New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-19
WHAT Mr. GAILINGER SAW IN CUBA.
HE SAYS THE MISERY AND DEsTlTuTlo" AXE
SIMPLY INDEscrIBABLE

,,-o,,,,~,o, March H-Senatcr Gallinger was at
~. Coniol to-day for the first time since his re-
turn from cuba When requested 10 make s'a'e
,,or, "a 70 his observations on the condition OF
affairs on that island. he replied: You can sign
nv name 10 any picture you may draw or utter
u.re,ohedness destitution and helshness In thst
country The condition Of affairs. SO far as had
opportunitv 10 observe IT, and ! was only In Ha-
vana and Matanzas, is simply indescribabie han
no, expected TO ind I. half as bad as II is ana
DO not believe any one who simply READS tne ac-
counts and docs not see for himself can form an
ADEQUATE idea Of the situation The reconcentrados
are wedged into aI available places in those cities.
and are perishing by the thousand for want Of the
commonest nece.snries OF life The best nforma-
ton ob,ainahlc leads "a the conclusion that there
have been beyond a doubt four hundred thousand
deaths as a result OF Spnins brutal policy, and the
tragedy goes from day 10 day. The society OF
the Red Cross is furnishing some relief by its ef
FORTS but the most OF these people beyond the
reach Of aid. whether through medicine or food
The mortality In Matanzas for the last four months
previous 10 our visit, has been equal 10 ten times the
ordinary death rate.
with reference TO the military aspect OF affairs
IN Cuba ! saw nothing which impressed with
the idea that Spain knows much about modern
warfare The soldiers / saw are not drilled as our
soldiers are. Indeed they lack every element OF
sodierly bearing. whatever may be said OF their
merits as fighters. The drills that witnessed were
a travesty modern military ideas. While they
were undergoing their evolutions the soldiers
talking 10 each other and smoking as freely and
unconcernedly as they would do in their mess
rooms From my observation OF them, I should not
consider them very formidable antagonists on the
fed Of battle
Naturally, there was much talk abou, the Maine
disaster, and. far as / could ascertain from my
conversation with Americans and with those not
entirely under the influence OF the Spaniards the
opinion was universal that the Maine had been de-
stroyed by an external agency. and almost every
person with whom discussed the subject In Cuba
Gym that the findings OF the American Court NJ
Inquiry will substantiaie this view
There Is q divergence OF opinion on the island as
10 the probabilities Of war between Spain and the
United States. and am sure that am within the
bounds OF the truth when ! say that almost the
entire native population would welcome any turn
Of events however tragic. that would wrest Cuba
from Spanish dominion This Is true not only OF
those who are avowedly favorable 10 for In
dependence. but OF many Of those who are ranked
as Spanish sympa;hlzcrs. but who are a. heart nd
vocates OF Cuban Independence. The fact Is that
even In Havana tn" allegiance TO Spain lie OF a very
weak and doubtful character, and n war should
come Il Will be found that there Will be an uprising
In that city against the mother country which
would be most important factor in shortening the
contest and deciding II against Spain"