The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-05

Pinar del Rio. General Maximo Gomez,
commander in chief Of ell the forces,
has his headquarters in the central
province, Santa Clara, the better to di-
rect operations in the east and the west.
In the three easterly provinces there
are about 10000 men under arms,
while in the rest of the island there are
about 10, 600 additional. This number
does not, however, include the entire
number of Cubans in the field, as there
are many thousands waiting for rifles,
cultivating crops for the sustenance OF
the army and otherwise rendering use
full service to the armed forces and the
government. General Garcia has train
of artillery, consisting of two IL pound
ers and pneumatic dynamite gun, with
which he has been very successful in
the capture of towns and fortresses.
All prisoners captured by the Cubans
are liberated, with the exception of
few who have been utilized as prisoners
of war In tilling the soil. This policy
Of liberation was adopted for several
reasons-frst because of the impossi-
bility Of keeping large body of prison
ers, as they would eat up the food re-
quired for our own army, and since
with the knowledge that their lives
would be spared the Spaniards would
not resist to the utmost, and, surrender
ing with their accouterments, would in
crease the supply Of arms and ammuni-
tion Of the Cubans.
The Cuban army lives ON the coun-
try and in the eastern portion Of the
island still enjoys q fair supply OF
meat. There are depots for the making
Of salt. Contrary to the general belief,
the Cuban army has not been supplied
with rations from abroad, but as opera
tions on large scale will now have to
be undertaken there will have to be
provision made from abroad for the es-
tablishment Of regular commissary
department, as in the present devastated
condition Of the island it will be i'm
possible for hrge body Of troops to
subsist on the lodA III supplies. This would
be specially true in case Of sieges.
A great difficulty with the Cuban
army has been the impossibility Of es-
tablishing and maintaining safe hos
pitfalls for their sick and wounded. This
has always seriously impeded active
operations. The Red Cross society was
not permitted by the Spanish to exer-
else it's functions. On the contrary,
wherever q Cuban hospital was found
BY Spanish troops the inmates, nurses
and ply ysicians were all massacred. The
Cubans have established various fac.
tories In the eastern provinces where
powder, saddles. knapsacks, shoes. etc,
are manufactured for the use OF the
army. Many of the Cubans employed
In the factories and on the fields have
seen service during the present war.
but owing to the scarcity Of arms and
ammunition IL has been the policy OF
tho Cuban officers to disarm part Of
their forces ut times, 30 as to enable the
new recruits to be properly drilled and
disciplined. II the Cubans should now
receive an abundant supply of arms the
army could speedily be doubled in num-
Der by re-enl. .sting those former soldiers
In the eastern provinces the cavalry
regiments have played very active
part In the operations as we'll as in the
celebrated invasion Of the west by Gen.
sral Gomez and General Maceo. The
Cubans are excelleDt riders, aud their
horses. although small, are capable Of
grsat endurance. A march Of 40 miles
In o,e dsv has often been accomplished
by cavalry regiments. The personal es-
cort aud immediate command Of Gener-
nj Gomez are entirely made upcf Cana.
guey cavalry, the best In the island.
The Spanish cavalry Is practically only