The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-11

than the days march. The insurgents would
be reached, they would be engaged, they
would retire. The troops would set fire to
the hospital-we knew what was done with
the wounded, but we did not say much
about it-and they they would return to the
little fort they had left And when they
were gone the insurgents would reappear
in the same place. Understand, this was all
on foot. Had there at any time during the
force, well led, 1t would have only been nee
essary to say to the officer in command.
Bring in Gomez and Gomez would have
been brought in. The whole business was
simply farcical.
THE GUERRILLAS.
THE country. as l have said, was studded
with little forts, and into these forts were
put small garrisons, and here the troops re-
manned and nothing done. OF course
there were always the guerrllas, and they
were the choicest scoundrels on the top of
the earth. The guerrillas are composed of
negroes, Cubans and natives of the Canary
islands They are the scum of Cuba Under
the direction of<the Spaniards they were
formed into rowing bands to cut off the in
surgents and generally to ravage the coun-
Try; The latter part of their duty they car
lieu lieu out In the most efectual manner. They
nave simply galloped about, numbering all
tney could meet with. They set fire to the
houses OF innocent people; thew murdered
me me innocent people themselves if they made
me least resistance: they ravaged the coun-
Try l would go back tomorrow" said Mr..
Skalfe energetically. ito see a small body
Vi american cavalry, or Uhlans, or our
own mounted police, engage these villains
at the proportion, say of one cayaIrvman
70 ten guerrillas. If the proportion of cav
attryInen were greater they would turn Aail
At the same time there is little to choose
T tween cert the insurgents and the guerilas
bacco o anG s, nlow up trains. set fire to to-
winch had been sent by the Junto in New
10TH iork Ior the most diabolical purposes. IN
nected pp ~ I'm, une estate with which was
lieSteu ! 1T was round necessary to organize
d regiment of soldiers to protect alike the
properly and the men from the violence of
~. ~ Insurgents 1t wassa favorite pastime
OF the latter to come upon peaceable China
men working upon the estates and murder
men, m; Ihey cut the heads off ten Cinnamon
was done to make the situation appear des-
perate-to prove that so long as the Span
larqs remained in power there would be
hothihs out anarchy upon the island''
FEW INSURGENTS.
AS for the Cubans themselves, Mr.. Skate
said that they almost to man svmpathize
with the insurgents. of whom at the pres
ent moment, nor more than five thousand
could take the field. THE Cubans are a
peaceaole people. Woodworking industrious
Ihey desire to be allowed to live in peace
Ihey have been ground to the earth by mis-
rule Innumerable fortunes have been made
out of them. The customs have been in
the hands of the Spanish official classes,
and the poor laboring man has sweated to
max me nigh officers and other Spaniards
rich. And now he has turned at last and
wants turn at plundering. He wants to
plunder the plunderers. You cannot blame
MIN. DO you know that the collections of
taxes are still sold by auction in Cuba?
Inc Spaniards have the most ridiculous
IDEAS of the United States continued Mr.
Skaife. Even officers of the army think
that the forty-tive States of the Union set
forth upon the map mean many parishes
23,Go0 men. which is all they can put into
the field. Even UP TO the day of the CON
grosslonal resolutions there no thought
Of war. How will the Americans fight?' If
was scornfully asked
1t is the opinion of Mr. Skaife that war
might have been aVerted if the United
States had taken a firm stand with Spain
from the first. If Cleveland had been in
power there would have been no war Spain
was not dealt with firmly; she did not think
the United States was in earnest"
Asked II he considered the war justifiable
Mr.. Skate said: We'll. il is waged in the
name OF humanity, which is a good cry but
II seems a pity that many innocent lives
should be offered up in such Il sacred name.
consul General Lee was strong man, and
Understood the situation thoroughly. He
brought a soldierly terseness and directness
into the Havana consulate. in refreshing
and admirable contrast 10 what We had
been accustomed TO previously, and had his
advice been listened to and his methods
copied by the Washington administration
war would have been aVerted by the institu-
ton of a firm and vigorous policy instead of
2 weak and WaNerinS one.