The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-29
T. w. WOOD & SONS,
Seedsmen, Richmond, Va.
Gen. Pandos Criticism Of the Spanish
Campaign,

I2mF El'
The Baltimore Sun recently printed
an interesting contribution to the
literature Of the war between the
United States and Spain. 1t Is r
translation of a speech delivered IN
the secret session of the Cortes by
General Pando, chief of staff to Gen.
Blanco, formerly commsnder-ln-chlef
of the Spanish forces IN Cuba The
Spanish people, be says, were Fl led
with anger and amazement at the
feeble resistance which the invading
Americans encountered in Cubs, with
the exception of the bst'les around
Santiago. The responsibility seems
to rest upon the incompetent Cabinet
at Madrid aud the incapable generals
in Cuba. When the war began there
were POO 600 Spanish troops ~ Cuba.
Ii they had been properly handled
they might have iLh cted gr' a loss
upon the United States aud might,
indeed, have offered such stubborn
resistance that public opinion IN the
United States would have demanded
A cessation of hostllitles based upon
peace terms more favorable 20 Spain.
This was General Paudo's view and
he shows that it was not an i'd g
dream. But the Madrid Government
did not seem 10 understand the siiua-
ton, while the Spanish generals IN
Cuba do not appear to have possessed
80 . "a htnh nvAar and
the island was sacrificed after a most
inadequate defense. 1t is possible,
however, that the Spanish Govern
ment never contemplated such whole
sale cessions Of territory as we're at
terward imposed upon it by the vic
tors, otherwise it night have defended
Cuba to the last.
If the Spanish troops throughout
the island had fought with the ten
acity and courage they displayed at
Santiago the invasion of Cuba would
have cost the United States the lives
of thousands of its soldiers Many
would have fallen in battle, but more
would have succumbed to disease
After the engagements which termi
mated in the capitulation of Santiago
the American army was prostrated
by heat and disease. The Commits
sary Department was wretchedly
mismanaged and the soldiers were
made i'll by the improper food with
which they we're supplied. To add
to the horror of the situation, yellow
fever made its appearance. Ia the
United States many of the troops 10
camps of instruction were swept
away by typhoid fever. If Spain
had determined to hold Cuba at any
cost, the conditions were entirely 10
its favor after the surrender of San
tisgo. General Paudo maintains
that supplies could have been sent to
the island, and with food and ammu
milton 100000 Spanish troops could
have been able to offer desperate
resistance to the unseasoned militia
of which our army was principally
composed Despite the painful In
capacity which was displayed by Ger
tain officials of this Government, the
incompetency of the Spanish Govern
ment was even greater, and to this
NAV be attributed the remarkable
success which attended the campaign
in Cuba.
General Pando asserts that the
United States is not a " military na>
ton and never will be until it
changes its organic life" The
blunders and mismsnagement which
marked the early stages of the war
showed that we are not prepared for
operations on a large scale. The
fact that this country does not main
tain an immense standing army,
however, does net make it less for
midable when it has prepared itself
for action. There was no possibility
that Spain could cope with nation
of nearly 7000000O people. The
only question was how lopg it could
offer resistance and what less ii could
inflict upon the enemy. From Gen.
Pando's standpoint, the resistance in
Cuba was not in proportion to the
strength of the Spanish force in the
island and in this view most military
men will concur. The facts which
General Pando gives as to the situa
ton in Cuba during the war will be
read with interest, although his con
clusions may not be accepted. AS
Spain would ultimately have been
crushed by an overwhelming force,
it is fortunate for both nations that
the war ended as SON as it did, and
that Blanco's soldiers were not gwen
an opportunity to display their
braverv and devotion. The sacrifice
would have been useless, and it is
cause for rejoicing to both Spain and
the United States that thousands OF
valuable lives were saved by the ear