The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-12-31
GOMEZ INTERVIEWED.
The Cuban General Stands Firm For
independence Only.
AUTONOMY NOT ACCEPTABLE
says the People do Not Want ~ and
Besides spain Canuot Give n.
Doe. Not Want Annexation
az the Present Time.

New York, Dec. 30.-A correspondent
Of The Herald has just returned 10 Ha.
vana after having visited the camp Of
General Gomez. After long and per.
ilous ride through a country infested
with Spanish troops he reached General
Gomez camp on Dec IS and found the
general In excellent health and spirits.
He was able for the first time In many
months 10 monnt his horse and make a
long journey Of inspection Of the vari-
Gus camps into which the men under
bis immediate command were divided.
The correspondent put before General
Gomez the programme Of general an.
tonorny in order 20 secure his opinion,
The general smiled contemptuously aft.
or CHANGING over . copy Of a Havana pa.
Per containing the terms and said.
"There b no use wasting time In dis.
cussing these terms. Il makes no dif.
ference whether they may b. regnrled
a. literal or not The fact remains that
We are not fighting for autonomy. but
for independence. This Spain seems 10
b. utterly unable 10 ralize.
Eve have been told that the autonO
my offered Is an act Of hbenlity by the
mother country 10 induce the patriots In
arms 10 resume theirallegiance 10 Spain
That Is worse than folly. Il Is an insult
10 the men lighting for freedom. There
Is not In the Cuban army one officer 80
base a. 10 accept such terms. We W n
not listen 20 any overtures, and any per.
son entering our camps for sucha pur.
pose win b. put 20 death In accordance
with my general onlers"
Continuing. General Gomez said that
he had no faith In the ability Of Spain 10
implant autonomy, even IN the sections
under Spanish control, but whether she
succeeded or not was Of no moment 20
the men In the field, who would con-
time 70 fight, animated By love Of
froedum and an absolute confidence Of
ultimate success.
Tn correspondent asked General Co
meg fur his opinion rs 90 American in.
Prevention and the annexation Of Cuba
20 the United States He replied tat
Intervention and the annexation II Cula
90 the United States does not necessarily
imply annexation.
Il would gladly accept the former as
] would accept aid from any quarter. al.
though ! believe II left alone We viii
achieve our own Independence unaidod.
and am loath that We should D. robbed
Of any sham In the honor Of the oxpul.
sion Of the Spniauls.
As far a. annexation IL concerned, I
cannot admit iis possibility. To that
proposition ! make the same reply D. /
do 20 the autonomy plan-that our 90.
jet l. Independence. We have among
rs young men who have sacrificed az.
orything to this sacrcd cause. For my.
self, am an old man. who now has but
one object In life. and that Is 20 sec the
flag Of Cuba supreme from Caps Maysi
90 san Antonio.
eve have alr,ady made fearful sacri.
fees, and we stand rady 20 make more
in order 10 achieve this glorious end. I
know that the people Of the United State.
win never BEAT rs in this, the hour Of
victory"
When asked what his views wcro on
an American pru;ectonto over the l..
land, General Gomez pplicd that BE- had
no Objection, believing Il would carry a
guarantee n pace al home with the n.
spoCt II all nations. aud would permit
Cuba TO work out her destiny under the
most favorable conditions In returu
he believes that Cuta should. In her
oommorcc, favor the United States above
all nations