The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-14
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So it has been practically sort of truce
for some time-the insurgents, because
they did not want to fight and because
1t was against orders to fight.
Suppose Havana was blockaded,
said Senator Mills, $50 that no provis-
ions could go in, would the people there
have any way to get any?
None, whatever" replied Gen. Lee.
1.-THE town would surrender in a short
while.'
Gen. Lee said that in all about 3OO.o 900
of the population of Cuba are Spaniards
and the remainder of the one million
five hundred thousands were Cubans.
Gen. Lee said he had expended all but
about Sc, 900 of the $4,000 appropriated
for the relief of American citizens in
Cuba.
Senator Morgan asked if it was
matter of actual necessity to feed them,
to which Gen. Lee replied:
''They We're practically in the condi-
ton of all the other inhabitants of the
island. They had very little to work at.
There were not many sugar plantations
in operation, nor tobacco places, and
they were suffering like everybody
else"
Senator Cullom asked if the Spanish
army got any of the supplies sent by
the United States.
mo, sir said Gen. Lee. occasion
ally they might have got little here
and there"
Senator Frye asked various questions
in regard to the physical condition OF
the Spanish soldiers and the method OF
providing for them, to which Gen. Lee
replied that the condition of the Span
ish soldiers is very bad: They are bad
ly clothed and very badly fed; not well
organized; not drilled.
Senator F7rye-If Spain has really ap-
propriated 100000 for the sustenance of
the reconcentrados, as 1t is stated, DO
YOU believe that it will be given to
those people and that their own soldiers
will be left to starve?
Consul General Lee-Oh, no.
Senator Foraker-What will be come
of it?
Consul General Lee-They will divide
it up here and there-a piece taken of
here and a piece taken off there. DO
not believe they have appropriated
anything of the kind.
Gen. Lee said that there were Ameri-
can citizens left on the island, for whom
He thought there would have to be ac-
tive steps for their relief, as they are
suffering and starving He said he
thought Miss Clara Barton would have
remained to take charge of the distri-
button of supplies, but very much to
my surprise she turned around and
came out the same day we did, bring
ing every Red Cross
Senaor Frye-What in your judg@
ment is the possibility of SPANS con-
uuering the insurgents and restoring
peace to the island?
Consul General Lei do not think
there is the slightest possibility of their
doing it, at ALL in any way. The same
condition of things existed when Mr..
Cleveland asked me to go down there
last June year ago. 1 told him there
was no chance in my opinion, of the
SpaniardS ever SuppreSSing that 1nSur-
rection nor was there any chance of
the inSurrectiOniStS eXpelling the Span
ash soldiers from the island.
In response to an inquiry from Sena-
tor Lodge for his opinion on the insur,
gent government Gen. Lee said: 4
have never thought that the insurgents
had anything except the skeleton form
of a governments movable capital.
I asked them one day why they did not
have some permanent capital, and
think they gave very good reason.
They said it would require a large force
to protect it and defend it and they
could not afford to mass up their men
there; that the capital and the govern
ment offices had to move where they
could be'the safest"
Gen. Lee said that he did not know Of
any of the officials connected with their
civil government. The armed force
would number probably $1,000 or $4,000.
The number has been up probably as
high as Sc, 900 or 81, 600 men, well armed.
The ammunition varies. The Spanish
force was possibly $4,000 or $4,000.
Gen Lee said that an American army
of occupation could go into the island
with safety now. The climate, nor
anything else need prevent them from
entering Cuba.
Gen. Lee said that when he left Ha-
vana, the Spanish troops had not been
paid for about nine months nor the
Spanish officers for about four months.
Senator Daniel asked: DO you think
Gen Blanco was lacking in courtesy to
you. on leaving the island?''
Gen. Lee-I went with the British
consul general and saw DR.. Congosto
the secretary of the general. 1 told
DIR. Congosto that 1 had received in
structions to leave the island and go
to the United States, and L called to
pay my final respects and would like
to see Gen. Blanco. He asked me to
sit down and said he would go and let
him know. He went off and stayed
about fifteen minutes and came back
and said the general said please excuse
him; he was not we'll and was lying
down. I told DR.. Congosto then to
say good bye to him and turned around
and left.
Senator Daniel-Were there any dem
onstrations of i'll will towards you as
you left?
Gen. Lee-When we were coming out
on the steamer Saturday evening. there |
was some hallowing, cat-calling and
whistling and some Spanish express |
sions. mean cowards.'' running
away" and so on I think that was
confined to the lower order of the men. |
however