Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-15
disfavor Of Gomez, because they had dis
regarded the discipline which he so rigidly
enfcrces il his army

regarded the discipline which he so rigidly
enfcrces Ii his army.
The Respective Methods OF War.
1.-THE best testimony to the character Of
the warfare carried on by the Spaniards
and the insurgents is the generally admit
ted fact that the Spaniards never take any
prisoners. They shoot them. They make
reports that the prisoners were shot while
endeayoring to escape. but they don't wait
other hand, don't do this. They take away
the arms and equipments of any Spanish
soldiers they may capture and then send
them back to the Spanish lines.
THE Spanish soldier" continued Col
Parker, lis young, a. boy in fact. and will
average probably 100 pounds in weight.
He is a good soldier. though. oeedient In
every respect, and a good deal better. so 1
vas informed by those who know, than
the officer over him. The Spanish soldier
will present brave front to the enemy
while his officer will get behind tree.
From the appearance of the cafes and
the hotels and the places along the rail-
roads. one would think that there was
nothing but Spanish officers in Cuba Their
numbers are simply overwhelming"
Autonomy Universally Opposed.
did your investigation lead you to form
any opinion on the subject Of autonomy"
inquired the reporter.
mo one wants autonomy i'll Cuba" re-
piled Col Parker with emphasis. Even
the autoncmist governors do not favor 1t.
know of several alcaldes. or mayors. OF
towns outside of Havana, appointed as au-
Economists. who are wholly in sympathy
with the insurgents.
Gen. Lee and the COnsuls.
zone thing that struck me forctbly In
Cuba was that in spite Of the presence Of
so many soldiers, didn't see tent or a
piece of artillery. The soldiers all live in
palm houses or little block houses, and
there was no artillery anywhere that 1
saw. General Lee paid US every attention,
and I cannot speak too highly of the Won
derful manner in which he is performing
lis duty as our consul general. He is in
spiTed wholly by purely patriotic purposes.
Consul Barker at Sagua de la Grande, an
other ex-confederate. who was a captain
in the army of northern Virginia, has been
doing most applaudable work in helping
the starving reconcentrados By his own
efforts he collected 600 in his own state
of Mississippi for their relief. and has spent
twice his own salary in the same direc-
ton. Consul Brice at Matanzas has also
done splendid service in this work.
Climate and Fertility:
Il was struck" said Colonel Parker in
conclusion. with the delightfulness of the
climate in Cuba. 1t was nothing like as
warm there as it was in Florida A pleas
ant breeze prevailed and 1 was told by sew
eral of our consulS there that they slept I'M
der blankets nearly every night in the year.
and that while yellow fever and smallpox
prevailed to a considerable extent among
the natives. they gave the diseases very
little thought, as they took care of them
selves. The fertility of the island is amaz-
Ing, and We saw avenues of royal palms
towering hundred and twenty-five or fifty
feet into the air leading up to old sugar
plantations. 1t was dreadful to think that
| SuCn a SPOT is deSGlated and dOOnad IN Sfi
further devastation IL the present condi-
tons continue"
DO the United States want Cuba?" was
the parting question OF the reporter.
Colonel Parker smiled significantly. IF
this country wants the most fertile and
fruitful place in the world. which is right at
It's DOORS the United States ought to have
it," was his reply.