The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-09
MARTINEZ CAMPos.

MARTINEZ CAMPOS.
The Spanish General Now i'm Cuba n
Seasoned CampniEner.
Gen. Martinez Campos, upon whom Spain
relies to suppress the rebellion in Cuba,
has been one of the most prominent figures
in military and political circles at Madrid
for more than quarter of century This
is not the first time that Spain has called
upon him to re-establsh her dominion and
restore peace in Cuba, for in 1876 he was
sent with an army to that unhappy island
and, after long struggle. he succeeded in
bringing the ten years war to a close. To
him also is generally attributed the crown
ing victories of the Alphonsists in the last
Carlist war. 1t was in January of 1876 that
Don Carlos, the 1egitimst pretender to the
throne of Spain, issued a pronunciamento
in which he announced his determination
to make the winter campaign just then
opening decisive. Gen. Martinez Campos,
who commanded the Alphonsist forces, ac-
cepted the challenge and laid down plan
of campaign, the central idea OF which was
to seize the valley of the Bidassoa, and SO
drive the Carlists back to their original
lines about Guipuzoca, cut them off from
France, and prevent them from getting any
supplies except by sea, which the nioeka al
ing fleet of the AlphonsistS would make eX-
tremely hazardous.
This plan was successfully carried out, az
the c s1 i Forces was concerned Under
General Campos's direction Generals Que
sada, Mariones. Iona and Primo de IL
vera operated separately so as to divide the
Carlists. The Alphonsists were VICTORIOUS all
along the line, and on Feb. 9, scarcely a
month after Don Carlos had talked conf
IDENTIFY of taking up his residence before
Easter in the escurial at Madrid, his head
quarters at Estela was IN me n an o.
lists roundly in two battles, and the royal
pretender himself was flying for dear life
across the French frontier Gsnesai vans Iam-
completed the rout and King Alphonso,
few days later. in triumph entered I1 ha
for four years. Don Carlos had posed as
the King of Spain.
But in spite of the success of his plans
General Campos had to sit by. and see
large part of the glory go to his Subordl.
mates, and, it was hardly surprising tnas
was more or less prominent in the ranks
of the opposition. When ex-Queen Isabella
abe about tnso claim e for few thousand dollars,
which she asserted the nation owed her,
General Campos warmly supported her and
the Ministry the ridicule of all Europe.
Perhaps it was as much with the desire
Of getting hing out of the way as s. because cidIs
q 1876, e send Gsasrs campos wsr to
was playing the mischief with Cuban reve-
in-chief of the Cuban forces. and in the
latter part of October started to his new
field of activity with force of 14,OVo men,
accompanied by strong. naval squadron iron.
and extreme measures would begin the DAY
after his arrival in Cuba. He kept MS
word But warfare in Cuba, with It's dense
forests and the inaccessible Businesses OF
the rebels In swamp and mountain, proved
than t 1e he nad was so far
cessful that the rebels were always de-
feated when they were found, and Gordon
they could never break Gradually this
moose was drawn highland in February,ls 1873,
the last rebel band capitulated During the
remainder of his stay in the island General
Campos did much TO restore its prosperity
and showed such liberal and sympathetic
shirt that he actually became popular with
the Cubans an almost unheard-of achieve
ment for a Spanish captain-general he
was then in the prime of life, and whether
with the weight of advancing years upon
him his coming campaign in Cuba will pos
sess the same characteristics OF y1gor ana
decision is an open question.
In connection with Gen. Martinez Cam
pos's chances of victory now it may be
worth while to consider the quality and
expert military critic, writing in Armies
of To-day" published a year ago, by Har-
per's, does not express a very nigh sil0 opinion
of the Spanish army. Not until 1878 was
regular array constitution introduced by
King Alphonso. There have been many
changes lately, but the reorganization is
NOT even vet completed. Every Spaniard
is supposed TO be liable to military service.
but exemption in time of peace can be
legally obtained for scotland Illegally for
nothing at al, by means of political or
other influence. Nominally the length of
service is six years, really less than two.
For six years more man must serve with
the second reserve The Spanish army Is
divided into peninsular and colonial troops.
On peace basis the former number about
seventy thousand men of all arms. while
the latter, which garrison Cuba, Porto Rico
and the philippine islands. altogether
MT n IN
the Spanish treasury has prevented the
proper equipment of the army. and in these
sine qua non. it is strange to read that
the Spanish infantryman still carries a
said to be still more primitive, large part
of Ii dating back to the Carlist war of 1876
The only real strong point about the Span
ish army seems to be its liberal allowance
of officers, the majority of whom are on
half pay or serving without pay at all.
There are usually twice as many officers as
Campos takes with him are selected by lot
from the peninsular army. As a rule Span
as the climate there has the reputation of
being able to kill 10 per cent. of the men
within a month I,,i OF their landing. TO pro-
force the soldiers have their pay doubled
while they are in Cuba.
Havana Rumor.
NEW YORK. April s.-The Ward line
steamer City of Washing ton, which left
Havana April 4, arrived in port to-day
One of the officers stated that rumor
was current IN Havana prior to the sail
ing OF the steamer that a British ship. car
rying a band of insurgents. had been run
ashore. off Cape Maysi. and the captain
had been murdered. In detail, the story
was that a Spanish gunboat had sailed from
a Central American port with a party of
Gubans who had chartered the vessel A
difficulty OF some kind arose. and the cap
ain OF the schooner refused 10 land them
The supposed rebels murdered him and ran
The vessel ashore There was number OF