What Cuba has Cost Spain.

Hastings Standard, Issue 205, 24 December 1896, Page 4

What Cuba has Cost Spain.

The great rejoicings which are reported to be taking place in Spain over the death of the rebel leader, Maceo, in Cuba, are not unnatural, for to this man undoubtedly, much of the success of the opposition offered by the rebels to the regular troops has been due. His loss will therefore be severely felt by his side, although no one expects the insurrection to fizzle out on this account, for Maceo had several lieutenants whom he has no doubt imbued with his methods of guerilla warfare. Turning to the other side, it is appalling to notice what the revolt has already cost spain in human life and money. When it began, in February, 1895, the effective Spanish troops in the island numbered 12,000. During the next thirteen months there were despatched to Cuba forty Generals, 562 field officers, 4763 subalterns, and 115,056 non-commissioned officers and privates. These were followed, on General Weyler's demand for reinforcements, during the next six months, by two more generals, 76 field officers, and 54,847 subalterns, non-coms., and privates. Altogether 165,551 men were poured into Cuba in nineteen months. In addition to these, the local militia, volunteers, and guerillas recruited from the Loyalists in the island, accounted for about 15,000. The cli mate has worked far more havoc in this huge body of troops than has the enemy. Yellow fever, ague, and dysentery flourish in the hot, wet season, which lasts for five months in the year, and as many of the soldiers

were youths under twenty years of age, the death rate has been excessive. During the unhealthy season last year the n mibcr of men in hospital averager! G,OOO, and this year it amounted to close upon 10,000, with an average daily death rate of from 35 to 40. Many have been invalided home, and with one thing and another, the wear and tear of constant guerilla fighting and the ravages of disease, the effective Spanish force stands to-day at less than 150,000. The insurgent force is much less than this. It is estimated at considerably less than 30,000, and they must be able to recruit to a very large extent from the Creole population, if the Spanish reports of their losses are to believed. It is strongly suspected, however, that General Weyler kills a good many more of the enemy on paper than in actual warfare, and that the rebel loss is much lighter than it is stated to be. The revolt cost Spain £18,000,000 sterling in the first nineteen months, and the expenditure is now £2,200,000 a month. This is a drain which few countries could stand for long, and Spain is less able to do so than many other nations. It can be imagined, therefore, that the people who have hitherto responded cheerfully to the demands for men and money, will follow with anxious interest the efforts which are to be made during the next few months to crush the insurrection.