The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-02
NRlI His CD2lNS??
Gne Who Opposed the War
Essays to Answer.
ALL RIGHT IN THEIR WAY
But That Happens Not to Be
the Yankee Way,

siboney, Cuba, July 13.-Before the war
| I did WA: could TO warn the people
| that the cause Of the Cuban insurgents
| was not worth taking up. 1 saw their
cause espeused very injudicfously, as it
seemed to me, by the American people,
| and here in Cuba I have seen it condemn
ed with a suddnness and completeness
| which are just as injudicious. The long
| suffering and all-deserving patriots be-
came thieves and cut-throats in about two
| days l have had a fair chance in the
| Santiago campaign to study the Cuban in
| sUrgents. I have been in their camps a
good deal. and have accompanied them in
| some Of their scouts and "Reminiscences.
| At the same time I have heard the talk
| Of hundreds of officers and soldiers of our
! army about the Cubans, and seen and
| heard the insults which the worst-dis-
ciplined OF our troops, particularly the
! the Cuban soldiers. On the wharf at Bal
| quiri on rhe day OF the landing, saw the
Cubans effusvely embracing the Ameri-
| can soldiers as they landed; in the last
| days fthe Santiago campaign I saw the
| same insurgents passing the American
| troops with averted looks and sullen ST.
| lence.
| 1 have not changed my opinion that
theh Cuban cause was not worth our TAX
| ing up; but have not been able to escape
| sympathy for these people. whose mate
suggest that they are wondering if they
| have not exchanged a bad tyrant for a
worse one. They beamed with joy, when
no Am re- oh
ed "Viva Cuba librer but lately some
scoundrel has taught certain blackguards
| among our soldiers to call out, ''Al inferno
con Cuha! If the insurgents possess any
virtue at all, it is the virtue of politeness
| and suoh breech Of the code of manners
| as this is about as grave an outrage as
| anything they have to charge against the
Spanirds. They have Sights from higher
sources which have not been SO gross as
this, but have touched their pride as deep
| ly.
In the meantime American officers who
do not insult the Cubans charge them
with cowardice and uselessness. There are
very are very few to defend them against
| the charge. There is no distinct achieve
ment to credit them with in the Santiago
| campaign. They have not fought in any
other but the bushwhacking way that is
familiar to them. Nevertheless, they have
been in advance of our troops, in one way
or another, all the way from Daiquiri to
the bay of Santiago, and I believe that
our officers credit them with doing scout
ing duty in a fairly effeotivemanner.
| know from personal observation that they
are not cowardly in this kind of work
Before the whole Fifth corps was ordered
to advance, on the Both of June the Cubans
had been lowering for days well in ad-
vance of our outposts, and effectively
screening our position. They were en-
camped on ground which on the LIST Of
July was swept by the Spanish shell and
| musketry fire. They guided American
"Reminiscences up towithin 500 yards of
the Spanish lines. In this sort of work
they we're perfectly tractable and anxious
to meet every wish of the American COM
| manders have heard nothing but praise
of their scouting work
But have heard nothing but fat con-
demnation of everything else that they
have done. All the road-making that they
have attempted has been a miserable farce
| consisting merely of threshins down
bushes roughly with their machetes; our
| They were willing to work as messengers
but not as carriers. They have been I'M
able TO execute any serious evolutions
in connection with our troops. In thebat-
tie of Caney I saw them under fire on
our extreme right. They were giving no
signs of cowardice and that several Of
! them were killed, I know, because I saw
their dead But they failed to dislodge
which they were sent against, and it
does not appear that their work in the
fight mad any results Of value. There
we're a few scattering Cubans in the San
! Juan fight. each man of whom seemed to
| be fighting onhis own account. and there
is proof that many Of these men fought
very bravely, indeed. But to offset these
instances wehave the difhcultyin manag-
ing the organized forces of Garcia on
the right wing, which all the world knows
| about
| When we sum the matterup It becomes
! very doubtful whether the cooperation
| of the Cubsns was of much value in the
Santiago campaign. But am convinced
| that il might have been made of more
| value if our commanders had been able
! TO use more tact in dealing with them
| \ little blandness and sweetness of man
ner go a long way in dealing with these
| people; but it IS doubtful if blandness
| and sweetness of manner are in our ma
| theh Cubans have plenty of politeness
but 70 'gumption" There seems no wav
for the two races to get along together.
( The most wretched, naked Cuban soldier
/ possesses the grace and courtesy which
( the American general officer sometimes
/ painfully lacks; the Cuban expects at
least show OF courtesy from his Amerl-
! can ally and when he fails TO receive it
ae simply ignores the presence OF the
! American. Meanwhile the American is
blaming him Tor falling 70 show the indus
try energy. and willingness to perform
painful, arduous and even degrading du-
ties. which is the most admirable char
acteristic OF the American soldier There
j. no middle ground that the TWO races
can meet and agree on
Our soldiers have been filed VITA scorn
Of the Cubans On account Of the easerness
WIKI which they have picked Up and car
RED OF every article Of clothing and camp
ecuipaca which the Americans have been
forced 70 abandon Or le, So Of for mo-
Insnt- They have charged the Cuban SOL
der with q good deal Of pluudering that
has been done O.. paciicos and uo1-com-
bstauts OF al kinds. With our men every
one VINO = not recognizable as 4 Sp2zis7d
: a Cuban" ana ali % as offences are
charged 10 the i1surgent cause Whle
ms IS true. I know s. IS sls0 true tazt the
Cuban soldiers awe devoted = good deal
q time % picking up clothes and blankets
left OF the road BY the American troops
Their precious horses. which belong 70
The republic" and not one OF which could