The times., 1898-05-31
THE ARMY OF CUBA.
An Eager and Epthusiastic Band of
Patriots.


baa Junta, of New York city. ordered fhc
Cuban volunteers in the United States
to Tampa ii was with the expectation
that they would pass directly over 10
Cuba. For this reasor 10 provision was
made for stay here The men have now
been in Tampa about three weeks and
the date of their departure is still un-
certain
To say that the Cubans are anxious to
leave and to join Gomez in what they con-
fidently expect WILL with the all Of tpe
United States. be his last stand against
the tyranny of Spain is dtting it mildly.
Yesterday / saw General Lacret, t.ta'r
leader, and all the members of his staff,
and found that, while they are making the
best of things. they are wildly Iupa-
tent.
1t is hard to describe the little army of
800 patriots which is encamped in West
Tampa 1t is ununiformed, unorganizei,
undisciplined. Hardly any of the men
have had the slightest experience IN :,,il-
itary matters. The officers for the most
part have, happily, seen some campa ga-
ing or have received some information in
the art of war. and drilling and organz-
ing are being carried rapidly forward
The small Cuban army is not encamp-
ed like our boys in Tampa. They are not
provided with tents and other necessities
for an outdoor existence. They have
simply taken possession of Cespedes Hail.
in West Tampa. This provides a roof
over their heads and nothing more
West Tampa is a town apart from Tam
pa, though adjoining 1t. Here are rows
and rows of houses which have sprung
up as they have In Ybor City. principally
on account of the cigar factories There
are many refugees among the inhabi-
tants. Spaniards live here too, and
both here and in Ybor City some of the
houses are painted blue and some yellow
The Spaniards would never live In blue
house. while the Cubans would have
drawn their hearts blood rather than in
habit one that was painted yellow. The
houses are small and built In rows, and
hardly any of them have kitchens. The
family repairs to the restaurant for meals
or has the meals brought to the house
Boys bearing food in tin trays. one on
top OF the other, may be seen on the
streets at meal time, hurrying to and fro.
Some carry board with hooks on the
bottom on which are hung pals contain
ing food. House rent Is collected weekly
in West Tampa. The people can move
for 50 cents. Often families move every
week: this makes their rent only 81 a
month Ns
Cespedes Hall is a tail, bare building
situated in the heart of West Tampa. 1t
is upholstered and unpainted except the
outside-to a certain extent. The piazza
which runs along the second story at
one side, has lost its lower supports. and
the most valiant warriors dare not walk
underneath. The lower floor consists of
long hall and four rooms running along
the other side and leading out of it.
These were once used for stores They
now constitute. first. officers lounging
room. sumptuousIy furnished with two or
three hard benches and one or two
scnoolroom desks; second, the interpret
ers room, which contains even less. and
third, the headquarters of the Red Cross
or Hospital Corps. There is a table in
this room. Several doctors and surgeons
Joined the expedition and are busily or
ganizing the department.
Where do the men sleep?' l asked.
up stairs
Up stairs we went. More bare boards
and beams but not sign of a bed
Il suppose you wonder how the men
sleep here" said the guide. They just
lie on the floor in blankets. A few Of
them have hammocks, which they swing
at night
AT one end of the huge hall was a
stage and the room sloped down to IL
and was filled with rude, narrow plank
benches. An awkward squad was receiv-
ing instruction at one side; men were
lounging round and talking in groups
There were supposed to be partitions. but
| they were just the beams. with not even
laths nailed between.
What the volunteers lack in experience
they make up in zeal. Though few OF
| them know enough to salute a superior
| officer, and the guards carry muskets in
way ludicrous to behold, they are up
| at half-past four O'Clock In the morning.
| and get in two or three hours of drilling
before the sun gets high Often they
| drill for as long in the afternoon.
The Government has agreed to provide
| this small Cuban army with uniforms
| and equipments, and to support il from
| the time of Its start for Cuba At pres
| ent some have half some quarter of a
Uniform, and many of them nothing but
their badge. which IS pinned into the hat.
| While the suits which they are to have
will be exactly like those provided for the
regular soldiers who go to Cuba. the ceIe-
| brated machete will in all cases take
the place of the sword. Many of the men
| mere are accustomed to its use: many
more have never held one
Gen. Lacret has established his head
| quarters in a small empty house. near
'Cespedes Hail." A few chairs constitute
his furniture. The generals room is pro-
| vided with hammock, and his equip
ments hang on the wall. | was allowed
the case. His beautiful pistols and small
dagger were with 1t. On the blade of the
dagger is written in the Spanish tongue:
All for Cuba" Gen. Lacret is all for
Cuba-all his life has been for her. and
he is content TO die for her. He is an
old campaigner and has won his stars
well on Cuban battlenelds He has a fine
face, and his manners are both courtIv
and gentle, His men are devoted 10 him
and tell me that he considers them before
he considers himself.
Gen. Lacret's staff and aides are
quartered in his house and in the next.
| and formed a picturesque group. There
are men from many parts of the United
States, who have come together at the
call. Many of them have been for ten
or twenty years in this country but they
have not forgotten Cuba Libre" Some
! never expect 10 return, but are cheerful
in the prospect of ending their lives on a
battlefield of their beloved island
These six hundred patriots will prob
ably, under Gen. Laeret. join themselves
10 the army of Gomez and fight under
the banners of the United States and
free Cuba. -t-
FIRST nEhTu AT C6Mp pThnV