The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-18
Have Given Them the Idea That the
Men are Weak and Puny,
The CUBAN DEBT QUESTION,
They Had No Idea OF Raising IL Until
the Reports OF the Condition OF
Our Army in Cuba Reached
Them-Thcy Think il Would
BE an Easy Matter Now
20 Nanquish IL.

WASHINGTON, October 17-lt has
now reached the War Department mat
O high officer OF the Spanish army made
"a statement that 81 the spaniards had
been aware OF the state Of the American
army, its inability 10 stand the hard
ships OF a campaign. its lack OF medical
enGand other SUPPLIES and lack Of general
efficiency. as set forth In American news
papers, the Spaniards would not have
given up. but would have continued
nghung for a long time 20 come, 1uly
believing that they would have been
able 10 prevent the capture Of cuba by
American arms This statement Is known
20 have been made by officers now IN
Cuba and is causing some uneasiness IN
official circles, as It may mean that the
Spanlards are not yet ready TO yield the
island under the terms Of the protocol.
COMPLAINTS CAUSED IT.
1t Is believed by officials IN Washing
ton that had ii not been for the outcry
made regarding the army and the con-
duct Of the war there never would have
been any question raised by the Spanish
Peace Commissioners regarding the Gu
ban debt
II IS pointed out that under the pro
tocol. the sole question left for the com
mission was the settlement Of the Philip
pines. and that nothing was said about
the Cuban debt or any other cuban
question.
BY those who arc in a position TO know
# is asserted that the Madrid govern
,ment was aware when asked for peace
and when negotiations were opened that
it was useless 90 ask that the Cuban
debt be taken into consideration by any
commission, and that It is only since
the reports Of the conduct OF the United
States army has reached Madrid that the
question has been raised.
WOULD FIND THEIR MISTAKE
Another matter that causes grave con
siderauon I'm the War Department Is the
temper OF the Spaniards In cuba, and the
fear that the impression which now pre-
walls there may lead them 10 regard the
American uoops of not much account and
act accordinely after the occupancy by
the Unitel States
The matter has been discussed I'm the
War Department and It IS probable that
when the troops are sent to Cuba there
viii be a force Of such size and character
as 20 give the islanders a different i'm
preston Of the United States soldiers
than they now entertain.
A WRONG IMPRESSION.
"The Impression among the Spaniards
in Cuba" said an officers I'm position 20
know what is going on, now IS that the
American soldiers are weak and puny.
incapable Of withstanding hardship and
whom II will be an easy matter 20 van
uuish. This feeling may make it diff
cult for the Americans at first. This inn
preston is due TO the charges that have
been made against the War Department
with such virulenco and IT'S insistence
during the past few months"
n has become evident that the troops
when sent 10 Cuba must be Isolated for
some time in their camps to avoid the
danger OF infection and the Department
Is not quite clear that any useful pur-
pose will be served by placing soldiers
where their services cannot be available.
While the wet season has now almost
reached its end In Cuba. ST IS said that
the yellow fever Is more prevalent and
that n is more dangerous in tpye just
now than at any time during the year
These conditions. however Will not con-
tnue long.
TO EMPLOY CUBANs.
A proposition that Is now under con-
sidorati0n looks 10 the employment OF
Cuhans as local gendarmes it being main
tained that they would be more ser
vicoablc than the American soldiers. and
the payment OF small salaries 10 these
men would considerably relieve the dis
fress prevailing without lowering the
pride OF the Cuhans unless General Lee
specifically asks to be relieved from that
duty he Is TO command the first eNpedi-
tion. seconded by General Greene and
General Arnold sa