The evening times., 1898-03-22
We MUST INTERVENE NOW
Statesmen Say a Delay Would
BE Criminal.
SPANISH SLAUGHTER In CUBA
senators and Representatives Say
That Nothing on Earth Can JUS
tiOR-InfernationnI 0bIigations. az
They Exist Muse he Set asiIe.

New York, March 22-The Journal. un-
l7der Washington date line. prints the fol-
lowing composite account of their Cuban
trip by Senators Money. GaIlinger, Thurs
ton, and Representatives Cummings and
| W. A. Smith
we went to Cuba expecting to make
allowance for eNaggeration due To the in
tense strife and hitter passion thereby en-
| gendered. We haze returned convinced
by personal examination and observation
of the bitter inadequacy of language to
tell the misery and horror of the situa-
ton.
Hardly a human habitation is visible
in a rural territory co-extensive with that
! Of the six New England States.
From all sources, Spanish. Cuban and
foreign whether American or European.
consuls or business houses. the figures
practically agree that half the rural pop
ulation of Cuba has disappeared from the
face of the earth.
''The central and western provinces
where the effect Of General Weylers or
der has been most severely felt, there are
districts from which the whole population
has been swept as if by pestilence, and OF
whose people less than one-fifth are alive
today within the limits of recommendation.
Nor have the inhabitants Of the towns
and cities escaped. There the poorer
classes have been placed nearly on a par
with the reconcentrados by the pnyaJions
Que TO the paralysis Of war. Disease and
starvation have everywhere done their
awful work Spain. too has suffered in
loss of life as well as in purse and pres
tige. OF the go go troops which she has
sent to Cuba. not more than one-half will
ever see their native land again Hardly
the fifth of her forces now in the island
are today effective.
The military hospitals are crowded
For the forces in the field no such thing
as a medical corps is known. They are
without tents or commissary. The
steamships to Spain take back more in
valids than offset the fresh troops
brought in. and for every invalid sol
iier returned one is buried in a Cuban
french. The Spanish army is unpaid
and discouraged; it has lost the morale
indispensable to military success.
NO, a single important and success
lul HlIlllaFA operation mas IldIhtl Aile
course of Spanish arms since the recall
Of Weyler Relatively. the insurgents
are stronger than ever. Yet lack the
strength and armament to deliver a final
blow
Opportunity did not present itself to
penetrate the insurgent lines but there
was no difficulty in getting in touch
with men who are not only sympathizers
with the cause Of Cuban independence.
lR themselves II
munication with the insurgent govern
ment and military leaders. From them
it was learned that the Cubans were
confident of being able to maintain their
struggle indefinitely. and that there was
a steady Improvement OF conditions with
in the territory which they control
1T was pointed out that Gen. Gomez |
had maintained himself within a radius |
of fifty miles for months in a territory |
from which he could easily have been |
driven. had he been 50 weak, or the |
Spanish strong as the latter had |
claimed. and that the provisional gov |
ernment at Camaguey was seemingly as |
firmly planted as Blanco in his palace at /
Havana, Yet il is apparent that there is |
one large area Of the island where the |
insurgents exercise permanent control.
The topography Of the country makes /
il plain that only an overwhelming /
force and Jireloss pursuits could sup
press forces FAR less numerous than the
insurgents command"
Military termination Of the war by |
either Spanish or Cubans is hopeless.
Destruction. determination and exhaus-
rion seem the only immediate and un-
aided solution. In the meanwhile |
American property has been destroyed.
American citizens have been maltreat-
ed. imprisoned wounded and killed. and |
American commerce destroyed The
loss TO America through the Cuban |
struggle is second only to that of Gu
hd and Spain. Cuba had loo 900 people |
in round numbers. when the insurrec-
ton broke out. Remove the Spanish
troops and il is doubtful is 900 900
would remain.
THE destruction of human life has