The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-20
THE MORNING NEWS.
Established 1850. Incorporated 1855
CUBES REVOLUTION A FIzzLE.
no IMPORTANT STAND YET MADE
BY THE REBELS.

pOrtiOns-FaIse Reports the Only
Ones Prohibited by the Press Cen
sOrship-The Insurgents in Santi-
ago From $500 TO 5000 Strong.
Grom the Staff Correspondent of the
United Press.)
Santiago de Cuba. April 16, via Tampa.
Fla, April 19.-The staff correspondent of
the United Press after remaining in Ha-
Vana a week. meeting residents of all
shades of opinion, Spaniards, Cubans.
Englishmen, Americans, the United States
consul and the governor general, pro-
ceeded to Santiago de Cuba, the province
where the insurgents have made the most
progress, and is able to give the facts in
regard to the revolution and the status of
affairs on the island of Cuba
In the first place the censorship of the
press, telegraph and cable, exists only to
the extent that matter Of an incendiary
or seditious nature is suppressed. Cypher
dispatches are not allowed unless the key
is furnished to the authorities. The news
papers of Havana and other cities publish
the news of military movements, engage
ments and casualties in fun, even get
ting out extras when anything of unusual
interest is received. They have reporters
in the field and La Caricatura has an ar
exercises much license in illustrating.
When it is remembered that the
entire island of Cuba is un-
der martial law the freedom
of the press is remarkable. The authori-
ties, however, do not comprehend modern
sensational Journalism and when a spe-
Cial correspondent from the United States
attempts to cable his paper story of the
general uprising against Spanish rule,
which has taken place only in the brain
of some half-witted enthusiast or a whole
slaughter of Spanish regulars by insur-
gents, the dispatch Is sent to the palace
and the gentlemanly secretary of the gov
ernor general requests the presence of the
correspondent and informs him that the
dispatch cannot be transmitted. Naturally
the authorities do not give out news unfa-
Vorable to themselves, but when such news
is obtained, they make no attempt to sup
press it unless they know it to be untrue.
So much for the press censorship.
As to the progress of the insurrection, it
has for the last month been practically
nil In the first place no general rising of
Cubans has taken place, no provisional
government has been formed, no stand
against the government troops has been
made, no engagement of sufficient impor-
tance to be designated as a battle has oc-
CURED. In every department, except the
province of Santiago De Cuba, the few
men who attempted to rebel
were promptly arrested.
The plan mapped out by Mart and other
enthusiasts in New York was not indorsed
by the better class of resident Cubans
without whose financial aid and personal
influence no uprising in Cuba can sue
ceed. In several localities young men of
good families left their homes to join
the insurgents. They were inspired by the
patriotism that throbbed in the veins of
the heroes of the American revolution, but
when they reached the field and found
their leaders to be mulattoeS or bandits,
they returned to the towns and surrender
ed to the authorities. They were treated
with great lenienCy. Some were impris-
oned for a few days, while others were
lerated and sent to their homes at once.
Troops were rushed over from Spain
and detachments stationed in all the cities
and large towns Volunteers to the num-
er of 5000 or 10000 were enlisted from
among Spanish residents. This prompt
show of a strong force of armed men has
undoubtedly had its effect upon many
whose sympathies are with the rebels, vet
who hesitate about joining them
In the province of Santiago de Cuba, at
the eastern end of the island, the case has
been different. The mountainous nature
of the country and the number of sympa-
thizers here made this section the natural
choice for the landing of hlibustering ex-
petitions and war material. The leaders
who came here from Fortune Island, Ja-
maica, San Domingo and perhaps also
from the United States, found men to fol-
low them and local leaders to cooperate.
Bands of fifty, 100 and in some cases 200
men were formed. Not half of the men
were properly armed but nearly all car
ried some sort of weapon, rife, shotgun,
machete or revolver. There are form ?, 800
to 5000 men in all of these bands, they form
no concerted force, move about from
place to place In the mountainous dis
tricts, foraging among the plantations for
subsistence and occasionally having a
sIirmish with small detachments of gov
ernment troops Large detachmentS are
avoided. The warfare of the insurgents
foot of the mountains and capture is inn
possible unless the whole region is filled
with soldiers. They hope to tire out the
Spanish troops, and seek to prolong the
conflict until the rainy season sets IN,
when yellow fever may do more destruc-
tion than their bullets.
Under Governor General Calleja active
operations were delayed and clemency
extended to all who forswore their cause
and pledged submission to the King of
Spain. With Martinez Campos the new
governor general in the field, personally
pushing active operations against the in
surgents, the outcome VIII not long be IN
doubt.
the influential Cubans and properly led,
some show of success might have been
looked for. The leaders are not capable
of intelligent or systematic handling of
men, many of them have been outlaws and
bandits for years. Others are negroes or
half-bloods. Some bands are entirely
made up of colored men and the difficulty
in some respects resembles a race war
Such are the people for whom more or
less less sympaday n ene repnrts Of as
fought and victories won have been manu-
factured in the cigar factories of Tampa
and Key West. AS a matter OF fact, no
city and no town has been taken and no
battle of any Importance fought. When
the signal for a general rising was given
Santiago De Cuba numbered 100 men. It
would not have been difficult to capture
them. Now there are 1900 Spanish troops
here.
The insurrection is deplored by the better
class of Cubans, as we'll as all residents
interested in mercantile or producing
operations. The home rule party, and the
reform party, well as the conservative
party, has denounced the uprising as in
furious to the best interests OF Cuba, Re
forms. which have recently passed the
Spanish cortes, have not been put into eff
feet. Commerce is beginning to suffer.
Heavy expenses for military operations
have been incurred, and these will be
tackled on to the already burdensome taxes
with which the island is saddled. The gem
eral opinion of intelligent residents is that
the present uprising, like its several prede-
cessors, will fail, few more enthusiasts
will be shot, and the emancipation of the
fair island. which is bound to come some
day. will be delayed rather than aided.
(Signed) j. Frank Clark.
Washington. April l9.-A bill recognize
ing the belligerency Of the Cuban reVO-
lutionists has been prepared in this city
and will be introduced tn congress when
that body conVenes IN December next