The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-03-24
WAR IN CUBA
Cost the Spanish Seventy Thousand Men in
Killed. Wounded and Otherwise Inca
pacitated-Spain's Military Strength.


Cost the Spanish Seventy Thousand Men in
Killed. Wounded and Otherwise Inca
pacitated-spain's Military Strength.
WAsHINeToN, March 10. - Seventy
thousand men is the number of Span
ish soldiers who have been killed.
wounded and otherwise incapacitated
for duty during the present war in
Cuba. These figures have been re-
ceived in this city recently from re-
liable sources and are said to be as
nearly authentic as it is possible to
obtain them without recourse to the
records kept by the Spanish govern
ment. =
From the same source considerable
other information bearing on the mill
tary strength of Spain and her de.
Tendencies is obtained. The present
force of Spain in Cuba is as follows:
Regulars, $4,000 men. OF this mum.
Der it is estimated that sc, 200 of them
are effective for military purposes.
They are distributed throughout the
island as follows: About $4,000
are in the two eastern provinces
of Santiago De Cuba and Puerto Prin-
cipe and the remainder are in the
provinces of Santa Clara, Matanzas,
Havana and Pinar Del Rio There are
about 80. 900 members in what is known
as the volunteer army. These are
mostly in the province of Havana and
are largely in the nature of home
guards, corresponding to our state
militia. There are $1,000 men who are
not effective for military duty from
various causes.
The strength of the Spanish army at
home and including her nearby posses
sions, is 100, 900 men, which in times of
demand for additional soldiers may be
increased as follows:
First reserve $4,000 men, second
reserve 100000 men, all of whom
are instructed in military tactics
and a second reserve which is not
instructed of 3OO.O 900 men, making in
all a grand total of 6lO, 900 men. Since
these figures were received here recent
draft of $4,000 men to strengthen the
army in Cuba leaves only $4,000 men of
Spains regular army now in the PEN
insula, the Balearic island, the Spanish
possessions in north Africa and the
Canary islands.
In the Philippine islands Spain has
an army of 32, 900 men, which includes
about $1,000 native troops. Several
regiments of the latter were disbanded
during the time of the late insurrec.
ton in the islands, and in time of war,
it is said, they are of very little use to
the Spanish government.
In Porto Rico there are 5000 troops
which, in the event of hostilities, could
be supplemented by 1000 volunteers.
New YORK, March 19-That the Gu
bans are willing to end the strife in
their island is without question, but
while they are willing to pay Spain an
indemnity, the leaders here are posi-
tive in their assertions that they are
not weakening in the slightest degree
and are willing to continue the fight.
The question Of the amount of indem-
nifty which might be paid in case such
an agreement were feasible was talked
of earnestly by the officials of the Gu
ban junta here Friday. Just what
amount might have been paid three
years ago and that which might seem
! reasonable now from the Cubans point
| Of view may be gathered from the
following reply to such q question,
which 7. Estrada Palma made Friday
| evening:
"At the beginning the war debt was
$3.50, 600, 900 but Cuba could not stand
| it and this was one of the reasons that
the revolt was precipitated.
I'm the beginning of 1896, after the
invasion of the western province by
the Cubans the latter might have been
willing to pay $500, 900.
ho ,f ha Il
of 1s9G-97, they would have paid $780,
100000, but now they would not give
more, if as much. than 800, 600. 900.
| IF the wet season should set in this
year before such an agreement could
be arranged, we would not think of
paying anything.
THE seasons for the decrease in the
amounts are the increased chances of
our success" continued MIR. Palma.
mot to speak of the destruction and
desolation of the island that impair its
productive capacity"
1t was rumored that a message had
been received in this city from Wash
ington to the effect that the cabinet
WAS favorably disposed to PROPOSE
tion from Spain providing for the
withdrawal of the Spanish troops from
Cuba, leaving the Spanish flag floating
there, in case the United States feet
should be recalled from Key West.
| When Mr.. Palma's attention was
called to this rumor, which purported
to have its origin in an official quarter
in Washington, he replied:
'Well, that would satisfy the Gu.
bans, and assure you we would see to
it that the Spanish flag would be very
quickly supplanted by our own. Gu
ba Libre' is our motto and we will
never agree even ad interim to the ac-