The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-29
(Fro1n a ST. Louis Globe Democrat Staff
Correspondent

Correspondent
Havana, Cuba. via Key West, Fla, jan
uary %. Spain's army in
Cuba is the coming political pow
er. IN itself the organization is not one
% be feared by other countries, but il is a
menace to Maorid. If the army can not
quell the insurrection9 it may upset min
istries and overthrow dynasties. A single
week has been enough to show its
strength. 1t has kicked over what there
was established of autonomy. The Sa-
gasta Ministry has taken the hint, and
the limited freedom which was allowed
the press has been further restricted. In
Cuba it has been abolished. The army is
sensitive. 1t must not be criticised. So
the first fruit of the liberal system of CO.
lonial government which was to be i'm
planted is to wipe out the liberty of free
speech and free press. The s'Estado May
or,' or genera military sttaff, is the con-
trolling authority, and not Gov. Gen.
Blanco or the autonomist Cabinet. The
Cabinet Ia a pasteboard one.
Before analyzing the political relation
of the army, word may be said about
its military side. The organization
would probably not appeal to European
or American military men. but in this, as
in other matters, Spain must be judged
b. a standard of her own. The effective
troops in Cuba number somewhere be
tween 5000 and 5000. The hospitals
showed 90, 900 sick soldiers. Of the 2oO,-
600 men sent out from the peninsula DUR
ing the last three years. that is all that
remains.
death or decoration was the ex-
hortation of Gen. Martinez Campos to
the young recruits. Death for the ma
iority of those who come to Cuba is sure.
They do not have an equal chance for the
decoration because the insurgents rarely
give them open battle. The fevers are
certain to prove in time more deadly than
the bullets and the maohetes, and the in
,urgents can afford to wait. Fourffths
of the troops in Spain are young fellows,
ONE of them the merest lads. If Spain
us seasoned veterans she keeps these vet
ans at home. The soldiers in Cuba are
Gle, obedient and ignorant Many of
lem can not either read or write. Their
soipline is lax. Their drills are awk-
ard The evolutions Of squad of them
e often mirthprovoking. 1t takes long
me for them to learn how to use their
users and Remingtons, but they can
INT.
COURAGE ON THE FIELD.
An idea obtains in the United States
mat in case of war with Spain a single
brigade would walk across the island, re-
csiving the surrender Of the Spanish
troops The delusion would not last
long The Spanish troops would be
beaten, but they would not run away. I
have heard insurgents who were in the
field in the early stages of the war. when
there was real fighting, give the most
sincere praise to the steady bravery of
these soldiers. Gen. Gomez appreciates
the qualities they show and their endur-
ance of hardship and danger. He has
eulogized them more than their own com.
1napders, and he has had the chance to
learn of what stuff they are made.
Abused and robbed by their officers, the
privates respond quickly to good treat
Inent 1t is not the common thing to
find columns whose commanders show
an ipterest in the welfare of their men,