The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-30
A SOLDIER S RINGING WORDS.
An Intrepid Cuban Patriot Inter-
viewed ira the Field.

Havana, March 29-Half a mile from
Aguacate and less than twenty miles from
Havana City. your correspondent met on
Thursday March "a the insurgent Col.
Davalos and his forces composed of three
hundred cavalry. Davalos is now the
most intrepid and popular Cuban leader in
Havana province. After the death of
Gen. Nestor Arangueren he took his place
and has proved to be a worthy successor
Of that dashing commander. The corre-
spondent knowing of the concentration
of Cuban forces in Havana Province,
went to see Davalos to learn If he could.
if that movement was preparation for
an attack upon Havana City in case of
war between Spain and the United States
which the revolutionists are expecting.
Col. Davalos refused at first to talk,
giving the excuse that he was merely
soldier and that he could not speak At
| ter the correspondent had convinced him
that the publication of his views could be
beneficial to the cause Of Cuba he con-
| sented TO be interviewed. Leaving his
! horse to the care of his assistant, and af-
! ter dividing his troops into four bodies.
to cover the principal points from which
] a surprise might come, he politely invited
the correspondent to take a seat on
stone and seating himself on the ground,
he said
well. you tell me first what is going on
down there, and ] will tell you then what
l think Tell me first of all about the
Maine. ] was very near Havana when the
ship was blown up on the night of Feb
ruary Is and l saw the illumination of the
skies by the two explosions. 1 wonder
how it is that more than a month has
passed after that cowardly crime was
committed and the United States has not
| done anything yet against SPAIN
The correspondent then explained all
the different aspects of the Cuban situa-
tion in America and DavaIos answered
calmly:
About the Maine I have only to say
that if the United States Government is
disposed to swallow that pill l believe
the American people will not do So 1
know very little about the United States
I only know they fought gallantly for
their independence, and that their George
Washington led them TO victory and
wisely advised them in peace. If that
country is the same country, L do not
believe il will brook the murder of its
marines by the Spaniards.
But l do not understand the policy OF
feeding the reconcentrados and at the
same time keeping peace with Spain
which murders the Americans. Why
instead of feeding the reconcentrados
don't the Americans say to the Span
iards, You ought not to starve this peo
pie any more, you assassins of babies
and women. Leave Cuba forever, anC
let its people live in peace. / could un
derstand that sort of talk, or could un
derstand it if the United States would
keep her hands off and let things talk,
their course. But so much red tape 70
nothing is ridiculous Still, perhaps
don't understand it because l am meFel.
+ ! a soldier and not a dipIomatist. Is i
not mixing up things to say, as you tel
I me. that the Americans are feeding tn
3 Cubans? Not the Cuban army, sir. Tn
food We want is this" and the brav
q veteran took in his hand one of the cart
V ridges from his rife.
a ''I love the American people, becaus
n know their hearts are with Cub
= libre. If they love us why don't the
: give US a little of this? Showing tn
2. cartridge again) Then they would Sc
t how we would float our flag over Nor
: Castle in a very short time"
n Col. Davalos has the greatest contemI
for the Spaniards. He said that the
y never fight without being at least fI
W times as numerous as their foes.
- The interview ended with these word
M 81 should like to see the American
: come to aid US but if they don't come v
at shall continue fighting just the same"
Col Davalos said he was disappointt
se when Senator Proctor came to Cuba, b
cause the agent Of the junta in IL
lg vana told him he was going to esco
se | the Senator to Cen. Go,nez's cannD.