The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-22
THE WORK OF A TORPEDO
REASONS GIVEN TO BACK UP
HIS BELIEF.
NOT HALF IS TOLD ABOUT CUBAN WOE
Dying by the Thousands--Weak Starving Peo-
pie Dig up EarthwOrms to Feed On
Spanish Brutality is Blot
Upon Civilization.
Upon Civilization.

New York. March 21.-Dr. Frank
Chado, who for the past two years has
served with the rank of Colonel in the
Cuban army under General CaliXtO Gar
cia, and who was present when young
Gomez committed suicide, on seeing his
leader, General MaceO, fall is in this
city.
Col. ChadO came by the steamship
Conchas, taking passage at Havana.
He eluded the vigilance of the Span
ish authorities and travelled under an
assumed name. When Col. Chado left
New York two years ago he weighed 21O
pounds; to-day he weighs 115 pounds
II have heard something of the stories
published in this country of the Distress
in Cuba and of the thousands that have
died and are dying of starvation" he
said to-day: Nothing that has been
published, nothing that could be pub
lshed, could tell the story as it really is.
Il know of my own knowledge that in
many sections of Cuba they are digging
up the earth for the worms that they
may find. 1t is not every one who is
able to dig. Most of the people are so
weak that they are unable TO move.
They are dying by the thousand
not the men who are doing or hope to do
the fighting that eventually must end in
triumph hut the poor women, the children
aud the recOncentradOes. Ruin is every
gThPre Visible.
Spain has been guilty of acts that
must make civilization stand appalled,,
and the fact is that they are infinitely
worse off to-day than at any time since
the war began. Victory is certain for
the Cubans i'm the near future.
OF the present feeling among Spaniards
at Havana Col. Chado says that is be-
coming. more hostile for Americans every
day.
There is feeling among them.' he
sand. 'That the United States is afraid
TO fight and that they can do anything
they please.
Il am as firmly convinced as a man
can bc that the Maine horror was not
due TO any submarine mine This be-
lief - shared by all Cubans-that tho
Maine was blown MP by torpedo. Fur
thcr, believe that the torpedo came
from the Spanish war ship Alphonso
XII.
AS 10 our REASONS Tor thinking so
First. there is the fact thar the night
before the Maine explosion the Albion
so, which had been anchored near, was
moved to safe distance away.
Second. the fact that not once since
the day of the explosion has any seaman
or marine from the Alphonso been AL
lowed to go ashore. The only Inference
is that the officials are afraid the sail
ors might become intoxicated and talk
too much"
Colonel Chado has come to New York
for medical and surgical treatment. his
1lht arm, side, and leg being paralyzed
from privatiOn, exposure and a wound
He is native Cuban and one of tbp
most active of the insurgents. His wife
and three grown children still remain in
Havana He has served as Surgeon
General under General Calixto Garcia
for the past three years. but at length
unable to ride his horse or dress him.
self. re received from the insurgent com
mander an indefinite furlough MS invalid
Il shall not return to Cuba until She
is free" he said.