The Anaconda standard., 1898-03-16
WHAT COL. PARKER SAW
Suffering of the Reconcentrados
Is Simply Indescribable.
A PICTURE OF DESOLATION
The Whole Country Has Been Devas-
tated-Insurgents Control the Prov
inces-No One Wants Autonomy
in Cuba-Cane Fields Burned.

Washington. March 15.-Col. Myron
NJ. Parker, who was Senator Proctor's
companion on his trip to Cuba, in an
interview with Star reporter to-day,
said: You might believe. but you
could not realize the condition of the
reconcentrados in Cuba. 1t surpasses
the comprehension of a man accustomed
to- the usual phases of life. Their enla-
citation Is terrible. Their suffering is in
describable. We saw warehouses full
of starving women and children. These
people have been forced into the villages
and towns by the Spaniards and the
whole country where they lived has
been devastated.
In the ride from Havana to Sagua
la Grande, distance of about 200 miles
or more. the country presented picture
of desolation. For miles and miles the
charred stalks of burned sugar cane
showed where the torch had been ap-
piled by the Spanish and the insurgents
alike At intervals are blockhouses oc-
cupied by the Spanish soldiers. Above
each blockhouse is a cupola where
Spanish soldier is always on the lock-
out. II a reconcentrado attempts to go
out of the village and cross the trocha
he is shot, and If an insurgent tries TO
come in .,e is treated in the same way.
The trocha serves. however. TO prevent
sudden dashas by the insurgents into the
villages at night T. burn them.
The Spanish army is largely en-
ployed along .he railroad. but as closely
as the road is guarded the insurgents
can do with it as they please. 1t is gen.
orally understood in Cuba that the rail-
road company pays tribute to the insur-
gents for running the passenger trains
Then the insurgents do not want TO
bother the passenger trains. but they
interfere with the freight and troop
trains. They day before | reached Ma
tanzas the insurgents blew up sugar
train only three miles south of the town.
In my opinion, Gomez is virtually in
control of the island.
There is not an estate under cultiya-
ton, so / was reliably informed, that
does not pay tribute TO the insurgents.
The best people in Havana told me that
the young men Of the best Cuban fam
lies in the island We're in the ranks of
the insurgents. My informant also told
me that the insurgent army was never
as firm and as strong as it is to-day IT
gets very large proportion of its medi-
cal supplies right from Havana and its
discipline is said TO be all that can De
desired. The insurgents have complete
control of the provinces of Santiago de
Cuba and Principe. They claim to have
all the supplies necessary for their sub
slstence, having great herds of cattle.
besides cultivating a large portion of the
island in the provinces mentioned. What
they need Is arms. ammunition and
clothing. 1t IS generally understood in
Cuba that the insurgents known as pre-
sentados who came in and gave them
selves to the Spaniards in response to
the offer OF pardon, We're all men who
had met with the disfavor of Gomez be-
cause they had disregarded the disci-
pline he so vigorously enforced in his
army
-
form any opinion on the subject of au-
tonomy?" inquired the reporter.
No one vans autonomy in Cuba.
replied Mr. Parker Even tie auton0-
mist governors do not favor IL I know
of several mayors Of towns outside Of
Havana. appointed as autonomssts. who
are wholly in sympathy with the insur-