Evening star., 1898-10-31


Pinar del Rio might be called an ndepend-
ent body but they have no such notion of
themselves. They told me they We're still
part of the Cuban army of liberation. Gen
eraf Lorente's headquarters in a to-
baCco warehouse d little back from the
main road. A family of pacificoeS-blackS-
seems to have domciiary rights there, for
two or three naked children We're playing
about. The other camps are scattered for
several miles over the country. 1t is not
necessary to write OF them.
Cen Lorente is forty or forty-five years
old. He is tall and straight, wears heavy
black mustache, and has a high, sloping
forehead. His reputation is that of an
active and daring commander in guerrilla
warfare. He does not understand English,
and his talk was In Spanish He was sur
rounded by the members of his staff. They
were all young men. In answer to my
questions General Lorentc said:
Gen. Lorente's Talk.
II took service in the Cuban army un-
der the Cuban provisional government and
came from Santiago with Maceo. l am
awaiting orders from my government" He
spoke of my government" with pride.
"Whatever the orders are, they will be
obeyed My command is the second division
of the 9Th Corps. The first division, which
is not far away, is commanded by Gen.
Verona. Under my command are 400 men.
They are broken up into small camps be-
cause in that way we can get food 1t is
not much-rice sweet potatoes and some
fruits" AS he spoke, General Lorente point
ed to some yellow rice hanging from the
roof of the Warehouse where it was dry
ing. I'VE do not have beef to eat, he
said in answer to another question, but
it is true that sCme cattle and oxen are
in our camps. They were driven to US by
the country people to save them from the
Spanish troops. My orders are strict
ut COL
diers need food, they know what it is to
be hungry They can get along for a time
yet. | hope it won't be long till they are
all back in their homes. They want to re-
turn, but win not disband IT'LL the Spanish
troops are gone. We, are waiting, also. to
hear from the congress of our people In
the east. This division sent delegates. and
is represented there 1 am not In doubt
about what the United States Will do. we
trust your people. Fighting, as we have
been for three years, when we had to
think of today and not of tomorrow, we
can be patient a while longer. think you
will find the Cubans patient, and they Will
not misunderstood the intentions of the
United States But we cannot disband our
army while the Spanish soldiers remain
We have had no trouble with them. Our
men are all careful to avoid provocatlon
While our soldiers may go into town with
out arms, I encourage them to stay away.
Satisfied With What the United States
Has Done.
In this brief compass | have given the
substance of an hours talk with the Cuban
general While speaking with moderation
it was clear that he was not willing to dis
hand his forces until this part of the island
IS freed from the presence Of the Spanish
troops. He also stated that notwithstand-
ing the difficulty of obtaining food they
were well off they would be II they
We're to disband now without money ana
IL alN lt,a'G
home was a few miles from Santiago, and
he was greatly interested in hearing the
details of the fighting last July at Caney
and San Juan, over ground every ioot ol
which he knew. He showed with pride a
line gold watch which he wore. | did not
ask whether it was a gift from admirers
or trophy from some Spaniard. AS we
We're leaving the headquarters he insisted
on extending the hospitality of the camp by
having us take coffee with him. AS there
We're only two cups for three visitors
momentary embarraSSmo mt followed when
the coffee was brought. DR.. Gonzalez Cur
belo, who has lived in Philadelphia for
many years, is the military secretary of
the staff. He was very anxious to have 1t
known that the CubanS We're satisfied with
what the United States had done for Cuba
and with whatever it might do. A young
colOred man, whose father is property
owner in Havana province, and who learn
ed English while serving in the engineering
corps of the United States army, said the
same thing. He added that the delay in
getting out the Spaniards kept the insur-
gents irritated and prevented them going
back to work in the fields.
He also said that they were already pre-
paflng Tor the part they expected to take
IN municipal and provincial affairs. They
expect to replace the Spanish otficeholders.
Riding back to the town just a evening
along the highway lined with p!ambagante
trees | met a number of both Spanfards
and Cubans who were talking together in
the most friendly manner. They were re-
turning TO the country. In Pinar del Rio
itself there was only time for a walk
through the principal streets aud to take
note of the many comfortable houses ana
the substantial shops and stores. The nm
est building is the hospital The residence
of the civil governor of the province and
the other public edifices which surround
the plaza are quite HANDSOME The gen
eral cuartel or barracks, dof the spanish
troops is comfortable structure. which
at later day may aceonmpdate an Amer
lean garrison. The soldiers were enjoying
themselves with more freedom than L have
seen elsewhere. The,eomnlandant general,
hernandez Nelasco, has h'ooo men under
his command. 1t WIS the common testi-
mony that Gen. Vefasco had acted with
tact and discretion since the signing OF the
protocol, and had exerted himself to avoid
collisions with the insurgents.
Pinar del Rio was always what Is known
as a Spanish town. While The insurrection
had many sympathizers and abe1tors, they
were not numerous enough to neutraliZe
Spanish authority as happened in many
places. The Spanish colony is still seeking
to preserve its individuality dis met from
the Cubans. 1t does Motif Kindly TO-
ward the United States. but pefers an
nexatton to an independent Cuban govern
ment. The community is nov agitated
over the threatened removal Of several
aldermen. and thinks they ousht to he
kept in office as evidence of good faith.
That is what the sraniard in office every
where thinks If he is dispia ced by a
Cuban he will believe the United States
is not carrying out its promise that all
classes shall have share in the govern
ment. This problem will probably be sov-
ed when the American military occupation
comes. 1t does not cali for discussion now.
Among the Spanish property owners who
want annexation is Landlord Ri ,ardo. He
was an officer in the Spanish volunteers.
Il am a Spanish subject long as Spain
that l want annexation to the United