The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-30

The invasion of Cuba by American sol
diers and their cooperation with the in
surgsnt forces under Gomez add new in
terest to the island of blood. General Leo
reports that tho reyolutionists have an
effective army of 40, 600 troops, which they
could increase to 100, 600 it any time IL
the arms for them were found. Gomez has
kept his army at its present number be-
cause it was too difficult to maintain a
peated devastation and because 40, coo
men were enough to Keep up the wal and
crush Spain slowly. On the other hand,
the Spaniards have, he says, not more than
55, 600 to So, 900 effective troops. If tho
reyolutionistS are armed and a small but
we'll disciplined and seasoned army from
this country is landed in the island, be
thinks tho Spanish will rave NJ chance for
successful resistance.
According to General Lee and all observ-
ers of the military methods Of the Span
iards, their infantry a5 once forms q hol-
low square upon the approach of cav
airy. This military formation has been in
practice for a century, and the Spaniards
have not learned any other way to repel
cavalry attacks. Military experts say that
when an army is SO formed it can DO dec
mated by rapid fra guns n destroyed
If it does not soon break such formation.
Thecayalry will be used to force tho Span
iards into position, to get them at bay,
as it were, and the infantry and light ar
ti1lery will then attack with rapid fire
guns.
1t is said that the Spanish forces in Cuba
are poorly armed. They haye a fairly good
rifle, the Mauscr, but arc i~nadequately
supplied with ammunition, and, most Of
the troops being young boys, they do not
know how to use thor guns. III rapid firing
guns they are very deficient. Artillery is
their weakest point, and they cannot now
supply the deficiency.
Tho lack of arms and ammunition on
the part Of the insurgents is conclusive
evidence that 6libuster expeditions have
not been as numerous or successful as
Spain claims and the general public sus-
poets. Thc average flibuster scheme is
mora exciting than profitable. Tho sums
paid for a successful landing in Cuba of
men or supplies for the insurgents varies
from $4,000 to SO, 200. This is about five
times as much as would bp paid in time of
peace, and it would DO natural TO suppose
that one of these boats having made a half
dozen successful trips would place its
owner in comfortable circumstances, but
SO far no one has grown rich from the
business, and these who have been en-
gagged in it seem to lie no better off finan-
cially than they were before. As a matter
Of fact, they hapo made little clear money,
though the expeditions have generally
been successful. That they have SO gen
orally escaped seems wonderful when the
nature of tho dangers that they have faced
is considered. 1t is surprising that mono
Of them has fallen into the hands of the
Spaniards.
The coast of Cuba is closely patrolied.
Spain has cruisers in Euban waters that
arc swifter than any steaner engaged in
fiiihustering. Arriving in the darkness,
an expedition might land, and in one in
stance at least one did land. under the
guns of a fort and in range Of the batter
les of a warship. If captured, the llibus-
fars would have 70 hope of mercy,
though it is not likely that the Spaniards
would take them Mt all. 1t is much more
probable that they would send the 1libus-
tering ship to the bottom, where It's crow
could tell no tales. Tho ship and crew
would merely DO missing, and all inter
complications would thus be
avoided. The fate Of Captain Frye and
tho crow Of tho virginiEs wwrns these
men as to what they slssuld expect II cap
tured.
This is Spain's way. It is not the way
of other nations. During tho war between
the northern and southern states Blockade
runners weso Frequently captured: Their
officers and crews wero ~ no dancer 81