The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-03-04
CAMP BOB TAYLOR,
Sancti Spiritus, Santa Clara Prov
inCe Cuba.

Tunas, Cuba, February IA, 1899.
DEAR TINES B. Company was
ordered to Tunas, at an hours
notice. We had been informed that
the Cubans were going to give us
trouble on accout of the U. s.. not
being willing to pay off their soldirs
and we We're ordered here to pro-
tect our base of supplies. This
was the place where the first strike
was expected and we feel it quite
an honor to the company to be Sc
lected when real work was suppose
ed to be before us. 1t certainly shows
that our commanding officer has
great confidence in us and we feel
that the company deserves this
confidence for not company B.
man has been in the guard house
since we came to Cuba. Since COM
ing here to Tunas, not man has
misbehaved in the least, and the
people here believe the American
soldier is the best soldier on earth.
do not expect any trouble at all
as the Cubans heve been very
friendly from the first, but there is
nothing like being prepared. We
are invited to the very best homes
and nothing is too good for the
Americans.
AS to the question of paying of
the Cuban soldiers, it is not for me
to say much on that subject as ]
am here to obey orders regardless
of my opinions, but do not think
it wrong to say this much, that ]
believe that the United States
should loan Cuba enough money to
give each soldier something to start
work on, as many of them have
land, but no agricultural nipple.
ments of any kind and they have
absolutely no money with which to
buy, do not think it would be policy
for our government to advance the
whole amount due the Cuban SOL
diers, but then, when they are dis
charged be given certificate OF
service and then let Cuba pay them
as she can. If they are as patriotic
as they should be they aught to
be satisfied with that as it will not
take this country long to recuper-
ate, as it is so rich naturally.
My opinion is Cuba should be
given free and independent gov
eminent as soon as practicable
There are enough intelligent people
here to properly govern the island
and it will not be long before they
will see the advantage of being q
part of the United States and ask
for annexation as did Hawaii. Now
they have the idea of independence
so FIRMLY implanted in theil
minds, that, should we try tt
annex the island now there would
be hard feelings stirred up between
America and Cuba and we would
have trouble for years. The Cuban;
have great faith in President Nc
Kinley and as Cuban Lieutenant
said to me, "We still believe tha
President Mckinley will give U.
an independent government a,
he promised"
The people of the United State
have wrong ideas about these PEG
X Ee on account the stories of thos,
who have some personal ends t,
gain, and on account of others VIII,
seem to take delight in exageratinl
everything they write or talk about
There are all classes here as Their,
are in every country. The bette
class here are intelligent, capabl,
and, considering that they hav,
been oppressed and dOwntroddel
for years, they compare very favor
ably with the same class elswheie
Then there is the other extreme
but they are no worse than tn
same class in our our country
when we take into cOnsid GRAFTON
their surroundings and the incen
tive they have had to do wrong
AS to the color of the people, Their,
has been great deal of sickeninl