Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-18

WASHINGTON. d. c.. October II
..s now reached the War Donartn,ont
Co.,. % high officer Of the Spanish army
the statement that If the Spaniards
Dad been aware of the state of the Amer
Scan army its inability to stand the hard
ships of campaign. its lack Of medical
other supplies. and lack Of general
're.sncy, as set forth in American
r.wspapcrs, the Spaniards would not
haFo given up, but would have continued
f-raus for q long time to come. fully
believing they would have been able 10
prevent the capture of Cuba by Ameri-
.'l arms. This statement is known 10
have been made by officers now in cuba.
aud is causing some uneasiness in official
circles. as it may mean that the Span
iGrls are not ready TO yield the island
under the terms Of the protocol.
TEE TALK OF WAR MISCONDUCT
1t is believed by officials in Washing
tou that had It not been for the outcry
made regarding the army and the con-
duct OF the war. there never would have
been any question raised by the Spanish
peace commissioners regarding the Cuban
d,ht tt is pointed out that under the
protocol the sole question left for the
commission was the settlement Of the
Philippine matter. and that nothing was
said about the Cuban debt or any other
cuban question. BY those who are in a
position TO know, it is asserted that the
Madrid Government ,t.s. ,v.,r. nh. z.
asked for peace, and when negotiations
were opened that 1t was useless to ask
that the Cuban debt be taken into con-
r.i.ratlon 10y any commission. and that
10 -s only since the reports OF the conduct
.I the United States army has reached
uadrid that the question has been raised.
POOR OPINION OF OUR TROOPS.
Another matter that causes grave con-
r.deratiOn in the War Department is the
temper of the Spamards IN Cuba, and the
fear that the impression which now pre-
walls there may lead them to regard the
American troops as Of not much account,
and TO act accordingly, after the occu-
Iancy by the United States.
The matter has been discussed I'm the
War Department and it is probable that
when the troops are sent TO Cuba there
viii be a force Of such size and charac-
ter as TO give tho islanders a different
impression of United States soldiers from
that they now entertain.
"Thc impression among the SpaniaUds
In Cuba said an oAcer in a position
10 know what is going on, "now is that
the American soldiers are weak and puny.
incapabl, of withstanding hardships and
whom it would be an easy matter TO
vanquish. This feeling may make it diff
hcult for the Americans at first. The
impression is due 10 the charges that
have been made against the War Depart
ment with such virulence and the insist
ence upon them during the past few
AVOIDANCE OF INFECTION.
tt has become evident that the troops
when sent TO Cuba must be isolated for
some time in their camps. 10 avoid the
Danger of infection, and the department
Is now quite clear that no useful purpose |
"ill be served by placing soldiers where |
their services cannot be available. While |
Ee wet season has now almost reached |
fs end in Cuba. it is said that the yellow !
ever is more prevalent and dangerous |
ID type just now than az any time during |
he year. These conditions, however, |
'U not continue long.
a proposition that is now under con-
liberation looks to the employment cf |
'uhans as local gendarmes it being main
aimed that they would be- more service
Die than the American soldiers and the
.1yuent of small salaries 10 these men
would considerably relieve the distress
REVEALING without lowering the pride OF
he Cuhans
LEE TO GO FIRST.
Unless General Lee specially asks to be
.eueyed from that duty he is 20 com
na1d the first expedition, and be seconded
,y General Greene and General Arnold.