Connecticut western news., 1898-03-17
INSURGENTS STRENGTH.

Colonel Parker Says They Control the
 Greater Part of the Island of Cuba
 Washington, March 15.-Colonel My ron M. Parker. who was Senator Proc tors companion on his trip to Cuba, in an interview says:
 Tn the ride from Havana to Sagua de la Grande. distance of about 200 miles or more. the country presented a picture of desolation. For miles and miles the charred stalks of the burned sugarcane showed where the torch had been applied by the Spanish and insur- gents alike. At intervals are block houses occupied by the Spanish soldiers. Above each blockhouse Is a cupola, where a Spanish soldier is always on the lookout. If a reconcentrado at- tempts to go out from the village and cross the trocha he is shot, and if an insurgent tries to come in he Is treated likewise. The trocha serves. however. to prevent sudden dashes by the insur- gents into the villages at night to burn them.
 "The Spanish army is largely em- ployed along the railroad. but as close ly as the road is guarded the insurgents can do with it as they please. It is gen. orally understood in Cuba that the rail- road company pays tribute to the in- surgents for running the passenger trains. The insurgents do not want to bother the passenger trains, but they are alert to interfere with freight and troops trains. The day before we reach ed Matanzas the insurgents blew up a sugar train only three miles out of that town. They cross the railroad at any point they desire and whenever they please. In my opinion Gomez virtually has control of the island. There Is not an estate in cultivation, so I was reli- ably informed, that does not pay tribute to the insurgents. The best people in Havana told me that the young men of the best Cuban families in the island were in the ranks of the insurgents, just as the representatives of our best fami- lies were in the south.
 My informant also told me that the insurgents army was never as firm and as strong as 1t is today. 1t gets a very large proportion of its medical supplies right from Havana, and it's discipline Is said to be all that can be desired. The insurgents have complete control of the provinces of Santiago ce Cuba and Principe. They claim to have all the supplies necessary for their sub sistence, having great herds of cattle, besides cultivating a large proportion of the land in the provinces mentioned. What they need is arms, ammunition and clothing. It is generally understood in Cuba that the insurgents known as presentados, who came in and gave themselves up to the Spaniards in re- sponse to the offer of pardon, were all men who had met with the disfavor of Gomez because they had disregarded the discipline he so rigidly enforces in his army"
 Did your investigation lead you to form any opinion on the subject of au- tonomy?" inquired the reporter.
 "No one wants autonomy in Cuba" !" replied Colonel Parker with emphasis. Even the Autonomist governors do not favor 1t. know of several alcaldes. or mayors, of towns outside of Havana, appointeds as Autonomists, who are wholly in sympathy with the insur- gents.
 You might believe, but you could not Sealize, the condition of the recon cenrrados in Cuba. It passes the conn prehension of a man accustomed to the usual phases of life. Their emacia- ton is terrible, their suffering inde- scribable. We saw warehouses full of starving women and children. These people have been forced into the vil- lages and towns by the Spaniards, and the whole country where they lived has been devastated"