The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-02
WAR A LA RAILROAD.
How Gen. Valdarrama Perfected the
Excursion Campaign spstem.

The Spanish method OF carrying on the
war In Cuba has been viewed from one
side only. says William r. Lewis In thu
Chicago mes-Herald In admirine their
relentless and murderous brutality. OBJ
servers have lost sight OF the fine stra-
tegic ability OF the intelligent Castilans.
1t is not too late to do justice to these
eagles of war and masters OF system.
1t was learned early In tho game THAI
the insurgents had superior bushwhack-
ing gifts. The Spanish are themselves
strong as guerril'as. In fact, the word
as we use it is a direct loan to us from
Valambrosia.
The Cubans have greatly improved on
their instructors In this style OF warfare,
and taking malarial fever and ambusheS
both into account. the soldiers from
Spain came to be regarded by under
writer's as extra hazardous risks. Then
the Captain Generals board 81 strategy
invented a new plan OF putting down the
rebellion. Spaniards are charged with
being the conservative creatures OF ira
dition. yet they made the most radical de-
parture from the established rules OF the
art OF war that has ever been recorded.
Gen. Naldarrama, who commands the
Havana division. is the first TO base
campaign on the train schedule OF a rail-
way when he found that fever did not
attack his conscripts with such fatal re.
suits in the cities as In the field. he moved
his troops into the cities. Thereafter the
Spanish soldiery would take the morning
trains out into the country. and after
burning a few cane fields and killing
few farmers and woman or two re-
turned on the evening trains, much re-
freshed.
[ became acquainted with this some
what singular style OF warfare wholly by
accident / was returning from MAINTAIN
zas one day last March on a train which
was attacked by insurgents near Jaruco.
The attack could scarcely be dignihed by
the name. A handful OF malcontent Gu
bans appeared at the top OF hill. and
pursuant to their agreeable custom SHOT
a round or TWO at the passing train. Tney
did but little damage, as ! recall the at
fair-smashed a few windows and creased
an American who was watching the en-
tertainment from the platform. The IN
surgents further offended propr!eties oy
massing at the brow OF a hill and making
insulting gestures. Two companies or
Spanish regulars were aboard the train
and with rare presence OF mind bestowed
themselves under the seats az the open
ing OF the fusillade The train stopped
and the officers dragged their forces from
the cars and organized pursuit. tnS
regulars charged up the slope and the In
surgents fed IN tumult down the opposite
side OF the hill. The Spaniards chased
the enemy some distance. the engineer
meanwhile vigorously blowing the whistle
OF his locomotive. thought he did this
to cheer on the fray. but learned after
ward he had other reasons. Presently the
troops returned.
ibid you get any OF the insurgcnts7" I
asked captain.
mo; they escaped" he replied.
Don't you intend TO follow them I
inquired moved thereto by the soldiers
mounting the cars.
mo" he said. looking at me with SONS
surprise and continuing with his English
at a glance" vocabulary. mo, ] shall
not Por que 10? II Is because that the
train VIII not walt for US TO do 30, she
being now nifty minutes taruy from her
schedule arrangements. The engineer.
also becomes impatient ana causes her
whistle 10 resound Also besides which
our dinner Is now due. We shall come
some morning and give these rebellious
pigs the lesson they demand
Then the train pulled on