Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-07
CAMPAIGNING IN CUBA.
The Forces OF Santiago de Cuba Are
Mostly Uneducated But Intel
issent BIacks-Day's Routine.

Our operations were confined to the
province of Santiago de Cuba, large
proportion of the inhabitants of which
are blacks, descendants OF native Afri-
cans, imported in the days of slavery.
Most of the men are of medium stature,
with broad shoulders and well-devel-
oped muscles. They are peaceful in dis
position, seldom, if ever, quarreling
among themselves, and are brave and
fearless in battle. As no attention has
been given by the Spanish authorities
to their education, less than one-quar-
ter of the country people in this prov
ince are able to read and write; but
they are gifted by nature with large
amount of intelligence. Their homes
are hardly more than roofs. The fam
lilies are large, Sften numbering from 10
to Is. Children under five years seldom
wear clothing. Lamps are almost IN
known, candles being generally used.
Vegetables are plentiful, and meat is
now furnished to the families by the
project, an officer of the civil govern
ment appointed for each township to
protect and care for the families, also
to furnish horses, vegetables, and other
articles necessary for the troops in his
vicinity. As the Cuban soldier relies
mainly upon vegetables, and, when the
enemy is not near at hand, often camps
in the same place for weeks at time,
it is necessary, in order not to exhaust
the supply, to divide the forces into
small bands of from so to 500 men, ac-
cording to circumstances. The veg
etables chiefly used are green plantains
Ga banana, but not the variety sold in
this market), green bananas, sweet po-
tatoes, pumpkins and the nutritious
yucca. These vegetables are either
boiled or roasted on the Goals.
The camp is usually chosen in an
opening near a road, where fresh water
may be had and grass found for the
horses, the officers and assistants be-
ing, as a rule, mounted. If the camp
is for a short time only, no huts are
built; but if it is expected to remain
for several days, the soldiers erect small
shelters. A ajority of the officers are
provided with large piece of canvas,
which is stretched as a roof over
their hammocks. The hammocks are
hung to trees, or to posts driven into
the ground. Each soldier does his own
cooking, but each officer is attended
by an assistant. Fires are started
used, except, perhaps, for a short time
after the capture of town. The prin-
cipal firewood is cedar.
As soon as the camp site has been Sc
lected, guards are placed, but only on
the roads, as the Spanish troops never
enter the woods. The horses are then
unsaddled and taken to pasture, ham,
mocl1s are hung, and fires are built.
- IL
vegetables are allowed to look for them;
and, while usually they are to be found
near at hand, it is sometimes necessary
to go several miles before finding them.
At night staff officers are required to
do guard duty near headquarters, to re-
ceive any messages that may arrive, and
to see that all is quiet in camp. Reveille
is sounded on the bugle at daylight, and
every one, officers included, is obliged to
turn out. Coffee, or sambumbia (sweet
ened water) is then made, and about
one hour later roll-call is sounded, after
which the soldier has very little to do
but rest until five p. m, when roll-call is
again sounded. Retreat is sounded at
eight, when every man must be in camp,
and at nine silence" is sounded. and
all remove their clothing and retire for
the night.
The Cubans eat but two meals day,
one about II a. M, and the other at SKIP.
m. They often march by moonlight, and
many of their attacks are made at
night, while the Spanish forces never
march or attack except by day. In a
Spanish camp the horses are not unsad-
died during the day, and at night the
men often do not remove their clothing,
and the entire camp is well guarded.
MetNcine is scarce, and fever is com
mon.-Emory W. Fem, in Century.
OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD CUBA.