Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-24

Alvarez said be would not give 1t up, as
he had agreed to surrender mounted.
"Thereupon Capt. Noa cried out: Cuba
hhre! Shoot the traitors!
Alvarez fell with eleven shots in his
body. Nunez tried to escape. but was cap
tured and shot
Cannot he bought.
The four insurgents who had voted to
accept autonomy were held as prisoners
by their companions and taken back to
Gen. Bermudez, insurgent commander of
that district, for trial
''The firing brought out from Esperanza
the Spanish troops. which had been await
ing the surrender of Alvarez and Nunez.
They took back to the village the two
&C rpses.''
have given this dramatic episode be-
cause it is evidence whether Gomez is right
In saying his men cannot be bought. With
peace in prospect, even though not imme-
diately, Gen. Gomez was especially anx-
1ous to have it impressed on Spaniards in
Cuba, soldiers as we'll as residents of the
island, that the Cubans are making no war
on them, but against the oppression of the
Spanish government
"Cubans,' he said, want the soldiers to
remain and help build up the island, now
barren waste
Concerning those Cubans who have at
tempted to n axe the insurgents as well as
all Cubans accept the promised reforms
from Spain, which has never kept a pledge
made them, Gomez said: "Our people Will
take care of them after this war Is closed >,
Discussing De Lome's Letter.
De Lome's letter was SO far oyershad-
owed by other events that in the United
States it has ceased to be a living suhiect
In the 1nSurgent camps 1t is still discussed
Gomez's opinion is worth knowing. He
thought exposure was not unwelcome to
DE Lone, who was THEREBY able to get out
before the crash came, and to gain some
popularity with former conservative asso-
clates in Spain, who mad become estranged
through his holding office under Saga sta.
Gomez's view is that De LONE and Canal
e1as may yet build up a political organiza-
ton out of fragments of the liberal and
conservative parties.
Fuller details-of Gomez's ideas will prob
ably follow later, and possibly reach the
state Department in authentic form
through the regular official channels The
above is the summary of his talk to a per-
son who enjoys his confidence 1t is the
first utterance from him since last Decem-
Der and shows he has in no ways changed
either his views or his purposes.
In Good Health.
The messenger who Visited his head
quarters found him in fine health and spir-
It's He was worrying more over the rela-
tons of the United States and Spain than
over the Cuban war. To che American peo-
pie who were relieving starving Cubans he
sent the message that they would never be
forgotten by him and the men in the field
with him. Comment on Spanish military
lmpotency and the evidence that the in
su1gents hold the country is furnished by
the fact that in visiting the insurgent head
quarters and in returning the messenger
did not see a Spanish soldier outside the
garrison town frora which the Journey was
made. Gomez himself Is wnere he can be
reached easily. .e''e'
These were his concluding words: SHOULD
any person want to see me or our civil gov
ernment, it Is well known can be quickly
found, ard can much sooner convey them
to the seat Of government II they desire to
treat for peace But let them not come in
with anything short of independence to
Offer
II the United States recognizes Cuban in
dependence, commission leaving Havana
could reach Gomez's headquarters within a
week from time OF departure.
G.. NJ. PEPPER