The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-25

Made
In Cuba

Tor many years in Cuba, has returned to
his home in Montreal, having left Ha-
yana on the last steamer before the
blockade set in. Mr.. Skaife has been
connected, in the position Of technical
expert, with large sugar estate operat-
I'd by American capitalists and employ
Ing over thousand men, in the district
Of Santa Clara. He knows the Cubans,
understands the political situation and
is able to throw much light on the pres
ent situation in the island. Speaking Of
the resistance the Americans are likely
to meet ON landing, Mr.. Skaife said:
"What must be understood is that
the Spanish soldier is brave man, who
will stand up and be shot without finch
ing, and who will die in his tracks
without ever asking the wherefore. He
has, moreover, a modern weapon in his
hands, but he does not know how to fire
it. There are still large numbers Of
Spanish soldiers who fire with the
breech Of the gun in the hollow Of the
arm. The Spanish soldier is not drilled.
He sits idle--he has sat idly for years
around the little forts which the Span
ish authorities have built in every place
all over the island which they have oc-
cupied- His officers are, for tho most
part, utterly Indifferent as to his condi-
tion as fighting machine. He dawdles
about; he knows nothing OF military
science. The officers are lazy and in
competent, for the most part, exerting
no initiative, caring for nothing, killing
the time. Then, again, the Spanish
army in Cuba has little or no artillery.
What tho Americans will have to face
will be numerous, brave, but undisci-
plined body of men who will simply be
moved down by the machine guns.
They will stand, they will be killed,
but they will be overwhelmed by a
small force led by an energetic COM
mander.
"a small body Of cavalry, properly
led. would at any time during the last
three years have swept the insurgents
out Of existence. But the idea of those
who were IN 5opreme control was not
to put the rebellion down, but to keep
it going in order that they might make
fortune out Of tho business. The Span
ish seldier was ready to fight all tho
time. But he was not allowed to move,
or if he moved at all this was the way
of it: The Spanish got word that there
was a band Of insurgents in such a
place. A column Of troops, numbering
perhaps 1000 or 1000, would be put
in motion. There was no provision for
more than the days march. The insur-
gents would be reached, they would be
engaged, they would retire. The troops
would set fire to the hospital-we knew
what was done with the wounded, but
we did not say much about it-and then
they would return to the little fort they
had left. When they were gone, the
insurgents would reappear in the same
place. Understand, this twas all on foot.
Had there at any time during the past
three years been strong cavalry force,
we'll led, it would have only been neces-
sary to say to the officer in command,
Bring in Gomez, and Gomez would
have been brought in. The whole bust
ness was simply farcical.
''The country, as have said, was
studded with little forts, and into these
forts were put small garrisons, and here
the troops remained and nothing was
done. OF course there were always the
guerrillas, and they were the choicest
scoundrels on the top of the earth. The
guerrillas are composed of negroes, Gu
bans and natives Of the Canary islands.
They are the scum of Cuba. Under tho
direction of the Spaniards they were
formed into rowing bands to cut off the
insurgents and generally to ravage the
country. The latter part Of their duty
they carried out in the most effectual
manner. They have simply galloped
about, numbering all they could meet
with. They set fire to tho houses Of in
roccnt people. They murdered theShno-
cent people themselves If they made the
least resistance. They ravaged the coun-
try.
"At tho calnc time therc is little to
choose between the insurgents and tho
guerrillas Tho former blow up trains,
Get fire to tobacco and sugar plantations.
use dynamite which had been sent by
the junta in New York for the most
diabolical purposes. Indeed, upon the
estate with which l was connected
it was found necessary to organize a
regiment OF soldiers to protect alike the
property and tho men from the violence
Of the insurgents twas fayorite pas
time Of tho latter TO como upon peace
able Chinamen working upon the estates
and murder them. They cut the heads
off ten Cinnamon in this manner TO my
own knowledge. This was done to make
the situation appear desperate-to provo
that so long rs the Spaniards remained
in power there would be nothing but
anarchy upon the island" AS for the
Cubans themselves, Mr.. Slaife said that
they almost to n man sympathize with
the insurgents Of whom, at the present
moment, not more than 5000 could take
the field. "The Cubans are peaceable
people, hardworking, industrious. They
desire to be allowed TO live in peace.
They have been ground to the earth by
nisrulc. Innumerable fortunes have