where several prominent Cubans
and Americans came to see him, and
they also said that UP to that time, ow-
ing to the failure Of General Weyler to
operate in the east, the people were not
destitute nor in need of relief.
Recently General Gomez placed I'M
der arrest Colonel Juan Bravo, who
commanded the brigade of Trinidad.
He was charged with misappropriaton
of Cuban funds. receiving a bribe for
permitting large numbers of cattle TO
pass into the Spanish lines, and general
incompetency. He was court martialed
and Major Smith believes that by this
time he has been shot.
Major Smith says that Gomez sharp
ly reprimanded General Rodriguez for
his lukewarm campaign and ordered
him to the hills of Trinidad. The
colored volunteer infantry under
Brigadier Quintin Bandera, was placed
under his orders. Gomez. Major Smith
said, had awakened to the fact that
these hills were of great strategic i'm
portance to the cause and Rodriguez
and Bandera were ordered to prevent
at all hazards the further incursiOns
of the Spanish. IL his orders are not /
carried out Gomez threatens to degrade |
every officer in the command
That Gomez will keen his word is
shown in the case of Bravo, who re-
peatedly disobeyed instructions to de-
stroy the sugar cane and factories of !
the Trinidad valley. These estates, |
guarded by Spanish forts. have been
defended for a long time
against the half-hearted attacks of the /
Cubans under Bravo. Under the ener-
getic leadership of Bandera the mag /
sugar factory Canabamo. /
owned by Smith and Fisher, has been |
destroyed and Bandera de- /
clares that he will not rest until the /
factory at Trinidad, owned by Mr.. /
Stillman, of Boston. shares a like fate. 4
Messrs. Smith and Fischer are German /
subjects.
Major Smith. who led Gomez escort |
in all recent engagements with General /
Weyier. says that the Cuban leader (
sticks to his old tactics of worrying the i
Spanish columns. but that now and I
then he tires of lodging and gives them
a good sharp fight. The most important
0ne that has occurred during the pres
emit campaign took place on the estate
Reforma toward the end of April.
Gomez was informed that General
Weyler, at the head of 1900 men, di-
Vided into eight columns, was TO make
4 supreme effort TO anninilate him.
Hastily concentrating the forces of
Major Rodriguez. Pedro Diaz and Ban
iera, numbering about 1000 men, he
waited for General Weyler on the
Reforma and there occurred one of the
hardest fights of the war. For two days
Gomez successfully resisted every
nanoeuvre of General Weyler 10 en-
circle him, and fOiled and disappointed
General Weyler withdrew the bulk of
lis forces TO Sancti SDiritus. Major
Smith says that the Cubans never left
he Reforma Gomez had % killed and
% wounded.
Gomez will soon recross the trocha
If Moron to be present at Jasa in the
month of August for the assembly of
delegates that will then meet TO elect
| new president The election will be
controlled by the army, and the can
iidate backed by Gomez will be as
ured of success. Major Smith SAYS
hat the honor will be conferred on
Delegate T. Estrada Palma if he will
lccept it. and in the event of his de-
lining the successful candidate will be
Dr. Mendez Capote.
rra;r Question, OF TSsra