The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-21
Spanish PRESUMPTION
Assumed Contempt of
Our Army.
OUR OFFICIALS UNEASY

Will Cause Our Troops Much Trouble
when they Take Possession Of Cuba.
The Newspaper Attacks on the War
Department Cause the Spanish to Re-
gret hat they Eave up the Wa 50
Soon
Washington, October 17-Information
has reached the war department that
a high officer of the Spanish army
very recently made a statement that
had the Spaniards been aware of the
condition Of the American army-its
inability to withstand the h~ardships of
a campaign; its lack Of medical and
other supplies and general inefficiency,
as old in the American papers, The
Spaniards would not have given up,
but would have continued fighting for
a long time TO come, fully believing
that they would have been able to
prevent the capture of Cuba by Amer
lean arms.
This statement is known 10 have
been made to the American officers
now in Cuba and causes some uneasi-
49, 40 cAiS1oi ~ oS IL may IlttdlI
that the Spaniards are not yet ready
to yield the island under the terms of
the protocol.
1t is believed by officials in Washing
ton that had it not been for the outcry
made regarding the arny and the con-
duct of the war there never would
have been any question raised by the
| n niSh naoon .a~
ing the Cuban debt. It is pointed out
hat under the protocol the sole ques-
ton left for the commission was the
settlement of the Philippines, and that
nothing was said about the Cuban
debt or any other Cuban question. BY
those who are in position to know. it
is asserted that the Madrid govern
ment was aware when it asked for
peace and when negotiations We're
opened that it was useless to ask that
the Cuban debt be taken into consid-
GRAFTON by any commission and that
it is only since the reports of the bad
condition of the United States army
has reached Madrid that the question
has been raised.
Another matter that causes grave
consideration in the war department
is the temper of the Spaniards in Cuba,
and the fear that the impression which
now prevails there may lead them to
regard American troops of not much
account and act accordingly after the
occupancy by the United States.
The matter has been discussed in
he -x-o ~ 900 -~l =
that when the troops are sent to Cuba
there will be a force of such size and
character as to give the islanders a
different impression of United Sta-os
soldiers than thy now entertain.
The impression among the Span
iards in Cuba,9 said an officer in po-
sitiOn to know what is going on, lis
that the American soldiers are weak
and puny, Incapable of Withstanding
hardship and whom 1t will be an easy
matter to vanQuish. This feeling may
make it difficult for the Americans at
first. This impression is due to the
charges that have been made against
the war department With such viru-
lence and insistence during the past
few months"
1t has become evident that the troops
when sent to Cuba must be isolated
for some time in their camps to avoid
the danger of infection and the de
partment is not quite clear that any
useful purpOs will be served by plac-
ing soldiers where their services can
not be available. While the vet season
has now almost reached it's end in Gu
ba, it is said that the yellow fever is
more prevalent and more dangerous in
type just now than at any time during
the year. These conditions, however
will not continue long. a proposition
that is now under consideration looks
to the employment of the Cubans az
local gendarmes, it being urged that
they would be more serviceable in
maintaining order in the towns than
American soldiers E~nacQuainted with
the Spanish language and Cuban Gus
toms. The United States government,
in this way also would be able Oy the
payment of small salaries to these mer
to considerably relieve the distress
that exists on the island without breed
ing a class of professional paupers Of
lowering the pride OF the Cubans.
Unless General Lee specifically ask
to be relieved from that duty he is tc
command the first expedition, second
ed by Generals Greene and Arnold.