Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-05-05
SERVED IN CUBAN Army.
Captain Ledwi6ge nssires to Return as q
New Mexico Volunteer.
SUFFERED FROM WOUNDS, TEvrP, ETC.

Captain Thomas p. Ledwidge, who Is al
Santa Fe TO enlist with the Las Vegas
volunteers, has seen considerable active
service in the Cuban army. He favored
a New Mexican reporter with the follow.
ing interview relative 10 existing condi.
tions in Cuba:
"rhe Spaniards are good fighters but
poor marksmen. However, after a person
has been in an engagement with Spanish
troops he Is liable to realize that he has
been In a fight.
Guerrilla warfare IL praeticed prin-
elpally by the Cubans, and few real
battles occur. The Cubans are poorly
equipped with arms, and so lightly pro-
yisioned that they can only make short
campaigns. The OF the island
are woeiully depleted, and Il IL necessary
to divide tho forces into small bands Of
not exceeding 600 men. and these bands
forage until called together for a short
and decisive campaign. | was in but one
battle where any great number Of men
we're engaged. The Spanish army num-
bered $4,000 men, and the Cuban army
contained about a. many, 10000 Of the
number being equipped with scJthes,
maehetes, pitchforks. etc. The Cubans
win q majority OF the skirmishes. When
properly equipped and proylsioned the
Cuban army will do itself proud.
Though the Cuban force Is reduced
by %feyers, the spirit Of patriotism and in.
dependence burns as aercely as ever.
Heroic determination Is visible in every
lineament OF the countenances OF the
Cubans and the emaciated, hungry vet
Grams fight with a fierce valor that ap
prOaches the superhuman. Many pa
thetie scenes are witnessed on the battle
field. Fingers stiffening In death, tug
%viciously at cartridge belts or hold out
weapons in an endeayor to provide living
comrades with means Of redressing the
wrongs suffered at the hands OF the Span
ish. Their sole creed is viva Cuba
Libre,' and every dying soldier shouts II
until breath Is denied.
"The fact that considerable Jealousy
exists among the leaders, initiates
against the Cuban cause. The officers
are very ambitious and keen for promo
ton. And yet the same thing Is cOndu-
Give TO herOlsm and gallantry.
"rhere is plenty OF opportunity to make
money In Cuba. The soldiers are we'll
provided with money. but II Is al diff
cult TO purchase anything with II a. 1t il
TO buy necessities In the Kiondike"
Captain Ledwidge enlisted In a Alibus-
tering expedition composed OF sixty Tex
ans, In June, 1896. They were landed In
Cuba by the hiibustering schooner Lau-
reda. A party OF twenty Cuban soldiers
met them at the landing and conducted
them 10 the interior OF the province Of
Santiago do Cuba, where they Joined GEN.
eral Gomez's command. Ledwldge was
later transferred TO General Maceo's
army and still later was with General
Calixto Garcia, operating In the eastern
portion OF the island. he served as ar
tillery gunner and wa breyetted captain
for gallantry In the field at the battle Of
Tres Puentas, Santa Clara province. He
received three wounds In that battle.
During his year and three months
service on the island Captain Ledwidge
suffered both the fever and smallpox and
was finally given an honorable discharge
by General Garcia and advised to leave
the island and seek some place where he
could secure proper medical attention.
His escape from the island was a thrill
lug affair and effected in a spOnger's
boat which had blown ashore on the
coast Of Santa Clara province. lie left
with important messages for the Cuban
junta and $500 In money, and when a
short distance out was Oyerhauled by a
Spanish patrol boat. He tied a rope and
stone 10 the papers entrusted 10 him and
sunk them In the waters Of the Nicholas
channel. thus eVading suspicion OF being
an insurgent. lie reached the United
states safely and after recuperating his
shattered health, spent some time on the
cattle ranges OF Texas prior TO his en-
listment with the quota Of New Mexico
volunteers.
Captain Ledwidge is thoroughly famil-
lar with the island Of Cuba and will be a
valuable adjunct to the New Mexico bat
TALON OF mounted rinemen, II 1t operates
in Cuba.