The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-19
The Cuban War.

The Cuban War.
Under Three Flags in Cuba" by George
Clarke Musgrave, is. as the title indi-
Gates, an account of the land operations II
the Spanish American war. written in
much the same style as the authors worl
on the war in South Africa. Mr.. Mus
graves work gathers some additional in
terest from the fact that he is now IL
China getting material for a third vol
ume of war correspondence, and that he
is supposed to be one or the Americans
shut up in Pekin.
Captain Musgrave went to Cuba as q
correspondent for an English paper, was
imprisoned, and came near losing his life.
Although his work loses some interest by
the lapse of time since the events which
1t records it is one of the most inter-
esting of the Cuban war books, and con-
siderably superior to most of those which
were hastily gotten up and thrust upon
the public for the main purpose of max
ing money. The author is thoroughly Just
to Spain, having gone to the island SYM
pathizing with that nation, and been won
over to the cause OF Cuba by personal Oh
servation. He retains enough of his for
mer views to make him give Spain credit
for all the good qualities she has. He
says in his preface:
Now that right has triumphed and wrong is
overthrow, feel sympathy with the
Inundated nation that, blinded by traditional
pride and patriotism, cloaked and defended the
policy of corrupt faction, to its own undoing.
Moreover, be has word to say for Cuban
independence in this same preface:
Under .he present regime the Cubans have fears
Of the curtaiiment Of the freedom they have given
their all TO achieve. As people they are not
ungrateful; they do not ask for the Csapine in
dependence guaranteed at Campo formio. But
they have seen motives Of patriot husbands and
brothers impugBed by descendants OF Washing
toms followers; they have been condemned for the
effect of environment from which they have been
lifted. Thus they fear that the heterarchy of
General Brooke is permanent, and Joy at their
release from Spain's mailed hand is marred by
the dread Of a rule by American bayonets.
Captain Musgraye reviews briefly all the
events of the war from the arrival Of Wey-
Ter; describes various adventures which
he had while knocking about in the Span
ish and Cuban armies. and comes finally 10
the advent of the American forces. There
is description of the principal battles OF
the war and retrospect of the events Of
the year 1899.
The style of the work is throughout
vivid, picturesque. ana full of incident
No attempt is made to give a comprehen-
sive history of the war. only TO describe
as graphically as may be the part of 1t
which the writer actually saw. Such mar
ratiYes will be of the greatest possible
value TO the historian of the future. Sew
eral hitherto unpublished items of news
are to be found here. This is one:
Mr.. Decker during the winter formulated plan
TO rescue Captain Dreyius, which Mr. Hearst
wished TO effect without causing international
complications. We should have probably started
from the Cuban coast; but the Maine disaster and
war diverted this unprecedented journalistic en-
terprise
Captain Musgrave comments on the COM
missariAt OF the American Army in Cuba
in no uncertain tones. He had something
to say about it in his book on South Africa,
but this is what he says of it here;
The supplies that were provided were utterly
unfit for the climate, or for any army on active
service The staple diet, ''hardtack, was Of good
quality, though whole-Eneal biscuit is more sus-
tanning. But it packed in wooden cases. 1t
soaked first in water, then by rain; the
boxes lay around in thick mud, which oOzed into
the badly made joints, and much OF the hard
bread was soon unfit for consumption. European
armies use tln-lined cases for biscuit. Trained
bakers could have built field and issued
a part ration OF fresh bread. In the Soudan and
with laurels, and their equipment requires little
transport.
The sides Of salted 'sow-bely'' were Of excel
lent quality, but were packed only in cheese
cloth. 1t thus very difficult for the men to
carry forward the Shiny sides of bacon; ii speed
lily became rotten, also, from and rain. But
above all, only those who know the NAUSEA Of the
stomach after exposure in a malarious cline can
realize the responsiveness OF fat bacon in any FORM
while the torpid liver and impaired digestion in
ficted by the tropics make a fatty diet abso-
mtely dangerous
The canned meat was execrsble-simply the
ohal Of 4 beei-extrsct factory. II possible
to boil II for hours, and beyond the stringy sub
stance at the pot bottom and grease on top, the
water remained clear before. NutTiment could
not be extracted, and the men eventually pre-
terred hunger they gradually sickened. 1t was
packed also in round tins, the most announcement
for transport, and entailing much waste Of space.
There was no excuse for the lack OF fresh
beef In Cuba Grass was abundant; cattle could
have teen sent down easily, driven to the front
in one day, thus. saving transportation, and
slaughtered in the lines. The contention Of Gen
eral Shsfter that meat killed in the tropics will
not cool | venture 10 contradict. II the beasts
are slaughtered at shutdown, meat in Cuba is per-
fectly fresh for consumption on the ensuing day.
The canned beans were soaked in pork
fat and were nsuseating even 10 the Massachu-
sets troops. The coffee was good, but uBground,
partially roasted, and packed in paper. The men
had no appliances for grinding in the trenches,
and the beans were lsbonousy broken up between
stones, and miserable ooncoction without milk
or sugar was the result. A cheap, refreshing
beverage OF cocoa-paste, containing both milk
and sugar, is easily obtainabie, but was not in.
cluded in the Santiago menu. saccharine was
not used.
boil and alter ali water before drinking"
read one wise clause OF instruction and advice
to soldiers In the tropics, issued by the War De
psrtment. There was transport for camp ket-
ties. and no filters were provided. The drinking
water Was thus one Of the most serious menaees
TO health and life Modern armies provide the
portable pasteur filters for each regiment and
the soldiers charcoal filter and drinking tube
costing cents, and which can be slung on the
frog or water bottle and used with ease has yet
TO be included in the equipment OF the American
soldier. small ration Of rum IS an eN-
cellent nightcap Tor men exposed 10 Iniasma and
it is issued an evening ration to British and
German troops in tropical service, huge store
OF excellent Bscsrdi at Siboney Was poured on
the ground. and barrels Of red wine also by order
Of the commanding general. few days later,
when dozens Of brave fellows lay painting for
breath, their frothing mouths a harbor for flies,
the CLASSY eyes silently pleading for indescrib-
able something. ones thoughts would revert to
tbs rum and wine poured On the ground to pre-