The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-05-07
SPANISH BRIGANDAGE.
Commanders in No Haste to Crush
the Cuban Rebellion.
EXCUSE FOR LEVYING TRIBUTE,

A Traveller who Has Visited the ISL
and Declares That the Conflict VIII
Last Twenty Years Unless spain Il
Compelled to Withdraw Her Troops.
Washington. May A traveller who
has Just returned from a several
months stay in Cuba, where his op-
portunities for judging the conflict have
been exceedingly good. gives the fol-
lowing account OF the situation:
The Cuban war will last until
Spain's resources give out, or until
the United States or some other coun-
try interferes. Neither side can win
in a straightout contest such as has
now been going on for three years
WeyIer has not pacified Pinar del Rio
in any true sense. although that prov
ince is loaded with his troops. Every
railroad car is accompanied by a de-
tachment of soldiers, every railroad
station is a guardhouse, every curve
in the track is covered by Spanish SOL
diery, and the poor natives from the
country districts have been driven
within the fortified towns
The result is that there is no gem
eraI insurrection in the Iowlands of
the province. but the Cubans still hold
the mountainous portions, from which
they sally forth to plunder and de-
stroy as opportunity affords. Weyler
is doing nothing to abolish this kind of
warfare. and the Cubans do not care
to fight in any other way They have
no men to loose. their ammunition and
equipment are slender, they hold a
good part of the food producing sec
ton OF the island. and are living very
comfortably in the present state OF the
conflict
The Spanish generals and captains
are in no great haste to put down the
insurrection. even if they could. They
have adopted a Tammany system OF
leVying tribute upon all the planta-
tiOns and transportation companies
owned by foreigners. and. in word.
every single interest which can afford
to pay tribute for protection is COM
PEELED to do 50. This makes the contin-
uance Of the rebellion a source of great
profit to the Spanish leaders. and they
are really in no haste to make an end
of it.
Whether the Spanish sOldiery could
entirely subdue the island if they were
led by incOrruptible and capable gen
erals is another question. They could
undoubtedly give the rebels good deal
of trouble. but the natural Businesses
of the mountains. the lack of roads and
the heavy underground give the natives
a decided advantage.
THE people who really deserve our
pity, and in whose behalf the United
States might. perhaps, do something,
are the poor peasants who have been
driven into the fortified towns by Wey-
Ier. and there compelled to starve. II
fhev were over with the rebels they
would at least get a living. but crowd
ed together in the cities, with no
chance to cultivate the soil, their lot
is a hard one.
The great thing that impresses an
American who goes over the island Is
the difference between the Cubans and
our own people For the most part the
men carrying on the present rebellion
are incapable of self government. and
it is very doubtful if, in case the Span
iards were driven from the island
things would be in much better shape
than they were of old. l predict q
years war on the island. unless Spain
resources are so badly sapped that she
is obliged to withdraw her troops