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Latest News from the Seat of War: Maceo

Walter S. Whitcomb, of Springfield, Mass., who made the most remarkable escape on record from Moro Castle a few weeks ago, happening to have money in his clothes that escaped the eyes of those who searched him, and using it judiciously in the purchase of a rope, had been for some time in the camp of Maceo, and gives, in an interview with a Journal reporter, a remarkably intelligible account of the insurgents: "I was mustered into a company, and if I had been able to speak the Spanish language better I should have been given a command, for I had some military experience, having served three years with the New Hampshire state militia in Keene, N. H. "I soon found out how badly ammunition was needed, for at that time, you know, they had scarcely any arms, and were only provided with machetes. All sorts of queer guns were carried, but only a few Mauser rifles. "I was astonished to find four companies of women with Maceo's army. They were of ages from fifteen to forty, and were intensely patriotic and very brave. They all carried machetes, and I afterward saw them in several engagements, in which they displayed as much courage as the men, fighting right in the face of bullets and cheering on the men like demons. Many of them were mounted on horses and mules. "I was in this camp about five weeks. There were about twelve thousand men in all. Every morning we were called up at 5 by the trumpeter, and a few hours were spent in drilling. We had several skirmishes with the Spanish, and in nearly every case we drove them back, taking prisoners, who readily joined our ranks. General Maceo succeeded during these weeks in taking possession of the entire province of Pinar del Rio. "The insurgents are far more familiar with military tactics than the Spanish soldiers, who seem to lack organization and are cowards of the worst sort. Why, one of the women whipped five of them one day with her sugar cane knife. They will never get possession of the Island. "The insurgents have natural forts which the Spanish cannot approach. Many of these are reached only through the southern swamps, and here, safely ensconced out of reach of the enemy, they have their hospitals. They know the entrances to these swamps and to caves in the western part of the Island, where it would be death for a Spaniard to enter. "Much food is sent into the insurgent camps from sources no one could guess. While I was in the camp I did not suffer for food nor for kindness. We foraged a great deal in the surrounding country, but we always obtained food from friends when it was possible. General Maceo is very courteous, and when people objected to giving food or arms, he always explained that he would regard it as a loan and that they would be repaid some day in full. "I saw little cruelty toward the Spanish prisoners. Except in the case of spies, who were always hung, the prisoners were allowed to leave if they wished, after their arms had been taken from them. In most cases they joined us."