The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-16
CUBA'S GAUNT LAMENT
COL. PARKER TELLS OF HIS
RIDE TO SAGUA.
INSURGENTS STRONGER THAN EVER
Young Men of Best Havana Families With
Them. Col. Parker Says the Suffering
Ev of Reconcentradoes is Beyond Discrip-
ton. Autonomy a Failure.

Washington. ID. c., March 15.-Col,
Myron NJ. Parker, who was Senator
Proctor's companion in his trip to CUBA,
in an interview with a Star reporter to-
day, said
You might believe, but you could not
realize, the condition of the reconcentra-
does in Cuba. 1t passes the comprehen-
sion of a man accustomed to the usual
phases of life. Their emaciatiOn is ter
rible. their suffering indescribable. We
saw warehouses full of starving women
and children. These people have been
forced into the village and towns by the
Spaniards, and the whole country where
they lived has been devastated.
IN the ride from Havana to Sagua
De La Grande, a distance of about 200
miles or more, the country presented a
picture of desolation. For miles and
miles the charred stalks of the burned
sugar cane showed where the torch had
been applied by the Spanish and insur-
gents alike. At intervals are block
houses, occupied by Spanish soldiers.
Above each block-house is cupola,
where Spanish soldier is always on the
lookout If a reconcentrado attempts
TO go out from the village and cross the
trocha, he is shot, and if an insurgent
tres to come in he is treated likewise.
The trocha serves, however, to prevent
sudden dashes by the insurgents into the
villages at night to burn them.
The Spanish army is largely employ
ed along the railroads. But as closely
as the road is guarded, the insurgents
can do with it as they please. 1t is gen
orally understood in Cuba that the rail-
road company pays tribute TO the insur-
gents 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 insurgents blew up sugar train on
~ three miles out of that town. They
cross the railroad at any point they de-
SIRE and whenever they please. In my
opinion, Gomez virtually has control of
the island. There is not an estate N
cultivation. so / was reliably informed,
that does not pay tribute to the insur-
gents.
THE best people in Havana told me
that the young men of the best Cuban
families in the island were in the ranks
of the insurgents, just as the best repre-
sentatives of our best families were
in the Southern and Northern ranks
during the war. My informants also
told me that the insurgent army was
never as firm and as strong as it is to-
day. 1t gets very large proportion of
its medical supplies right from Havana
and its discipline is said to be all that
can be desired. The insurgents have
complete control of the provinces of San
tiago de Cuba and Principe. They
claim to have all the supplies necessary
for their subsistence, having great herds
of cattle, beside cultivating a large pro-
portion of the land in the province men
toned What they need is arms, ammu-
milton and clothing. 1t is generally I'M
derstood in Cuba that the insurgents
known as Presentados, who came in and
gave themselves up TO the Spaniards in
response to the offer of pardon, We're all
men who had met with the disfavor of
Gomez because they had disregarded the
discipline he so rigidly enforces in his
army
Ibid your investigation lead you TO
form any opinion on the subject of au-
tonomy? inquired the reporter.
mo one wants autonomy in Cuba"
replied Col. Parker with emphasis.
Even the autonomist governors do not
favor it. l know of several alcaldes, or
mayors, of towns outside of Havana,
appointed as autonomists, who are Who'll
~ in sympathy with the insurgents"