Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-26
What the People Of Cuba Are Re-
belling Against.
A. WASHINGTONIAN'S DESCRIPTION
The Insurgents Are Pursuing a
Guerrilla Warfare.
THE PRESENT CONDITIONS

A bright, intelligent and handsome young
man, barely out Of his teens, but with ex-
cellent powers of observation. and at
tractive ability to describe what he has
seen, corversed with an Evening Star re-
porter this afternoon on the subject of
Cuba and the instruction now in progress
there. He is Mr.. E. NJ. Chase, and he has
just reached home from the far south on a
visit to his family, at LOG 9th street south
west. Mr. Chase is in business in Cuba,
being connected with the firm of Brooks &
Company of Santiago de Cuba The firm
| raises sugar on a large scale, and Mr..
Chase has been stationed at one of its
plantations near Guantanamo, forty-eght
miles from Santiago de Cuba, and in the
southeast corner of the island.
THE revolution commenced very near to
u.s." said Mr.. Chase, when the reporter
made his mission known, land is now con-
fined almost entirely to the half of the is
land lying in our direction. The insurrec-
tionists comprise the middle and lower
classes of Cubans. There are great many
negroes among them, but, them race dis
tinctions are not drawn as closely in Cuba
as here. l do not know that it would be
wise in me to talk freely about the state of
existing affairs. The Spaniards dislike any
thing like publicity in that regard, and as
am going back in November, 1t might be
possible that 1 would be made uncomfort-
able. Nevertheless, I'll answer your ques-
tons with pleasure"
How do Americans and other foreigners
regard the revolutionists?" queried the re-
porter.
sympathy Born of Suffering.
Foreigners generally sympathize with
them, for the reason that those who are in
business in Cuba suffer from the same
enormous taxation that the natives do.
Now, the outrageous system of taxation
which Spain has fastened upon the island
is the whole cause of the trouble continu-
ally breaking out there. A sum reaching
nearly s32000,0O0 represents the amount
of the annual tax the Cubans are subjected
to- which is at the rate of SIG per capita
What is taxed? Why, everything except
rum and tobacco These products are as
free air. Everything else is taxed. For
instance, when you take railroad journey
in Cuba you have to pay 10 per cent addi-
tional TO the cost of your ticket as a tax.
Here is a ticket"
Mr.. Chase handed the reporter an oblong
red pasteboard slip, which bore the follow,
ing inscription:
Santa Catalina
A
La Caimanera
Segunda clase.. ........................J0 cts.
10 per cent para ell Gobierno. ; cts.
Santa Catalina is the geographical name
OF Guantanamo" explained Mr.. Chase.
We'll, everything is taxed in about the
get when you want to leave the country.
When l left Cuba many of the other for
eisners We're also coming away.
The Approaching Hot Period.
1--WE always do. in order to get away from
the hot and rainy season, which begins
about July 1. 1t is productive of much
sickness, particularly fevers. The insurrec-
tonists are looking forward to this season
with gruesome pleasure. They are we'll
aware that it will be a most powerful ally
for them in their struggle against Spain.
You see, the soldiers Spain is now sending
into Cuba are recruits from the mountain
districts in the Pyrennees. They will stand
no chance in the hot and rainy period that
is about to envelop Cuba. While 1 was at
Guantanamo 500 Spanish troops came in
and camped on our plantation. They were
marched up into the hills about six miles
and back again. and a number of them
were Frustrated by sort of fever and We're
s-==t =. bullock carts and sent to the hos
pitaL"
Guerrilla Warfare Followed.
What manner of fighters are the revolu-
tionists?'' inquired The Star.
The insurgents are pursuing a policy of
warfare peculiarly their own" said Mr..
Chase. 1T is more of a guerrilla warfare
than anything else. They do not seek nor
will they be allowed to be drawn into a
pitched battle.
THEY will make raid on a town, and
when troops are sent after them they do
all they can to keep them moving. They
worry anS nag the Spanish soldiers in
every possible way, letting them have no
rest if they can help it. You have heard of
wild horses being walked down out west by
party of men who take turns in keeping
the animals on their feet for days at a
time until they are captured from sheer
weariness Well that's the way the in
surgents are fighting Spain. Her soldiers
are unaccllmated, and campaign such
they are about to enter in Cuba will soon
knock a man out.
How are the chances of the insurgents
regarded in Cuba?'
Many Years and Many Millions.
THE impression Of those familiar with
such things is that the. present revolution
has advanced very much further than any
OF its predecessors" replied Mr. Chase. THE
opinion is that if Spain puts it down it
will take years of time and millions upon
millions of money to do it.
did you read the Spanish minister's
criticism upon the news sail to have been
sent out by the insurgents in yesterdays
Starr"
YES" replied Mr.. Chase, with n smile.
THAT sounded very funny to me when
the facts in the case were apparent.
You see, 1t is absolutely impossible to send
any Geographic news out of Cuba without
its passing the review of the Spanish CEN
sors. And letter correspondence is as close
ly watched. Most newspaper correspond
ents now in Cuba get their letters out safe
ly by sending them to their copsuls and
having the latter give them to pursers OF
outgoing steamers. / shall return to Cuba
in November after the weather gets bear