The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-10-21
SPANIARDS DISSATISFIED.
DONs FEEL THAT THEY GAVE UP
THE STRUGGLE TOO SOON.
ARE ANXIOUS TO FIGHT AGAIN.
Condition Of American Forces Induces the
Belief Among Them That Cuba
Could Not Have neen Taken.

Could not Have neen Taken.
Information has reached the war de-
partment that a high officer Of the
Spanish army very recently made a
statement that bad the spauiards been
aware Of the condition Of the army,
It's inability 10 Withstand the hard
ships Of a campaign, it's lack OF medi-
cal and other supplies and general
ineilieiency as told in the American
newspapers, the Spaniards would not
have given up, but would have con-
tinued fighting for a long time TO
come, fully believing that they would
have been able 10 prevent the capture
Of Cuba by American arms.
This statement is known 10 have
been made to the American officers
now in Cuba and causes some uneasi-
ness in official circles, as it may mean
that the Spaniards are not yet ready
10 yield the island under the terms Of
the protocol.
II is believed by officials in Wash
ington that had it not been for the
cutlery made regarding the army and
the conduct of the war there never
would have been any question raised
by the Spanish peace commissioners
regarding the Cuban debt. 1t is
pointed out under the protocol the
sole question left for the commission
was the settlement Of the Philippines
and that nothing was said about the
Cuban debt or any other Cuban ques-
! ton.
By those who are in position to
know it is asserted that the Madrid
government was aware when it asked
for peace and when negotiations were
opened that it was useless to ask that
the Cuban debt be taken into eonsid-
Grafton by any commission, and that
il is only since the reports of the bad
condition of the United States army
has reached Madrid that the question
has been raised.
Another matter that causes grave
consideration in the war department
is the temper of the Spaniards in Cuba
and the fear that the impression which
now prevails there may lead them to
regard the American troops of not
much account and act accordingly af-
ter the occupancy by the United
States.
The matter has been discussed in
the war department and it is probable
that when the troops are sent to Cuba
there will be a force of such size and
character as to give the islanders a
different impression of the United
States soldiers than they now enter
tain.
"The impression among the Span
iards in Cuba, said an officer in po-
sition to know what is going on, SIS
that the American soldiers are weak
and puny, incapable of withstanding
hardships, and whom it will be an
easy matter to vanquish. This feeling
may make it difficult for the Americans
at first. The impression is due to the
charges that have been made against
Aub WuL u6phl llll6ub Will SuCu NlIu-
lence and insistence during the past
few months.
1t has become evident that the
troops when sent to Cuba must be iso-
lated for some time in their camps ia
avoid the danger of infection and the
department is not quite clear that any
useful purpose will be served by plac,
ing soldiers where their services can.
not be available. While the wet sea-
son has now almost reached its end in
Cuba, it is said that the yellow fever
is more prevalent and dangerous in
| type just now than any time during
the year These conditions, however,
will not continue long
Cubans MAY BE Employed.
A proposition now under considera.
ton looks to the employment of the
Cubans as local gendarmes, it being
urged that they would be more ser
viceable in maintaining order in the
towns than American soldiers, unac
quainted with the Spanish language
and Cuban customs The United
States government in this way also
would be able by the payment of small
salaries to these men to considerably
relieve the distr ess that exists on til,
island