The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-24
CAMPAIGNING in CUBA.
The Forces at Santiago de Cuba Are
Mostly Intelligent Blacks.

Mr.. Emory w Fem late major in the
Cuban army, has written an article for
the Century, entitled Ten Months With
the Cuban Insurgents" Mr.. Fem says:
Our operations We're confined to the
province of Santiago de Cuba, large
proportion of the inhabitants of which are
blacks. descendants or native africans,
imported in the days of slavery. Most or
the men are of medium stature, with
broad shoulders and well developed
muscles. They are peaceful in disposition.
seldom. if ever. quarreling among them
selves, and are brave and fearless in bat
tie. AS no attention has been given Dy
{ the Spanish authorities to their education.
less than one-quarter of the country peO-
pie in this province are able to read and
write; but they are gifted by nature with
a large amount of intelligence. Their
homes are hardly more than roofs. The
! families are large. often numbering from
Is TO Is. Children under i've years old
seldom wear clothing. Lamps are a.
most unknown, candles being generally
used.
Vegetables are plentiful, and meat is
now furnished to the families by the pre-
feet, an officer of the civil government
appointed for each township TO protect
and care for the families, also TO furnish
horses. vegetables. and other necessary
articles for the troops in his vicinity. As
the Cuban soldier relies mainly upon
VEGETABLES. and. when the enemy Is not
near at hand. often camps in the same
place for weeks at time, IL is necessary
in order not TO exhaust the Su-oly, to
divide the forces into small bands OF from
80 to 100 men, according TO circumstances.
The vegetables chiefly used are green
plantains "a banana, but not the variety
sold in this market. green bananas, sweet
potatoes. pumpkins and the nutritious
yucca. These vegetables are either boiled
or roasted on the Goals.
The camp is usually chosen in an open
ing near 2 road. where fresh water may
be mad and grass found for the horses.
the officers and assistants being. as
rule mounted. If the camp is for short
time only no hutS are built but If il is
expected to remain for several days the
soldiers erect small shelters. a majority
of the officers are provided with !arge
piece of canvas which Is stretched as
roof over their hammocks The ham
mOckS are hung to trees or 10 posts driven
into the ground Each soldier does his
own cooking, but each officer is attended
by an assistant Fires are started with
flint ard steel no matches being used,
except perhaps. for a short time after
the capture of town. The principal
firewood is cedar.
As soon rs q camp site has been Sc
lected guards are placed. but only on the
roads. as the Spanish troops never enter
the woods. The horses are then unsaddled
and taken TO pasture. hammocks are hung
and fires are built. Soldiers who are not
supplied with vegetables are allowed to
look for them. and while usually they are
to be found near at hand. II is sometimes
necessary to go several miles before find
ing them AT night stan officers are re-
quired to do guard duty near head
quarters. 10 receive ny messages lndt
may arrive and to see that all is quiet
in camp. Reveile is sounded on the bugle
at daylight, and every one. officers in
cluded. is Obliged TO turn out. Coffee
or sambumia (sweetened water is then
made, end about one hour later roll
call is sounded. after which the soldier
has very little to do but rest until
> pm. when roll call is again sounded.
Retreat is sounded al S. when every snan
must be in camp. and at 9 silence" is
sounded. and all remove their clothing
and retire for the night.
The Cubans eat but two meals a day.
one about II IN. and the other about
pm. They often march by moonlight,
and many of their attacks are made at
night. while the Spanish forces never l
march or attack except by day. In a
Spanish camp the horses are not unsad-
died during the day. and at night the men
often do not remove their clothing. and
the entire camp is well guarded.
Medicine is scarce and fever is common. ]