His reason for giving up Bayamo is that there is so much sickness among
the troops in Santiago that they are not equal to the strain of checking
the activity of the rebels and holding the town.

We have already told you how the rebels intercept every train of
supplies that is despatched to the outlying cities, and it is easy to
believe that the Spaniards have no light task in trying to hold these
towns.

You will be glad to know that the crimes against the unfortunate
soldiers are not to be allowed to go unpunished.

We told you of the shameful system of robbery that prevailed in the
Spanish army; how the unprincipled officers took the money apportioned
by the Government for the soldiers' food, and, pocketing one-half of it,
kept the poor fellows on the short rations they could purchase with the
other half.

Two hundred Spanish officers and contractors for the army are now
imprisoned at the fortress of La Cabana in Havana, under charges of
fraud in provisioning the army.

Among these men are some of the highest officers: Colonels,
Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, and Captains.

The amount stolen by these men during the two years of the war is
estimated at several millions. The truth of this wholesale robbery came
to light when the soldiers protested against the bad food that was being
given them. When they found their complaints were being unheeded they
deserted in large numbers to the Cubans.