The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-16
De:oIation in Sections Occupied By
Reconcantradoes,
THE RAILROADS PAY TRIBUTE
10 tho Tnsurgcnis-spain's Control OF
the Railroads is Only Nominai-rhe
Best Families In the Island are
Represented In the Army
ofthe Cubans--Col. Park
cr's Obscrya, inns

WASHINGTON. March I5.-Colonel My
ron Parker. who was Senator Proctor
companion I'm his trip TO Cuba, IN an
interview with a Star reporter to-day
said.
you might believe. but you could not
realize the condition Of the recOncentra-
DIES In cuba. IL passes the comprehen-
sion Of man accustomed TO the usual
phases OF life.
"A heir ema ciation is terrible. their SUI
fering indescrt able. We saw warehouses
full Of starving women ana chiidreh'
These people have been forced mo the
vil.ages and towns by the Spaniards. and
the whole country where they lived mas
been devastated
In the ride from Havana TO Sagua
Ia Crande, a distance Of about 200 miles
or more the country presented a picture
of desOlatlon. For miles and miles the
charred stalks Of the sugar cane showed
where the torch had been applied BY the
Spaniards and insurgents alke.
AT intervals are blOckhOuses occupied
tv Spanish soldiers. Above each block
house Is a cupO.a with a couple OF Span
ish solder on the lookout. If recon-
centradoo attempts 10 go out from the
village and cross the trocha he Is sho'
and n an insursent tries to come IN ne
is treated likewise. The trocha serves
however. to prevent sudden dashes oy
the Insurgents into the villages at night
TO burn th"'n
CONTROL NOMINAL.
The Spanish army Is largely employed
along the railroads but as cosely as the
road Is guarded. the insurgents can do
with IL as they please. II Il generally
understood in Cuba that the railway
company pays tribute to the insurgents
FOR running the passenger trains. In
insurgents don't want 10 bother the pas
senger trains, but they are alert 10 inter-
fere WIKI freight and troop trains.
The day before we reached Matanzas
the insurgents blew up a sugar train
only three miles out of that town. They
cross the railroad at any point they desire
and whenever they please. In my opinion
Comes virtually has control Of the island
There Is not an estate in cultivation, so
/ was reliably informed. that does no.
pay tribute 10 the insurgents
1nE BEST FAMILIES
"The best peopio In havana tod me
that the young men OF the best cuban
families I'm the island were In the ranks
Of the insurgents just as the best repre-
seftAuves Of our best families were In
the Southern and Northern ranks during
the war Ny informant also told ME THAI
and as strong as it is today II ge-s a
very large proport on Of its medical sup
plies right from Havana, and lis disci-
pine is said to be all that can be desir,d
The insurgents have complcts control OF
the Provinces OF Santiago de Cuba and
prime pc. They claim 20 have all the
supplies necessary for their subsistence.
having great nerds Of cattle besides cul-
tivating a large proportion OF the land
an the Province mentioned. What they
need is arms. ammun ton and clothing.
IL is generally understood IN Cuba that
the insurgents VINO came in and gave
themselves mp were not more than o
dozen. and were those who had met the
dlsfavor Of Gomez for their disregard
OF discipline.
Did your investigation lead you 20
form any opinion OF autonomy inquired
the reporter.
mo one wants autonomy in Cuba" re
Piled Colonel Parker with emphasis.
''Fven the autonOmist Governors do not
favor H. | know OF several alca'des or
mayors OF towns SIDE OF Havana. an.
pointed rs autonomists, who are wholly
in sympathy with the insurgents"