Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-16

Reconcentradoes ~ General Go
mez Practically in Control Of the
Island-Goes Where He Pleases.
insurgents Levy Tribute from
Railroads and Plantation Owners.
Washington. March 15.-Colonel Ny
ron NJ. Parker, who was Senator Proc
tors companion On his trip to Cuba,
in an interview with Star reporter
to-day said:
you might believe, but you could
not realize, the condition of the recon-
centrados in Cuba. 1t passes the COM
prehensiOn Of a man accustomed to the
usual phases of life Their emaciation
is terrible. We saw warehouses full
OF starving women and children. These
people have been forced into the vii
iages and towns by the Spaniards, and
the whole country where they lived
has been devastated.
In the ride from Havana to Sagua
de la Grande, distance of about 200
miles on more, the country is the pic
ture of desolation. For miles and
miles the charred stocks of the burned
sugar cane showed where the torch
had been applied by the Spanish and
the insurgents alike. At intervals are
block houses occupied by the Spanish
soldiers. Above each block house is a
cupola, where a Spanish soldier is al
ways on the lookout. If a reconcen-
trado attempts to go out from the vii
lage and cross the trOcha, he is shot,
and il an insurgent tried to come in he
is treated likewise. The trocha serves,
however, to prevent sudden dashes by
the insurgents into the villages at
night to burn them.
THE SPANISH ARMY
is largely employed along the railroad,
but as closely as the road is guarded,
the insurgents can do with it as they
please. 1t is generally understood in
Cuba that the railroad company pays
tdibute to the insurgents for running
the passenger trains. The insurgents
don't want to bother the passenger
trains, but they are alert to interfere
with freight and troop trains. The
day before we reached Matanzas the
insurgents blew up sugar train only
three miles cut OF town. They cross
the railroad at any point they desire
and whenever they please. In my opin-
ion. Gomez virtually has control OF the
isfssu aeesg is not sEM estate in eul-
tivaticn. so | was reliably informed,
that does not pay tribute to the insur-
gents.
1.-THE best people in Havana told me
that the young men of the best Cuban
families in the island were in the ranks
OF the insurgents, just as the best rep
resentatives of our best families were
in the Southern and Northern ranks
during the civil war.
MY informant also told me that the
insurgent army was never as firm and as
strong as it is to-day. 1t gets very
large proportion of its medical supplies
right from Havana, and it's discipline is
said to be
ALL THAT CAN BE DESIRED.
The insurgents have complete control of
the provinces Of Santiago de Cuba and
Principe. They claim 10 have all the
supplies necessary for their subsistence.
having great herds Of cattle, besides Gull
tivating a large proportion Of the land
in the provinces mentioned. What the
need is arms. ammunition and clothing"
said Col. Parker with emphasis:
NO one wante autonomy in Cuba, even
the autonomist governors do not favor
it. / know of several Alcaades. or may
ors. Of town outside of Hayanafi appoint
ed as autonomists. wholly in sympathy
with the insurgents"