The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-22
THE HORRORS OF CUBA.
Star yinG Non-ComDatants Are Shot
When They Attempt Escape-In-
surSents in Control ofthe Island,

o'it ti are SnOt
When They Attempt Escape-In-
surgents in Control ofthe Island.
Col. Myron NJ. Parker, who was the
companion Of Senator Proctor on his
recent trip to Cuba, in an interview
with u reporter Of the Washington
Star, says:
You might believe, but you could
not realize, the condition Of the recon
centrados in Cuba. 1t passes the COM
~prehenslon OF a man accustomed to the
usual phases of life. Their emaciaJion
is terrible, their suffering indescriba-
bic. We saw warehouses full OF starry
ing women and children. These people
have been forced into the villages and
towns by the Spaniards, and the whole
country where they lived has been de-
vastatcd.
"ln the ride from Havana to Sagua
de Ia Grande, a distance Of about two
hundred miles or more, the country
presented u picture Of dcsolation. For
miles n miles The charred stalks Of
the burned sugar cane showed where
the torch had been applied by the
Spanish and insurgents alike. AT IN
tervais are blockhouses occupied bv
Spanish soldiers. Above each block
house is a cupola, who're a Spanish
soldier is always or the lookout. If a
recOnCentradO attempts to 20 out from
the village and cross the trocha, he is
shot, and If an insurgent tries to come
in he is treated likewise. The trocha
serves, however, to prevent sudden
dashcs by the insurgents into the viii
lagos at night to burn them.
The Spanish army is largely en-
ploycd along the railroads. But as
closely as the road is guarded, the in
Surgents can DO with it as they please.
1T Is generally understood in Cuba
that the railroad company pays tri-
butte to the insurgents for running the
passenger trains. The insurgents do
not want to bother the passenger
trains, but they are alert to interfere
with freight and troop trains. The day
before we reached Matanzas the insur-
gents blew up a sugar train only three
miles out OF that town. They cross the
railroad at any point they desire and
whenever they please. In my opinion,
Gomez virtually has control of the
Island. There 10 not an sta in cul-
tlvation, so | was reliably informed,
that does not pay tribute to the insur.
gents.
THE best people in Havana told me
that the young mon Of the best Cuban
families in the island were Ia the ranks
OF the insurgents, just as the best rep
lcoCHIdIlScS vi our OcSL IamlI9S were
in the Southern and Northern ranks
during the war. My informants also
told me that Inc %insurgent army was
never as firm and as strong rs it is
today. 1t gets a very large proportion
OF It's medical supplies right from
Havana, and It's discipline is said to be
all that u be desired. The insurgents
have complete control OF the provinces
OF Santiago de Cuba and Principe.
They claim to have all the supplies
necessary for their subsistence, having
great herds OF cattle besides cultivat-
ing a large proportion OF the and in the
province mentioned. What they iced
Is arms, ammunition and clothing. 1t
is generally understood in Cuba that
The insurgents known as P~resentados,
h came in and gave themselves uD to
the Spaniards iE response to the offer
OF pardon, were all men who had met
with the disfavor of Gomez because
they had disregarded the discipline he
so rigidly enforced in his army"
Did your investigation lead you to
form any opinion on the subject Of
autonomy ?" inquired the reporter.
mo one wants autonomy in Cuba"
replied Col. Parker, with emphasis.
" Even tho autonOmist governors do
not favor 1T. | know OF several alcal-
DIES, or mayors OF towrs outsi le OF H.
vana, appointed as ~autonomists VINO
are wholly in sympathy with the in