The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-08-25
SPAIN'S SECRETS
Revealed at Trial of
General Pando.
For Years the Dors KEEP, Spies In
the Unite d States-Purchased
Munitions In Canada.

NEW YORK, August 16.-ln a spe-
cial from Washington the Sun prints
the full text Of the speech in his own
defense made before the secret ses-
sion Of the Spanish Cortes by General
Pando. accused, in common with other
military leaders of Spain. of coward
ice and incompetence in the face of the
enemy. He reveals many secrets of
the late war. There are two striking
features Of the speech, the first is the
assertion that for twenty years Spain
maintained system of spies in the
United States, and the second is the
claim that after the war with the
United States began Pando purchased
fourteen ships with cargoes of ammu-
milton and supplies in Canada.
As to the system of espionage, he
said: II considered the United States
as nation very strong in some
spheres of life, but a military power
much inferior to Spain. had based
this knowledge upon profound study
which / had made during the past
twenty years Of the military power of
the United States, having sent to that
country for that purpose many COM
petent persons, including naval engi-
neer officers. and several people at
my own expense, who had prepared
for me special data and kept me care
fully informed of every change and
movement in military affairs. Through
information furnished by these secret
emissaries I stated, and will stand by
my statement. that the United States
had not an army and would never
have an army without a complete and
radical change in their organic life."
AS to the ships which neighborly
Canada fitted out for him, he declared:
Il was charged by the General in Chief
to find out the easiest manner in which
our military necessities could be real
lied. BY the 26th OF April 1 had al
ready established commissions in Mex
leo and at other points. From that time
until the 9Th of May devoted all my
energies upon Canada as a basis of
operation. At the latter date had Sc
cured, through my agents in Canada,
fourteen ships, stationed at different
points in that country, fitted out with
provisions and ammunition for our use.
and ready to enter the Island Of Cuba.
The United States could not prevent
their entry, because they were to sail
under q neutral flag, and were fur
nished with papers. not for the Island
OF Cuba, but for other apparent desti-
nations"
He insists. in clear note of defiance,
fhof Snafv ohn,r1d ho fN,rht
and that she had reasonable hope OF
victory, even at the moment when she
lowered her flag in surrender. The re-
sponsibility for the tactics of Spain,
after war had been declared by the
United States, is placed distinctly upon
General Blanco. By his orders were
precautions taken to evacuate the gar
risons of the provinces of Santiago de
Cuba and Puerto Principe, so that the
United States was able to seize upon
the weakest points of Cuba without
fear of serious resistance, while the
greater part of the Spanish strength
lay waiting at Havana for an attack.
The interesting details Of the cam
paign in Cuba, on the part of the Span
ish, after the blockade, are set forth
by General Pando in manner which
shows in spite of his bravado that the
case was most hopeless for the be-
leaguered army from the start. It.
shows that the Spanish volunteers
were without arms or ammunition and
that BlancO was forced by Government
neglect to supply himself as best he
could with the necessities of war.
Most of Pando's speech was personal
defense, in which connection he
claimed that he had striven in every
manner to see that the troops in the
Eastern division of Cuba were well
equipped and properly fed and that
for the relief. of Santiago he had been
willing to swim ashore to the aid of
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