The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-09-21
CUBAN SOLDIERS SUFFER
FOR LACK or FOOD.
Major Giberga Says Their Condition IL
Worse Nov Than Eyer-Spanlards
Pleased That the War Is over

NEW YORK. Sept 2O,-MaJOr Benja-
min OiberEa. Of the Cuban army VINO ar
rived here from Santiago on the trans
BORT Port Victor, was AT the headquarters
, Of tho Cuban junta last night. lie went
20 cuba IN April last ana Tor a short
time served ~ secretary 70 the president
Of the provisional government He thsn
lDlned General Garcia and became his sec
retary. Major OiDerga loft General Gar.
| ela on September 4. after the latleTs res-
lgnatlon from tho Cuban army Uarcia
was then AZ Baire. with u few members
Of his stan. Balre II about ~ miles from
Santiago. In the interior Of tho ISLAND. and
Ii tbs town where the present revolution
started on February a. 1906.
According 10 Major Gibcrga, the rcsis-
nation Of General Garcia and ~ accept.
ance by General Gomez was complete
surprise 20 the civil officers OF the CUBAN
I republic. II was known that there vas
some friction between she TWO officers.
+ but no one thought Garcia wOuld resign
1 from the army and even n he should
I present hls resignation. they did not be-
laye Gomez would accept Il. The whole
affair Of the resignation and acceptance
I WAS carried on without the knowledge Of
the civil authorities. 40 General Gomez.
HH commaBdcrsln-chief Of the army.
promptly accepted II without consulting
I the civil authorities.
Major Giberga was inclined to believe
that Garcia's resignation would cause no
dirsensiOn. although n II had been ten-
I dcred prior 10 the cessation Of hosiilitles
/ II might have injured the Cuban cause.
I In speaking Of tho condition now existing
IN the interior Of the island. the major
said:
THE Cuban soldiers are suffering for
lack Of food. Before peace was declared
they could obtain food by foraging from
the country. but now they cannot do this
As a result the men who have not been
paid since they Joined the army are Suf-
fcrlng from starvation. They have no
money with which to purchase food and
cannot take II from the nelds. The
troops should be paid on as soon a. pos
slble and allowed 10 return 10 their re-
spcctiye homes. where they can once more
engage In peaceful pursuits Tho pay
ment Of the troops IL. however. a serious
problem. which Will have to be solved al
an early day
II do not believe that Il will be neees-
sary for the United States to send large
army 10 Cuba, In fact. think 1000 men
would suilcc TO look after the island.
There Is no danger OF conflict between
the Cubans and Spaniards The latter
are pleased that the war Is over and are
friendly with the Cubans. As an illus
tration Of tho way the spanlards act, 1
would say that just before lef, Cuba. a
party Of Cuban officers In uniform went
into Holguln and were at once greeted
In \ mos, friendly way by the spanish
ofiieers thore. The latter embraced the
cubans and invited them 10 breakfast.
! Everything was quiet at Santiago when
left the city. The people are satisfied
with thc way General Lawton handles
the AFFAIRS, Hc maintains order and is
courteous to all classes OF people. Some
improvements are needed there. such as
The re-opening OF the schools. but that
viii come In good time"