New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-05

army No exception could be taken to their
filling their improvised haversacks, passing over
the deception practised In overstating the num-
Der Of their troops But their righteousness In
gathering articles belonging to the American
soldiers gave rise to unpleasant feeing. Many
such objects were thrown away In the marchee
soon after the landing, especially coats and
blankets. These were industrously collected by
insurgents. who left their army for TINS more
profitable calling Of land wreckers Mules ana
horses were loaded two or three feet high WIN
these goods
This would have not been bad were 1t not
for the ugly rumors of despong the BODIES or
the dead After the surrender Of the stone tort
at Ell Caney a Cuban was seen roboing 'ne
corpse of Spanish officer OF its money Deit.
Articles were also taken from the American
slain. the loss Of which is attributed to Cubans.
who were lurking about. They may be seen
now with Krag-Jorgensen rifes to which they
have right, spoils from some dead or
wounded mans hands.
Military men have all along believed that the
so-called Cuban Army more body OF cue
rilas than anything else. Apparently. they nave
only the rudiments Of a soldiers training. Ger
tainly their drilling at Siboney confined TO
the most rudmentary tactics. and these were
presumably an imitation of what they had seen
the American soldiers do Such troops, however.
were looked on likely to be Of great value as
scouts and spies. There is abundant high au-
thority for sayng that these expectations were
entirely unjustifed
WORTHLESS AS SCOUTS
Ostensby. the Cubans. familiar with the re-
underbrush were to be in advance OF the United
States troops to guard against the ambushes
which easy to lay. AS matter OF fact
they did little Of this and what they did was Of
no great value. In the engagement or June ~
between several cavalry regiments. including the
Rough Riders. and the Spaniards the Americans
would have lost fewer men had they had accu-
rate information about the position OF the
enemy. Indeed. some Cubans who were thought
TO know the facts insisted that there were no
/ hut. hat al hGd
Santiago.
on July !. in the attack on Ell Caney. General
Ludlow's brigade came upon the Spanlards I'M
expectedIy and had for a time to fall back
under n fire that from all parts of the I'M
derbrush Here, too was another place where
good scout service would have saved American
| lives But in nearly every other aspect. the
| Cuban allies a broken reed.
| In giving information about the country and
roads. the sites OF Spanish ntrenchments ana
what going CT in Santiago. the insurgents
were of wofully small advantage Indeed, ofi-
| GERS who sought to learn such facts declare
| that they could get nothing out OF the CuDans.
| Few Of them came from the immediate territory
| outside of the city, and somehow tneir com,
manders could not lay hold on any that could
! give intelligent answers TO questions Generai
| Shafter would require knowledge on a certain
| point The proper officer would be sent to the
! Cuban camp for II. He would see some one in
| authority, explain just what he wanted and ask
| that good man be detailed TO go to the place
and find out the desired facts. The scout should
| be well paid.
| CUBAN TOMORROW LIKE THE SPANISH
Pay for that service. Never in the world, the
Cuban general or colonel would say The Cuban
Army would honor itself by doing this service
for its American friends 1t should he done
promptly and acceptably. that very day or night
Tomorrow the answer should be ready. The
Cuban tomorrow is like the Spanish 1t never
comes. The next day the American would go Tor
the information. II not to be had. The
particular officer who had promised to see TO
the matter could not be found. No one else
knew about it. However, it should be attended
| to at once. And so on. The end Of il all would
be that some American would have to do the
scouting or it would remain undone.
1t is not strange that an open rupture has
| broadly. that the Cubans have learned warfare
from the Spanards. Having been treated not
| as combatants. but as rebels and traitors. they
have sought an appropriate revenge. Their idea
was that Santiago and the richness thereof
should fall into Cuban clutches. OF warfare as
conducted by the United States troops they had
no conception They expected rich pckings ir
the captured city. instead Of which the inhab!t.
ants have not only been protected in life and
property bur fed. General Garcia. consequently
| refused 10 take part in the ceremonies attending
the surrender Of the city. He and his generals
| sulked in their tents
All this need worry the Americans no more
| than the tantrums of n spoiled child. were 1t not
foretaste Of the differences of opinion tina
must inevitably arise between the Cuban leaders
and the United States authorities. Already there
| is reason for rejoicing that President Mckinley
succeeded in putting off the recognition Of the
| Cuban Republic. Had that step been taken
! there is no telling what form the complications
| might already be taking. Now 1t is simply a
| case Of General Shafter doing what he thinks
| right If the Cubans are displeased, II is their
| misfortune. The future. however IL only toe
| likely To bring a burden Of administrative prob
lens TO the American authorities in Cuba.