General Gomez does not mean to give her the chance of deceiving Cuba
twice.

The Cuban leader has issued orders to the sugar planters, forbidding them
to grind their cane, and threatening to burn their plantations if they
attempt to disobey him. He promises the planters a speedy ending to the
war, and says he is absolutely sure of the final triumph of the Cuban
arms.

In the mean while, he has slipped past General Weyler, who is marching
over the country, declaring it pacified.

The truth of the matter is, that in the so-called pacified country, which
lies between Weyler and Havana, the entire insurgent army is assembled and
at work.

In this very district that General Weyler declares to be so quiet, the
rebels are using dynamite with deadly success. They are placing bombs on
the railroad tracks, and trains are being blown up almost daily, killing
many Spanish soldiers.

News of encounters between the enemies is constantly being brought in.
Every day some small fight occurs that does little for the cause, but
shows that the Cubans are still unconquered.

General Gomez had a long talk with the representative of one of our most
reliable newspapers, and told him that he has over forty thousand soldiers
fighting for freedom, but that unfortunately he has not enough guns or
ammunition for more than half the number. He says that nearly every
soldier carries a machete, which is a weapon in use among Spanish