Weyler had no 20,000 men to spare, but he did not dare tell the truth lest the facts of his knavery might come out.
He made up his mind to send the troops, and then if things went wrong in Cuba, to declare that the withdrawal of the soldiers had paralyzed him, and cost him Cuba.
Some one, however, sent word to Señor Canovas of the true state of affairs, and some very plain messages have been passing between Spain and Cuba.
The men are to go anyhow; but with only a force of 80,000 men left behind, Spain has little hope of pacifying Cuba.
The insurgents have, or will have when the Spanish troops are sent away, as many men at their command as the Spaniards have, and they feel very confident of success, because the men under them are well fed, healthy, and hopeful, while the poor Spanish soldiers are hungry, sick, and despairing.
It seems as if the Cubans have now a better chance of winning their freedom than they have ever had, and if they fail, it will be their own fault.
A pleasant piece of news in connection with all the rest, is that the infamous Fondeviella has been removed from the command in Guanabacoa. His resignation has been asked for from Madrid, and another officer has been appointed in his place.
Fondeviella is the bloodthirsty Spanish soldier who, while acting as Mayor of Guanabacoa, caused the murder of so many innocent persons, Dr. Ruiz among the number.
This savage man is declared to have said that for every account of Spanish cruelty published in American newspapers, he would have an American life.