In various parts of the island the Cubans have been doing a great deal
of damage to property, but it is impossible to know accurately just
what they are gaining by their devastations. The news sent from the
Cuban and the Spanish camps does not agree by any means.
Both sides declare that they are making progress.
There is no doubt, however, that though the Cubans had lost hope of
receiving help from the United States this winter, they have not lost
courage.
At present they are busily engaged in transporting supplies into the
centre of the island, and they propose to continue the campaign through
the wet season.
The Spaniards maintain that the insurgents are at the end of their
resources, that very misleading reports of the war are sent to this
country, and that the Cuban Junta in New York gives information that
cannot be relied upon to the papers.
The Spanish minister has gone so far as to defy Tomas Estrada Palma, who
is at the head of the Junta, to mention five Cuban generals who are now
in good standing.
He evidently hopes in this way to discredit the information sent out by
the Junta.
On the other hand, the Junta discredits the reports sent out by the
Spaniards. In the case of Gen. Juan Masso, for example, it says that
several months before his surrender Masso had been degraded from the
command, and that his so-called "brigade" consisted only of a few
personal followers; so his acceptance of autonomy did not by any means
indicate that the insurgents were giving up the cause of Free Cuba.
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