The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-28

a. "a CUBA by American SOL
diers and their cooperation with tho In
surgent forces under Gomez add new in
terest TO the island Of blood. General Lee
reports that the revolutionists have an
effective army of 40, 900 troops. which they
could increase TO 100, 900 at any time IL
the arms for them were found Gomez has
kept his army at its present number be-
cause IL was too difficult to maintain
large army In that country after Its re.
peated devastation and because 10000
men were enough to keep up the war and
crush Spain slowly. Ontho other hand,
the Spaniards have. no says, not more than
55, 900 to 60, 600 effective troops. II tho
revolutionists are armed and a small but
we'll disciplined and seasoned army from
this country Is landed In the island, he
thinks the Spanish will have no chance for
successful resistance.
According to General Lee and all observ-
ers of the military methods OF tho Span
iards, their infantry as once forms hol-
low square upon the approach OF cav
airy. This military formation has been in
practice for century, and tho Spaniards
have not learned any other way to repcl
cavalry attacks. Military experts say that
when an army Is so formed IL can be dec
imated by rapid Gre guns and destroyed
II 1t does not soon break such formation.
The cavalry will be used TO force tho Span
iards into position. TO get them at bay,
as 1t were, and the infantry and light ar
tillery will then attack with rapid fro
guns.
1t is said that the Spanish forces In Cuba
IL. ,n1 hnv 20 m ri
rifle, the Mauser, but are inadequately
supplied with ammunition, and, most of
the troops being young boys, they do not
know how to use their guns. In rapid firing
guns they are very deficient. Artillery Is
their weakest point. and they cannot now
supply the deficiency.
The lack Of arms and ammunition on
the part Of the insurgents is conclusive
evidence that filibuster expeditions have
not been as numerous or successful as
Spain claims and tho general public sus-
poets. The average 1libuster scheme Is
more exciting than profitable. The sums
paid for successful landing In Cuba OF
men or supplies for tho insurgents varies
from 90, 600 to $4,000. This Is about I've
times as much as would be paid In time OF
peace. and IL would bo natural TO suppose
that ono Of these boats having rnsde half
dozen successful trips would place Its
owner In comfortable circumstances. but
20 far no one has grown rich from the
business, and those who have been en-
gagged Ia IL seem TO bo no better OF nnan-
cially than they wero before. AS matter
Of fact, they have made little clear money,
though the expeditions have generally
been successful That thoy have so gen
f. orally escaped seems wonderful when the
nature OF the dangers that thoy have faced
Is considered. It IL surprising that none
Of them has fallen into the hands OF the
6pnniards.
The coast OF Cuba IL closely patrolled.
Spain has cruisers in Cuban waters that
ars swiftcr than any steamer engaged In
fllbusteripg Arriving In the darkness,
an expedition might land, and In one In
stance at least one did land. under the
guns Of fort and In range of the batter
YES Of warship. II captured, the fllibus-
tors would have no hope of mercy,
though u u not likely that the Spaniards
would take them st all IL n much more
probable that they would send the hlibus-