Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-19
FIIZ LEE TALKS WAR
He Thinks HOStilitieS Will Begin in a
Few Days Now.
EXPECTS TO Be PLACED IN COMM And
Declines, However, to Say Whether the
President Has Promised.
Will BE CANDIDATE FOR SENATE.



war between this country and Spain is not
more than two or three days off. at the
outside. and he fully expects to hold the
commission Of major-general and COM
nand United States troops in an invasion
OF Cuba.
This much was gathered from him yes
terday by q Dispatch man, who talked
with him some time at the Westmoreland
club. The General was found i'm one of
his mo., felicitous moods, and though he
az first proved reticent ON all matters
pertaining to official business. he finally
talked with some degree Of freedom. Be
ing asked If he thought war was inevita-
BILE. he replied I'm the affirmative, and as
serted IL as his belief that it would occur
within the next few days.
How long viii the fight last, Generate"
asked the reporter
For moment the Consul-General
stroled his chin med.tauvely, and then,
with a twinkle i'm his eye. said: 81 judge
that # would take Spain at least twelve
or fifteen months to lick the United
States" This was AN the General would
say concerning that point.
EXPECTS TO BE IL COMMAND.
The reporA.r next asked him If he anti
cipated being made a maj0r-gtneral i'm the
United States army.
~ may" was the laconic reply. II will
certainly have some general office tender
ed me"
HAS me president assured YOU OF tnis.'
was next asked.
81 can't say as 10 that point" was the
reply. The President and [ have had
some conversation"
'Is 10 tu,. chat -Secretdry-ot-
the-Navy lt has requested YOU 20
appoint hu r STAFF" asked the re-
porter.
II see the N,w York sun says So" an
swercd the General showing the paper
over 10 the reporter.
THAT does not answer the question"
ventured the scribe.
"WeU. Mr. Roosevelt has spoken 10 me
about a staff appointment" said General
Lee
"Wnl you appoint him?' asked the re-
porter.
There's where Quien Sabe comes I'm.
That's Spanish for who knows" am
swered the General
Don't YOU think" queried the reporter
that cuba will prove unhealthy for the
soldiers of this country who 20 there 20
drive the Spauards out2'
"Not especially so. If they keep under
cover aI uixlt Tine dsWs will be most
dangerous for them. and these they can
cd silly avoid
u suppose the soldiers for an invasion
0f Cuba will be- -elcctod from among the
soldiers Of tho extreme South" ventured
ex-Postmaster Cullingworth. who entered
during the Interview
"Not at all." replied General Lee. As
I understand H. the brigades viii be made
mp OF men from am over the Union: rogl-
meuts from the North and South will deht
side by side"
CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE.
"tieneraL' said The reporter. "when
you We're here last october you told me
that you were uneIuiyoc1lly "a candidate
for the United states Senate and pro-
posed stumping the State I'M your behalf.
Are you still oi the same mind?'
Let me sec." reflected the General
humorously. 81 have been SO long out
of this country that almost forget
what uuequ.vocalIy means. Dd / say
thdt2'
YES. slr"
"Wcn. / guess TH have 10 stand by
my guns. What / say first / say last /
am candidate for the Senate
HOW He LOST lis GOATEE.
The General at this Juncture i'm the
conversation made some inquiries as to
rh. outlook i'm state politics. and then
drifted back into q discussion Of Cuban
matters IL Will be- remembered that
b..T al no
shaved off the soatee which adorned his
chin. and the loss of this hirsute growth
was alluded 20 by the reporter.
Il wish : had 10 back said the Gene
raI. in IL sorrowful tone Il lost it be-
fore 1 realized that be was gone. IL was
f.4rfulIy hot in Habdna one afternoon,
and was sut-rlug Intensely, and de-
termiu,d o. cut my beard of, believing
that my Whisk-rs had tu do with my
.ufrriu. / went into "a barhet-shop near
tre consulate and told the barber 10 cut
/ il off. I bad 90 make signs TO him 10
convey me idea 90 him. but i succeeded.
settled back bon the chair. aud after
The fellow had lIthered my face aud
gotten his razor ready ! relented. and
Mod to taU him to leavr the godtre on.
1 couldn't get my Spanish together in
time. though. and before ! Wts able 90
into it and it Was partially gone. 30 1
settled back and let the rest go.'
MEETS MIR. CARBONELL HERE.
General Lee spoke very kindly OF Miss
Ci-gero~. who is now the guest of his
wife and daughter. on Park avenue. He
-aiJ She was one OF the sweetest little
creatures he knew. and had suffered
greatly nj the hands ot the Spanish. She
| stul bears on her wrists, be- said, the
sears made by the ropes with which She
was bound while in prison.
In connection with Hiss CisnerOs 10 is
am interesting coincidence that the man
! who drove the carriage In which she
! made her escape from the prison at Ha-
/ bana is i'm the city. and called upon her
! at General Lees residence sunday.
! The gentleman in question is Mr. O.. r.
/ Carbonel a young banker OF Habana.
| Ha arrived in Richmond Sunday morn
| ing with Mr. Hdalso. his employer,
| Mrs. HidaIgo. Miss Lola Soto. Hiss >. NJ
/ carry. :. G4rde and Mr Hidsigo's valet
] an of whom are rcfugeeing from HdOdna.
! They are "a tine Jeferson
| Alr. Carb0uel spent some time sunday
! with Miss Cisueros. and an amusing I'M
! cident occurred in front OF General ~" p
| residence in the afternoon. Miss Ellen
! L., and Miss CiSnerOs had just ent-ie.
"A carriage for "a drive and Mr.. tdinon'I'
| vas standing on the sidewalk talking
! with them. a Richmond gentleman. VINO
| was acquainted with Miss Lee came
| along and stopped TO speak with her lie
| WAS presented 10 Miss Cisneros and to
| Mr.. Carboneu The Richmond gentleman
| told the Cuban heroine about the IN
terest he had taken in her case ana OF
| how he had prayed that she be released
| Prom prison. Il would just like 10 shake
hands with the man who rescued you