Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-25
GEN. IFILs0S ON CUsA.
Extracts From His Hcpopt on the Depart
mani nI Matanzna n ND Snntn f,lnra

Ineut Of natRnzas ana SANTA Clara.
Major Gen. J. H. Wilson, whose visit to
his daughter, Mrs. Henry b. Thompson
of this city, came to an end Thursday,
when ne left for New York, there to
take steamer for Cuba, made "a de-
tailed report of his department. that of
Matanzas and, Santa Clara, to tho
Acknowledgement of the army last sum
mer. One or two extracts which may
serve 10 show tho Interesting nature of
the report, are appended: Such ord
nance and ordnance stores as were
turned over and abandoned by the
Spanish forces uEon their departure
from these provinces were listed by
board of officers; the inventory SO made
shows four bronze mortars, some 90
bronze and 81 iron cannon, varying In
calibre from IL to 81 centimeters, some
1900 unservicenble hreech loading rifles
and carbines, and about 4. 600 spherical
and conioal shells. The field pieces and
larger cannon are all muzzle- leaders,
and while many are rifed they are not
.serviceable, modern weapons. The
bronze pieces were manufactured In the
last and early part of the present GEN.
tury, the Oldest dating back 10 1921.
Several are Of fine workmanship and
are handsomely engraved, and can
properly be used for ornamental pur-
p9ses.
= ,
The policy Of reorganization had
been so thoroughly carried out that the
cultivation Of gardens was in most cases
impossible, and the reconcentrados
beuame at once stai wing beggars. To
make the policy of starvation more
effective, the Spanish troops had begun
rhe slaughtering Of cattle, hogs and
poultry. and in this way they were soon
aided .jy the insurgents and by the
owners themselves, and the crops. fruits
and vegetables were also destroyed.
= Il Il
The war resulted in the destruction
Of more than one-hulf of the sugar
mills, and some CT those left standing
have not operated this year, either for
want of cane, capital or modern ma.
chinery.
y i y
Speaking Of Gen. Jose Miguel Gomez,
late of the Cuban army, Gen. Wilson
says: HE is a vigorous and intell.
gent man of affaiis, aud shows the most
lively concern in the restoration Of the
agricultural and pastoral interests of
the people, and especially in the
organization of banks for the aid of
farmers, planters and cattlemen, in the
reconstruction of their hcmes and the
re- establishment of their ruined busi-
ness. He has given me his most cheer.
full and loyal cooperation, and in turn
he has been in everyway suppoited and
sustained in all the functions of his
Office. = 1t is both my duty and
my pleasure to add that both Gov.
Betaucourt and Gov. Gomez have shown
themselves to be in every way worthy
of their high positions, and on the
assumption that when left free to choose
for themselves the Cuban peoplv will
select such men. as those for their
highest Offices, see no reason why we
may not confidently count upon their
showing themselves fully capable of
carrying ON an orderly, enlightened and
progressive local government, especially
II the economic and commercial condi'-
tions Of the island, and of its relations
with the United States and the neigh
boring countries, are arranged on a
basis which will give it the advantages
of its position and of its extraordinary
natural resources. ="