The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-18
AMBITION OF GOMEZ.
F. o. soMeRFoRD GIVES INSIDE FACTS
ABOUT HIS PLANS.
ne Says tho Insurgent Leader Wants Credit
For Defeating the spaniards = Would
Like to Dissuade the United States From
Sending an Army to Cuba.

So"unk an Army To Cuba.
The New York Herald printed the
other day communication from q cor
respondent whom it sent to Gomez
headquarters to learn the condition of
the insurgent forces in Cuba. This cor
respondent, f. o. Somerford, was en-
gagged IN business on the island when
the instruction broke out, and his prop
erty was destroyed by the Spaniards
OF Gomez and his plans he writes as
follows:
Gomez is a willy old man, and. I
think, not without future political as
plrations in the government which will
be formed at the close Of the war. He
does not want the United States to land
an army in Cuba, except it be regi.
ment OF artillery to operate in conjunc-
ton with him. Gomez knows that an
American army will defeat Blanco, take
Havana and practically end the war
within q, month after it lands ON Cuban
SOIL. DE also knows that the assistance
he could afford in such campaign
would be unimportant and insignificant,
except as an adviser regarding tho coun.
try, TO the commanders. He realizes that
the insurgents would cut but sorry
figure in the rapid operations sure to
follow an American invasion, unless
months pass while they are being armed
and drilled into military habits other
than those of guerrillas Knowing all
this Gomez does not want to be robbed
- -
OF the credit of defeating Spain and end
ing the war. He does not wish history
to record the fact that he had to have
assistance to crush Blanco and FREQ
Cuba.
On the other hand, if he can persuade
the administration at Washington that
1T is dangerous to land United States
troops in Cuba during the summer and
that he can defeat Blanco if provided
with arms, ammunition, and provisions
the future is bright with an augmented
reputation for him. Asa victorious gen.
eral Gomez may ask and obtain any
honor that free Cuba has to bestow.
do not mean to convey the impression
that such an ambition is dishonorable,
but it affords clew to Gomez's mo-
tives, which should be taken into con-
sideration in so important matter as
making dispositions to end the war.
In party which left Gomez's camp
a few days before did was William ID.
Smith. We came into Key West togeth-
er. Smith is the bearer of sealed COM
munications from Gomez to Gonzales
Quesada, L. Estrada Palma, President
Mckinley and General Miles In these
letters Gomez urges the president and
General Miles not to attempt to land
any United States troops in Cuba dur
ing the summer, stating that great loss
of life from disease would result. Go
mez also assures the president that if
provided with arms and food, in coop
GRAFTON with blockade, he can easily
defeat Blanco and take Havana without
a single American exposing his life to
the ravages of yellow fever and small
pox.
l suppose these communications will
be regarded at Washington as entitled
to great consideration. In my opinion
policy based on these recommendations
of Gomez will rise like ghost to con-
front the American people afterward If
Gomez really believes that he can deal
with Blanco and end the war; he is mis-
taken True, with the active sympathy
and support of the United States and
the assistance Of the feet there is no
doubt that he can eventually win, but
firmly believe that such u warfare
would not be ended year from now.
1t will be months, even under the
most favorable conditions, before Gomez
can put an army in the field capable of
meeting Blanco III open battle and de-
feating him. Even the veterans of Go
mez's and Garcia s divisions are not
good soldiers. as Americans reckon sol
diers They are good guerrillas, but |
have no knowledge OF real military
service; neither have their officers
do not believe the insurgents can in any |
successfully attack a fortified |
town, such as Matanzas or Havana. In |
the open field the Spanish will defeat |
them