The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-03-30
A HORRIBLE STORY.
WHAT PARTY OF CONGRESsMEN
SAW IN CUEs.
Tie spanish csmpaiED Mashea by s,.ush-

SAW IN CUEs.
Tfe spanish Campaign Marked by slsush-
tsrs as Prutsl as Ind,an Msssscrss-The e
y Insurgsnt Government Firmly Establish
ed Over Greater Part Of the Island.
4 few weeks ago the New York
Journal sent q commission to Cuba,
consisting OF United States Senators
Money, Gallinger, Tnurston and Rep
resentatives, Cummings and Smith to
ascertain the true condition of affairs
on the island auo report to the people
OF the United States what they saw.
The following is an eXtrsc.. from the
report of the commission:
We went to Cuba exps setting to maEe
allowance for exas sgeraticn due 10 the
intense strife and bitter passion there
by engineered. We have returned
convinced by personal exaui1*ation
and observation OF the bitter iradequa-
cy Of laneusee to tell the misery and
horor of the situstion. II the iusur-
gents have waged war Of destruction
sgainst property the Spanish military
authorities have in the past waged
one Of destruction against property
and another Of determination agairs:
the Cuban people.
II the campsien of destruction is
now less marked it is because the field
OF militsry operstions has been swept
bare. Hardly human habitation is
visible in 8 rural territory co extern
sive with that OF the six New England
States. A few plantations heavily
guarded by Spanish troops, yet paying
tribute TO the insurgent Government,
grind out less than one-tenth the nor
NAL sugar crop of the island where
three years ago luxuriant fields OF
cane and tobacco stretched unbroken
for miles. The dense vegetation OF a
tropical wilderness has sprung up as
rank, as wild as when Columbus dis
covered America, to be as arduously
conquored by the machete and the
plough.
From all sources, Spanish, Cuban
and foreign, whether American or
European, consuls or business houses,
the figures practically agree that half
the rural population of Cuba has dis.
appeared from the face of the earth.
In the central and Western provinces,
where the effect of General Weyler'S
order has been most severely felt,
there are districts from which the
whole population has been swept SIS If
by pestilence, and Of whose people
less than one-ffth are today alive
within the limits of Recommendation.
Nor have the inhabitants Of the
towns and cities escaped. There the
poorer classes have 5een placed nearly
on par with the recon ncsntrados by
the privstions due to the paralysis of
war. Disease ana starvation have
everywhere done their awful work.
Spain, too, has suffered in loss of life
as well IS in purse and prestige. OF
the $50, GOO troops which she has seat
to Cuba, not more than one-half will
ever see their native land again.
Hardly the fifth of her forces now in
the island are today effective.
The military hospitals are crowded.
For the forces in the field no such
thing as medical corps is known.
They are without tents or commits
sary. The steamships to Spain take
back more invalids than otfset the
fresh troops brought in, ard for every
invalid soldier returned one is buried
IL Cuban trench. The Spanish army
is unpaid and encouraged; it has lost
the elan and morale indispensable to
military success. Members Of the
Commission have brought back to the
United States machetes bought from
the belts of Spanish soldiers on the
streets Of Havana and MatsnZas.
Not q single important and success
full operation has marked the course
of Spanish arms since the recall of
Weyler, and the wet season will begin
within six weeks. precluding further
movements of critical importance un-
til Fall. Relatively the insurgents
are stronger than ever, yet LACK the
strength and armament to deliver
final blow.
Opportunity did not present itself to
penetrate the insurgent lines, but
there was no difficulty in getting in
touch with men who are not only
sympathizers with the cause OF Cuban
independence, but who themselves
are in constant communication with
the Insurgent Government and mill
tary leaders. From them it was learn
ed that the Cubans were confident of
being able to maintain their struggle
Indefinitely, and that there was 8
steady Improvement of conditions
within the territory which they con-
trolled practically without interfer-
ence from the Spanish forces.
It was pointed out that General Co.
mez had maintained himself within 8
radius Of fifty miles for months in 8
territory from which he could easily
have been driven, had he been so weak
or the Spanish as strong as tbs latter
had claimed, and that the Provisional
Government st Camaguey was seem.
ingly as firmly planted as Blanco IN
his palace st Havana, yet 1t is apnar-
ent that there is one large area Of the
island where the insurgents exercise
permanent control.
Each in turn rsids across region
several miles in extent. The toDo
graphy Of the country makes it plain
that only an overwhelming force and
tireless pursuits could suppress forces
far less numerous than the insurgents
command. Any other would perish
in the guerilla warfare in which the
Cubans have proven such adopts.
Military termic alton OF the war by
either Spanish or Cubans is hofe.eas,
Destruction, determination and ex.
haustion seems the only immediate
and unaided solution. In the mean.
while American property has been
destroyed. American citizens have
been nnsltreated- i'm nrisoued. wounded