The Mena star., 1898-04-27
WHAT FRED FUNSTON SAYS
lie Regards Talk of Our Army Cap- turing Cnba In Few Weeks
 as Assured.


 Saturday, Colonel Funston has seen perhaps more hard service and fight ing, and has risen te higher rank n the Cuban army than any other Amer ican. On account wounds and broken health he was compelled to leave that island last winter. but has partially recovered, has been appointed as Colo nel of the first regiment of Kansas volunteers by Governor Leedy, and wants to return to Cuba and show the Spaniards how Americans can fight.
 Colonel Funston has alos been called to Washington by the War depart- ment to give the invaluable informa- tion that he is most fitted to supply as result of his experience A few brief quotations from the interview referred to above are here given:
 1.-The Spanish will easily be driven out of Cuba in two weeks
 Colonel Fred Funson, the Kansan who served nearly two years in the Cubon army under General Garcia, read this paragraph in newspaper. Laying the newspaper down Colonel Funston said:
 Americans may rest assured the war will last longer than two weeks If our fleet is successful against the Spanish in the first engagement the Spaniards in Cuba may be brought to surrender in two months but certainly not in two weeks, There are too many Spaniards there, They are too we'll fortified and too well armed The Spanish soldiers are not fragile little fellows. The officers are a well disciplined and fine looking lot of men. They will fight too So will their men.
 s.There is one thing however, the Saniards cant shoot as we'll as tine in surgents And insurgents shoot about like policemen The Spaniards and Cubans fill the cart tn and air with bull lets. The marks manship of onr regu lar soldiers will strike terror to the Spanish soldiers whe n they go against cur Western regulars and the bullets come skipping over the top of the grass We'll these bullets wilt sing song that will chill Spanish blood.
 s'l he government has undoubtedly. if reports may be relied npon, been greatly misinformed about some things One thing is the condition of the Span ish army To make a rough estimate I would say that Spain has in Cuba now abont 100, 900 regulars 20,U00 vol unteers ana 5000 guerrillas. To take from this 20, GOO sick. wounded and Tn disposed, there is left for, of ls mil lion fighting men. They are armed mostly with Mauser rifles. weapon quite similar 10 the Krag-J Jorgensen rifle. which our army has. It is good gun and will send bullet three miles It would be utterly impossible for force of even SO 0D0 men to drive them out of Cuba in two weeks. Suppose our fleet should meet with defeat or should be scattered in an early engage ment It would put very complicat- ed face on our invasion
 "I have good deal of regard for the fighting ability of the Spaniards, and their navy is strong This isn't any picnic we are going to have.
 INSURGENTS LACK DISCIPLINE
 
 Now, have read that the United States government intends arming the insurgents and o-operating with them. The insurgents can't help us much They can't shoot. They lack the con certed action that makes fighting eff fectiye. So l would recommend that the Cubans be asked 10 take seats in the grand stand and watch our regu- lars and militia play ball with those Spaniards. There may be from 35 GOO to 50, GOO rebels under arms, but the United States should not consider them"
 We hear great deal about yellow fever" was suggested
 That is point that wish to talk about. The health of the army is the great essential" :" said Funston. ''There is very little danger from yellow fever There was some of it in the Spanish camps when I was in Cuba. but there was little of it among the Cubans. Malaria and dysentery is what played havoc with inc Spaniards They drink