Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-10
The Invasion of Cuba.


From the meagre information that can
be obtained from the interior of Cuba, it
does not appear that the little band Of
fhbusters who landed on the island some
| forty days ago, under what was then
| thought most favorable auspices, are now
making much Roadway. No considerable
uprising seems to have taken place
as General Aguero hoped. and the
poverty Of the patriots, the scarcity Of
arms and munitions Of war, and the want
of confidence in their leaders and their
own power, are such that no general in
| surrection may be looked for in the near
| future.
Inc revolutionary movement in Cuba
began in ls4S. An expedition of Cubans
| and American adventures under Mar
! CISCO Lopez attempted to leave the United
States iu 1S49, but was intercepted by the
! government.
/ In 1850 Lopez and his followers escaped
the vigilance of the United States officials
and landed in Cuba, but they were driven
! to sea again by the Spanish troops. In
1851 band Of 500men under Lopez, sailed
/ from New Orleans in a steamer and land
ed on the southwestern coast of the island.
The people of the island did not sustain
the movement. The invaders were nearly
all captured and their leaders and large
number Of the men executed, while the
rest of them were transported, but after
wards pardOned.
The Cuban revolution was inaugurated
on October 10, 1868, when Gen. Cespides,
I
on the field of Yara. The Cuban patriots
rapidly fiocked to his standard, and a
vigorous campaign was waged against the
Spaniards, who soon had a force of nearly
$4,000 men, including volunteers for local
defense, in the field. The Cuban republic
was organized under a provisional consti-
tuition, on April 10, 1869. The war
was carried on with varying success for
more than ten years, when the last Of the
Cuban armies was scattered. The losses
of the Cubans were estimated at nearly
10000 killed in battle, besides over sc, 900
prisoners and suspects who were put to
death. The Spanish losses were estimated
at nearly 100000 men killed or who died
in the campaigns.
During the war the most revolving cru
elites were perpetrated by the Spanish
volunteers and often avenged by the
Cubans. Among the measures for sup
pressing the revolution was a decree that
every male, over fifteen years old, found
in the country away from his home with
out justifiable reason, should be shot, that
every house which did not nave a white
flag displayed on it should be burned, and
that women and children found alone on
their farms should be forcibly removed to
designated towns.
When the revolution of 1868 broke out
the Cubans possessed considerable
wealth, and had they been Injured to war,
and possessed Of skillful leaders, might
have gained their independence. Now,
however, with their property gone, and
discouraged with repeated failures, they
can have little hope'of inaugurating an
other revolution which will give
promise of success. Cuba is
much worse off with few insur-
gents hiding in the swamps than if the
Spanish authority were not menaced at
all. Until the patriots are able to put an
army boldly in the field, it will be best for
them to discOuntenance all revolutionary
movements. Whatever may be the bust
ness depression and dissatisfaction in
Cuba, it will be many years, doubtless,
before the revolutionists will be able to
| throw off the Spanish yoke.