The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-13


ter illustrated than by the present -four
ishing condition of Tampa. 1t had re.
Gently closed its season of prosperity;
its great hostelry had barred up its
door; its winter guests had fled before
the approach Of tropical heat; the usual
cloud of white. ashlike dust had settled
down over every green thing. and the
little city had sbrunk into its summer
ipsignifiance. Then war came, and the
trumpet blast that sent shiver of dis
|, couragement throughout the land woke
Tampa into new life.
The great inn has opened its doors
again, soldiers are making their small
purchases where rich northern visitors
lavished their thousands a few weeks
before, business men have foregone their
summer vacation. and the city has set
tied down to driving one of the most
prosperous trades that any community
Of its size ever made out of war or
peace. Every one here appreciates this
great opportunity. Congressman have
availed themselves OF the temporary i'm
portance OF the port to have it trans
formed into permanent military post;
the railways have utilized the occasion
by rushing trains into and out Of the
city bearing troops, arms, military
stores and crowds Of curious persons,
and the shops, having already sold out
all their stock of articles, have emptied
into this little place the larger supply
of Jacksonville and Savannah and are
now drawing upon the north and west.
Real estate is also feeling the impetus,
and il the war continues along present
lines of peaceful blockades and long en-
campments Tampa bids fair to be the
commercial metropolis of Florida with
In few months
There is present always the sharp
contrast between war and peace and
half an effort to thrust war aside for
the moment in order that the thousands
who have assembled here may taste
some Of the pleasures of tranquility be-
fore the struggle begins in dreadful
earnest. Tampa's war season was open
ed by ball, just as Waterloo was pre-
ceded by the Byronio ''sound Of revelry
by night" A faint effort has been
made ever since to keep up this sem.
blance of gayety. Concerts or dances are
given nightly. and the military bands
and musical Cuban women entertain
the martial and civilian throng that
has flowed into aud deluged the city.
Now and then a concert is given by the
feminine members of the community of
Cuban refugees here, and small ad-
mission charge is made to collect MON
ey for the revolutionary forces.
The Cuban refugees are rendering
their country one great service-they
are dispelling any doubts that existed
in the minds of our people as to their
worthiness and that of their cause. Let
ters and editorials about "mulattoes,
half breeds" and an unworthy race"
could never have been written by any
one who had seen the charming and
refined women who have had to fee
from Cuba to find haven in our coun-
try. Many women in the Cuban colony
here would be remarked for their cul-
ture and refinement in any fashionable
circle in the United States or in any
court of the old world. They are prov
ing by their own excellence the worth
Of the people In whose behalf we are
marshaling our armies and for the free
dom of whose country we are preparing
to offer sacrifice of life and treasure.
! recently returned from the inspec-
tion Of the 700 Cubans who have volun-
teered for service under General Lacret
Morlot. These troops were reviewed by
Lieutenant Meiloy Of General Skaters
staff at their headquarters in Huespedes
hall in West Tampa. They have been
viotualed for several days by our army
and will be armed and equipped as soon
as they are got aboard the transports A
large percentage of them are negroes,
possibly one in every five. They are
quite small men, and apparently not
strong enough to undergo long or ar
duous campaign. Most Of them seem to
be unfit for service, and IL it were not
for the consciousness that they have be-
hind them the supporting arm Of the
United States one would feel as If they
were marching to certain destruction.
If their compatriots in Cuba are no
stronger or harder, the quality Of their
Spanish adversaries can readily be in
ferred. Such troops could never drive
Spain from Cuba. although they might
wage guerrilla war for century,
handing down their rifles and machetes
from father to son, and maintain sort
Of government In the mountain fastness-
es. Courage could not make amends for
their lack of the physical qualities nee.
essary for the soldier.
They make a sorry contrast to our
own troops. The latter are seasoned
fighters, admirably drilled and handled,
and every man Of the 5000 is physical
ly qualified for long campaign of the
hardest and fiercest kind of fighting. A
company OF them would be equal now
to a regiment Of these unseasoned and
unframed Cubans. 1t is possible. how
ever, that under the skill and expert
ence Of General Lacret Morlot they will
rapidly become serviceable troops. Both
Morlot and Nunez have had plenty of
experience In the field, and the former
at least is q fine disciplinarian. They
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