Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-12

The invasion OF Cuba by American sol
diers and their cooperation with the in
surgent forces under Gomez add new in
terest to the island of blood. General Lee
reports that tho revolutionists have an
effective army Of 10000 troops, which they
could increase to 100, 600 Mt any timo If
the arms for them were found Gomez has
kept his army at its present number be-
cause, it was too difficult to maintain a
large army in that country after its re-
peated devastation and because 10000
men were enough TO keep up the war and
crush Spain slowly. On tho other hand,
tho Spanards have. he says, not more than
80, coo to is, 600 effective troops. II tho
revOlutionists are armed and small but
well disciplined and seasoned army from
this country is landed in the island, he
thinks the Spanish Will have no chance for
successful resistance.
According to General Lee and all observ-
ers of the military methods of tho Span
lards, their infantry a6 once forms hoi-
low square upon tho approach Of cav
airy. This military formation has been II,
practice for IA century, and tho Spaniards
have not learned any other way tn repel
cavalry attacks. Military experts say thaa
when m army Is SO formed it can he dec.
mated by rapid fire guns and destroyed
If it does not soon break such formation.
The cavalry will be used to force the Span
lards into position, to get them at bay,
as it were, and the infantry and light ar
tillery will then attack with rapid fire
guns.
1T is said that the Spanish forces in Cuba
are poorly armed. They have a fairly good
rifle, tho Mauser, but arc inatlequutely
supplied with ammunition, and. most Of
the troops heing young boys, they do not
know how to use their guns. n rapid firing
guns they are very deficient Artillery Is
their woakos: point and they cannot now
supply tho deficiency.
Tho lack Of arms and ammunition on
the part cf the insurgents is conclusive
evidence thai filibuster expeditions have
not been as numerous or successful as
Spain claims and the general public sEs-
poets. The average filibustcr scheme is
mora exciting than profitable. The sums
paid for "a successful landing in Cuba OF
men or supplies for the insurgents varies
from 81, 900 to $40, 600 This is about five
times as much rs would be paid III time of
pence, and it would be natural to suppose
that one Of these boats having made a half
dozen successful trips would place its
owner in comfortable circumstances but
SO far no one has grown rich from tho
business, and those who have been en-
gagged in it seem To be no better of finau-
cially than they were before. AS matter
of fact, they have made little clear money,
though the expeditions have generally
been successful. That tboy have SO gen
orally escaped seems wonderful when the
nature OF the dangers that thoy have faced
is considered. 1t is surprising that none
OF them has fallen into the hands of the
Spaniards.
The coast of Cuba is closely patroled.
spain has cruisers in Cuban waters that
are swifter than any steamer engaged in
filibustering. Arriving in the darkness,
an expedition might land and in one in
stance at least one did land. under the
guns of "a fort and in range of the batter
les Of warship. Ii captured the ilibuS-
tiers would have no hope of mercy,
though it is not likely that the >paniards
would take them at all II is much more
probable that they would send the filibus-