Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-06-16
CUBANS WILL WIN.
Interview with a Milwaukee Doctor
Who Attended the lnSurgent
President.


on the steamer Valencia from Cuban
ports via Nassau, was DIR. Ill. w. Dan
forth of Milwaukee, Wis, who for the
past fifteen months has been the personal
physician of the President of the Cuban
republic, Salvador Cisneros, the Marquis
of Santa Lucia. The doctor is in the
United States on six months leave OF
absence. having left Cuba in a sixteen
foot open boat on May % for the island
of New Providence. After much Sufter-
ing and exposure he reached Nassau and
there awaited the arrival of the Valencia.
President Cisneros Not Dead.
According to Spanish reports, President
Csneros died in February last and TINS
news was semi-oficially confirmed in
March last But Dr. Danforth was with
the President as late as April last and
had in his possession a letter, which he
showed to the representative of the AS
sociated press, dated April %, and writ
ten by the president. The latter IS not
only not dead, but when DR.. Danforth
left him he was full of quiet enthusiasm
and animated by the most confident feel
ing for the eventual success OF the Cuban
cause.
Questioned as to the seat of the gov
eminent of the Cuban republic, DR.. Dan
forth said it was at Aguara, province OF
Puerto Principe, where the insurgents
have erected a capitol The President,
however. is not now at Aguara, but IN
the province of Santiago de Cuba.
Dr. Danforth was asked to express an
opinion as to the numerical strength OF
the Cuban insurgents, being Informed
that late advices from Cuba placed the
number at 5000 men.
He said ''It is difficult, if not impos-
sible to arrive at correct estimate. but
you can say that the Cubans for GER
tainty have at least 10000 to $4,000 to-
day, armored and in good shape. The
Cubans have not been idle during the last
few years and have been importing arms
and ammunition right along. In brief,
the Cubans are fighting a desperate fight
and are in good condition to continue
it. The Spaniards are also engaged in a
desperate contest, but they are exhausted,
or almost so.
Thinks the Cubans will Succeed.
81 certainly think the Cubans will sue
coed, not by reason of numerical
strength, for the Spaniards have about
10000 men in the field, but there is no
question but that the Cubans will ulti-
mately win. All their leaders are sworn
not to give up until they are dead. They
are bound by oath to fight until the last
and they will do So"
As to Spanish atrocities, what do you
knowledge? DR.. Danforth was asked
1.-THE position which l occupied with
the insurgent forces necessarily pre-
Guided my obtaining personal knowledge
of the atrocities complained of. But
from the reports received at headquar-
tiers there is absolutely no doubt Of their
existence | remember one little incl
dent. 1t was last September: Some
5000 or 1000 Spanish soldiers had been
sent to relieve Cascarro. In the fight
which followed the Spanish column
killed, among others, an insurgent cap
tain He was to have been promoted
the next day to the rank of major
When we secured his body it was a hor-
rible sight. Completely covered with
bayOnet wounds and machete cuts,
hacked and stabbed with the most hOr-
rible, unnecessary cruelty.
But from good sources l have heard
and feel justified in asserting that men.
women and children have been most out
rageously treated by the Spaniards in
nearly all the devastated parts of Cuba.
Their homes have been burned, their
property destroyed and they have been
relegated to Weyler's zones of prOtec-
tion'-ZoneS of starvation is what they
should be termed"
What, in your opinion, will be the next
steps taken by the Spaniards in Cuba?"
lit is difficult to answer that question.
But it is to be presumed that Weyler
will continue wandering about the isl
and, certifying to the pacification of the
on the island when / left there WeyIer
will be recalled and Campos will be the
man who will succeed him, and he will
be instructed, broadly, to do the best he
can under the circumstances.
American Citizens Not Protected.
"It is a shame continued Dr. Dan
forth with energy, that United States
citizens are not more thoroughly protect
ed. AS for the Spaniards, why, they shoot
Gust o,,1 f+o,. 10 4
of the man, American or Cuban, and
then they say he was shot by his own
friends
"When 1 left the President and his
party they were all filed with hope and
trusting in the United States. Should
the United States intervene? Most en-
phatically yes. / sincerely hope that the
United States will soon decide to recog-
nize the beligerency of the Cubans''
Glow would that assist them?'
"Why, b giving the Cubans the right
to float their bonds and by compelling
the Spaniards to treat their prisoners
with some show of consideration. If
the Cubans were recognized as belliger-
ents any Cuban taken prisoner would
have chance to be treated as a prisoner
Of war;
What is the present condition of the
Cuban insurgents?'
Their condition is satisfactory. 1t
is true they are hard pressed in the prov
lnces on account of want of rations, but
as whole they are doing very well
In Santiago de Cuba there are no cattle
but plenty Of vegetables and in the prov
lnce of Puerto Principe there is an
abundance Of cattle and no vegeta bles
In Santa Clara, on the other hand, there
is plenty of vegetables and the same
holds good with the provinces of Matan-
zas and Havana. In Pinar del Rio
there are no cattle at all, only vegetabl
AS to arms and ammunition? How
are the Cubans situated in that respect?"
They still want arms and ammuni-
ton and want them very badly"
Or. Danforth will arrive in Milwaukee
on Sunday to visit his mother.
SPAIM Al LIEnHEI