Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-31

| vented his anger on his ministers. Said
Pasha, his chief councillor, fed for protec-
| ton to the British embassy. On being guar
anteed safety he returned to his home, but
kept out of the sultans reach. The only
| disturbed point now in Asia Minor is lei
| toun. which was captured by the Armenians
and later seized by the Turks, who had ar
| tilery. But the great ravages in Armenia
have caused untold disasters on the ap
proach of winter, and cry has gone out to
| the whole world. The Red Cross Society
has undertaken the work of relief, and the
| task of succor will be vigorously prosecuted.
The Cuban Revolt.
| Cuban discomfort with Spanish rule de-
| veloped into armed revolt early in the pres
| ent year. Late in February the governor
| general of Cuba proclaimed martial law.
| Jose Mart;, nominated by the revolutionary
junta to be the head Of a provisional gov
eminent, and Maxine Gomez, who was to
| take chief command of the insurgent forces,
arrived in Cuba and assumed the offensive.
There were two rallying points for the in
| surgents, one in the province of MatanZas
| in the western part of the island, and the
ether in Santiago, in the eastern end. The
government force numbered $4,000, about
12,ooo being at Havana and the rest near
Santiago in the province of that name. Not
| withstanding many successes reported by
| the Spanish and claims that the revolt had
| been suppressed, reinforcements were hur-
| ried to the island. Even Spanish reports
conceded that the insurgents made deter
mined stand against the troops, but the
nghtlng of the islanders was mostly on the
guerrilla order. The insurgents counted on
| yellow fever as effective in thinning the
| ranks of the Spanish troops during the sum-
mer months, and accounts of the mortality
among the soldiers appear to have justified
| their hopes. The Spanish government final
| ly concluded that the revolt demanded more
energetic measures, and in March it de-
cided that Marshal Martinez de Campos
should be sent with strong reinforcements
CamDOS
was commander of the forces that put the
Cuban revolt down in 1878. His career has
been marked with success, but it has been
checked this time. Although the Spanish
reported many successes, yet the insur-
gents seemed to increase after every re-
| ported defeat Up to the month of June
SPAN mad sent more than 10000 from
Madrid, but June - it was announced that
besides 10000 under orders to sail, prepara-
tions We're under way for 10000 more to sail
in August.
But the insurgents plan of spreading the
revolt westward made progress. Their
strength had risen from 6OOO to 10000 The
Spanish minister to the United States hav-
ing complained that expeditions were being
fitted out in this country 70 convey arms
and ammunition to Cuba, the Secretary of
State issued instructions to customs officials
enJolnlnS on them the obligation to prevent
the departure Of such expeditions. Never
tEeless, number of expeditions left, and ii
was claimed that aid was given the inSur-
gents Many arrests of suspected filibusters
were made, but it was impossible to obtain
convictions of violation of the neutrality
Jaws. There was widespread sentiment
IN sympathy with the insurgents and
numerous mass meetings We're held urging
upon Congress to recognize the insurgents
as belligerents. The Secretary of State is
sued statement pointing out the impro-
prlety of such assemblages in a country
on friendly terms with Spain, but the ad-
monition fell on empty ears. Meanwhile
the Cubans. while they have not CAPTURED
any town, have caused widespread devasta-
m a u-aS oot
to cripple the resources of their opponents
| They have used dynamite in the destruc-
ton OF railway trains, and, according to
Spanish reports, have not spared non-com-
batants. The warfare has been waged
with fierceness and barbarity. Prisoners
have generally been executed and the in
surgent taken. weapon in hand, knows that
ne Will be treated as a traitor. Insurgent
officers have been executed with their packs
toward their eXecutioners. knowing their
fate, the rebels fight desperately. They have
avoided pitched battles with large Spanish
forces. contentng themselves with raids and
attacks on outposts But in the few engage
ments in which over 600 were on each side
they showed that they were a match for
SPANS trained veterans There is a third
party In Cuba, the home rule party. or all-
Economists. They favor home rule in Cuba
under Spanish control. Their position is
doubtful but they are claimed by both sides
The Alliance Affair.
While of minor Importance the Alliance
grew directly out of the Cuban revolt and.
owing to American sentiment in favor of
the insurgents, the feeling against Spain
was more intense than it otherwise would
have been. The United States mail steam
ship Alliance, while on her homeward voy-
age from Colon to New York, was repeated
ly fired upon by Spanish gunboat off Cape
Maysi with solid shot, which, fortunately,
fell short. Secretary of State Gresham in
informing Minister Taylor at Madrid of the
affair said: This government will expect
prompt disavowal of the unauthorized act
and due expression of regret on the part
of SPAIN and it must insist that immediate
and positive orders be given to Spanish
naval commanders not to interfere with le-
climate American commerce passing
through that channel, and prohibiting all
acts wantonly imperiling life and property
lawfully under the flag of the United States.
You will communicate this to the minister
for foreign affairs, and urge Importance of
prompt and satisfactory response"
This action was based on the statement of
Captain Crossman. commander of the Ali
anca. He said that he did not recognize the
right of any vessel to stop him the high
seas, and paid no attention to the signals
of the Spaniard, who fired first with blank
cartridges, but afterward with solid shot
Senior Muruaga. the Spanish minister at
Washington, ridiculed the captains state
ment. The foreign office at Madrid replied
to Secretary Gresham that no notice of the
reported firing had been received, but prom
1sed to make inquiry, and intimated that
If 1t occurred it would be disavowed Re
port of the firing came in time from the
commander of the Spanish gunboat Condo
de Eenadito, who claimed that the boat fired
on was only mile and half from the coast
at the time. He also said that the vessel
hoisted the English flag, but as no vessel
flying the English flag reported being fired
upon, the universal verdict was that the
commander was in error. The position
maintained by the United States is embodied
in a resolution passed by the United States
Senate, June 10, 1858:
THAT American vessels on the high seas
In time of peace. bearing the American flag
remain under the jurisdiction of the country
to which they belong, and, therefore any
visitation. molestation or detention by force
or by the exhibition of force on the part of
a foreign power, is in derogation of the SOW
ereignty of the United States''
This resolution was agreed to by other
naticns, and has become part of generally
recognized international law. The doctrine
was vindicated in the Nirginius affair." when
Spain had to pay heavy indemnities for the
summary execution of the captain and crew
of that vessel in 1873 The Alliance incident
was of only two months duration. On May
16 the Spanish government delivered to Min
lister Taylor its reply to Secretary Gresham's