The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-16
MInrTARY RUN IN CuBA tANp THE

~. e ,ss,S ! ~. s.,'a tt,i si't>s w. -
MIIrTARY RULp IN CuBA ARD THE
UsrTED STATES Count Valmsseda.
Who has been named to assume the
Cspssin.G Generatship OF Cuba, was in
command Of tho Spanish forcas in that
island in 1868. when the insurrection
began. He is brutal and imperious,
but these qualities in military men are
not often allied with intellect His
nrst expeditions were comparatively
unsuccessful, and before the year closed
he had to send home for reinforce.
ments. He began the campaign with
2O,O0O men, aud the additional troops
which he required from Spain gave
him " 200, besides 4O. 900 volunteers.
ihe most inoompreheneible thing
among the current events of tho day,
ls that the Cnban insurreotion was NOT
crushed out by such force at once.
Cui 10 not large island, aud her
coast was surrounded aud watched by
strong Spanish naval squadron, yet
92.OUU soldiers failed to put down tue
rebellion. There waa no luck of fero
city and bulldog disposition to "hurt
somebody" on the part Of the Com.
! mandsr-in Chief Even Gen. Sheri-
dan himself. If entrusted by General
Grant with the coveted power to treat
tue citizens of Louisiana as "ban-
ditti." could not havu surpassed Count
Valmaseda in that destructive propeu-
sity which some military men seem to
confound with geuins for war. Thus,
for example. Valmaseda ordered that
every male citizen over fifteen years Of
age found in the country and away
from home should be shot, unless be
c"uld satisfactorily account for his
unvemen's. He mude war upon
women, branding them as felons or
slaves. He ordered tLa every house
which did not display white flag
should be burned, and that all women
ana children found living a!oue on
their farms should bo torcibly removed
to tue nearest cities in possessiou of
the Spuniards. This treatment OF citi
zens OF both sexes aud all ages as
"banditti, might cause the most
truculent Of American soldiers to grow
pale with envy. On subsequent occa-
| SioDs. Saimasedi SURPASSED himself.
When De Rodus. who succeeded
Dnice, and brought 10000 additional
troops with him, was compelled by the
volunteers in 1870 to vacuts his Office.
| Nnlmasedi was brought back again.
One OF his first acts WAS to order that
no quarter should be shown to pri-
soners captured from the rebel force,
and that those who surrendered volun.
tarily were to be sentenced to per
petual Imprisonment. Ii was uuler
his administration that eight school
boys we're barbaro(Sly shot in Havana
for au alleged deseSd dation of the grave
of loyalist. He was finally succeed.
ed by Caballos in June. 1879. Up to
August of that year $4,000 Cnbaus
bad been killed iu battle, Al. 500 pri
soners, according to the admission OF
the Spanish authorities. had been put
to death, and $4,000, 600 spent. be.
sides the SEEDING OF moro than 50. 600
men from Spain to qnell the rebellion.
Such are the practical results produced
BY the ferocious military butcher who
has treated the rebclious Cubans ur
''banditti, though it must be admit.
ted that, savage AZ he il, ho did not
propose to treat in that mauner peace.
tui citizens not ia arms against the
Government. This man has been
again rendered the Captain General
ship of Cuba. but makes his acceptance
OF the post conditional on hio having
2O,OOO more troops. The stupid bru-
tallty OF such q oommauder.iu-ohief is
only likely to make matters worse in
Cuba. How long the protracted and
wasteful warfare will continue, DO one
can foresee. But military men do not
seem to have the faculty of recon
ssrnction. That profession has long
had the destinies Of Spaiu aud Cuba
in their hands. and behold the re-.
sults!