The sun., 1898-03-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
.,r GREAT CUBAN's sYMPATHT
roF OUR DEAD AND OUB NATToN.

.,, Nny Not litter ESperieuce or spain's
,,,,rrdIy Acts Justify the Iuspressien -
a.. Wight Have Lees to Mourn n Cusnn
u,,,,rereucy Hnd Beon RecosniEed-uzis
protc.t Against the Idea That Cuba
v.,t. to Invo,ve us In y war with spain.
e,xcrt srIRITus, Cuba, Feb. 28.-Gen. Max.
,ro Gomez was seen two days ago at his camp
,r the estate La Demaiagua. on the west side OF
tho Jucaro. Moron trocha, by special messen-
r.- who took to him the first news OF the catas-
,,,,hs Of the Maine in Havana harbor. The
cub,n Communder.in.C Chief had force Of only
600 cavalry but two miles west Of his camp was
BRIG Gen. jose Gonzalez with / 800 men Of all
arm. ready TO repol any Spanish attack upon
Gen. Gomez.
few days ago two important engagements
were fought at La Demajagua. in which the
Standards wero utterly defeated in their ut.
,empt to surprise Gen. Gomes's camp. Tho
rrest Cuban leader. after having remained
tor ,ome timo on the estate. was just pre-
p.ring to remove his camp further west to
,oip tho forces of Gonzalez whom tho mes
sanger reached him. Such a move 10 charac-
teri.tic OF Gen. Gomez's tactics. Knowing
that tho spaniards would undoubtedly attack
him again with stronger forces. he goes to meet
them half way. thus destroying their prear-
ranged plans for an assault on his camp and
surprising the Spanish commander.
When the messenger delivered the letter to
Gen. Gomez from tho Cuban agent in sancu
spirtus, giving him q detailed account of tho
disaster to the Maine and Of the expected inter
national complications between Spain and the
United States. the grim old veteran seemed as
founded. He had already been informed by COM
munlcations from President Mas6 and Gen.
Csli1to Garcia Of the strained relations
between Spain and America on account Of the
Cuban war and Of the fact that Spain, either
directly or indirectly, had been notified Of the
determination Of the United States to intervene
after public evidence of the complete failure Of
autonomy; but he had not tho least idea of the
Maine disaster at Havana. The Communication
Of the Cuban agent also emphatically expressed
was blown up by tho spaniards. A letter
from Havana was included in which Q Cuban
lady relative OF one of the most important In
mrgent leaders in Havana province. gave an
account of plot against the Maine concooted
some days before the explosion by several we'll.
known Havana Wcy ylerists.
Gen. Gomez twice read tho startling COM
munications. and read them very slowly. and
also the clippings from the Havana newspapers
sent to him BY the agent Then he dismissed
the messenger with the direction that he return
to his tent after two hours for his answer.
The messenger has Just como back from Gen.
Gomez's camp. and tho Cuban representative
In sanctiSpiritus has given the following ex-
tracts Of Gen. Gomez's letter to THE suN's cor
respondent. refusing to permit him to trans
late tho whole document, because It contains
some matters not relating to the Maine affair
and Of an entirely secret nature,
Il shall not venture an opinion yet." says
Gen Gomez. "as to tho causes Of the horrible
disaster. and am the moro restrained II my
words are to be published in the United States,
- generally happens with my letters. I can
sny express at present my deep horror In the
ne Of this awful calamity. and my profound
Vnpathy for the victims and tho American
people.
But am not surprised AZ the general belief
In Cuba that . new orime has been committed
By Spain. We know too we'll what Spain is
capsule Of doing to destroy . foe. Our ranks
have been deprived of great leaders and patriots,
murdered in tho most cowardly manner by the
erusl hate of the spaniards. Personally feel
that am Just as liable to be struck down in the
dark with q Spanish stiletto In my back a. am
~be hit in battle by Spanish bullet.
"A people capable of sending to Cuba 40 Gap
ninGeneral at tho end of the nineteenth GEN.
'urysuch man as Weyler and OF honoring him
after his criminal deeds az national hero 10
capable of anything. 1t would not shrink from
sheidea of massacring 200 American sailors in
'he harbor Of Havana. after It had killed
oy starvation 100000 defenceless women,
children. and old men. and had exterminated
&ooooo more non-combatants by fire and
sword or by the utter destruction of their homes
and the inhumsn spreading Of famine. More
even than that, 1t cannot have any pity for the
iats OF 200 American sailors. regarded by Spain.
win or without reason. as her enemies when 1t
mas had no pity for its own zoe, 900 soldiers.
poor and ignorant Spanish peasants. driven
from their homes in Spain by proud,
fapaciouS and murderous Government. and
sent to certain death in Cuba from the bullets
Vi hostile army and the ravages OF hostile
'''mate' IN vain attempt to conquer a country
which Is fighting for its freedom. Yes. we know
I'll These facts well, and perhaps this knowledge
We have acquired In our long experience OF
spanish barbarty may lead us now to belief in
crime which, II 1t has been committed, will
VII one OF the most shameful pages in the whole
history of Spain.
think that the American Government will
investigate the cause OF the disaster and act
hahluIy in the matter I cannnt avoid the