The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-11
THE CUBAN INSURGENTS AND AN
NEXATTON.

The Journal does not find itself in SYM
pathy with the Cuban annexation feeling
which is said to be growing in Washington.
Under the circumstances the reason as
signed for this feeling seems very far
fetched, especially in view of the attitude
taken by the government on the question.
The reason assigned Is that the strength
and number of the Cuban Insurgents have
been grossly misrepresented by the leaders
on the island and members Of the Junto in
this country, and that as it is likely the
United States will have to do about all the
fighting in expelling the Spaniards from
Cuba it shoula keep the island. 1t is quite
possible that, with the usual enthusiasm of
revolutionists, the strength and numbers Of
the insurgents have been exaggerated with
out any intention to deceive. The exaggera-
uon however, can scarcely have been as
great as was indicated by recent state
ment of the Journals Washington corre-
spondent, representing no doubt correctly a
phase Of feeling in that city, This state
ment was that 1t had been discovered that
instead of being able to muster 10000 or
been claiming, the Cuban generals cannot
produce $500 men," Now. to accept this
theory we must discredit not only the Cuban
Junto, but some of our own authorities.
supposed to be good. Senator Proctor in his
speech after his return from Cuba, so wide
ly commented ON at the time said:
L saw several who had visited the insur-
gent camps ana was sought out by in
surgent field officer. who gave me the best
Information received as TO the insurgent
force His statements were moderate and
/ was credibly informed that he was entire
ly reliable. He claimed that the Cubans
had about $1,000 now in the field, some in
every province, Tut mostly in the two east
ern provinces and eastern Santa Clara, and
this statement was corroborated from other
good sources.
Even better testimony than this was that
Of General Lee, who had been in Cuba
several years and had various means of in
formation. In his statement before the SEN
ate committee after his return from Havana
he said:
The armed force would number probably
$1,000 or 50, 900. The number has been up
probably as high $4,000 $1,000 men well
armed The ammunition varies. The Span
ish force was probably 5000 or 5000.
1t is hardly possible that General Lee,
after residence of several years in Cuba,
could have made the egregious blunder of
estimating an army of 1000 or 1900 men at
81 600 or 80, 600. The government steamer
Gussie. which left Tampa yesterday for
Cuba, carried between 5000 and 1000
Springfield rifles" and she is to be followed
in a few days by the Whitney with another
supply. AS part of the insurgents are al
ready well armed the sending of 10000 to
1900 Springfield rifles shows that the gov
eminent thinks that number of insurgents
are waiting for them. A Key West dis
patch to the New York Evening Post OF
Monday says: IAN artist who has just ar
rived from Gomez's camp says that there
are 1900 Cubans in the neighborhood of
sancti Spiritus. but they are short of arms
and ammunition Insurgent bodies In
other parts of the island should increase
this number several thousand. All this
testimony goes to show that the number OF
insurgents armed and waiting for arms
must be at least 10000 to $4,000
But If there were not 1000 insurgents in
Cuba the talk Of annexation would be un-
justinable In fact. under the circum-
stances 1t is little less than infamous. The
United States are solemnly pledged not to
annex Cuba 1t is the one insular posses
sion Of Spain regarding which they are so