The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-24
tanned, So to Speak.
Correspondent Clark Capers
At Campos' Court.

correspondent of the United Press
after remaining in Havana a week,
meeting residents Of all shades of
opinion, Spaniards, Cubans, English
men, Americans, the United States
consul and governor general, pro-
coed to Santiago de Cuba, the pro-
vince 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
ofCuba.
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 sup
pressed. CIPHER dispatches are not
allowed unless the key is furnished
to the authorities. The newspapers
of Havana and other cities publish
the news of military movements, en-
gagements, casualties in full, even
getting out extras when anything Of
unusual interest is received. They
have reporters in the field, and La
| Caricature has an artist who follows
the army corps and exercises much
license in illustrating When it is
remembered that the entire island of
Cuba is under martial law, the free
dom of the press is remarkable. The
authorities, however, Go not compre-
bend modern sensational journalism
and when special correspondents
from the United States attempt to ca
BILE his paper a story of the general
uprising against Spanish rule. which
has taken place only in the brain of
some half.witted enthusiast, or an ac-
count of the wholesale slaughter of
Spanish regulars by insurgents, the
dispatch is sem to the palace and the
gentlemanly secretary of the COVER
nor general requests the presence of
the correspondent and informs him
that the dispatch cannot be transmit
ted. Naturally the authorities do not
give out news u%nfavorable to them
selves, but when such Jews is OBJ
tanned, they make no attempt to sup
press it unless they know it to be un-
true. So much for the press censor
ship.
AS to the progress of the insurrec-
ton, it has for the last month been
practically nil In the first place, no
general rising of Cubans has taken
place, no provisional government
formed, no stand against govern
ment troops has been taken, no en-
gagement of sufficient Importance to
be designated as a battle has occur
red. 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 Marti and other enthusiasts in
New York was not endorsed by the
better class of resident Cubans, with
out whose financial aid and personal
influence no uprising in Cuba can
succeed. In several localities young
men of good families left their homes
to Join the insurgents. They we're
inspired by the patriotism that throb.
bed in the veins of the heroes of the
American revolution, bnt when they
reached the field anG found their lead
ers to be mulattos or bandits, they
returned to the towns and surrender
ed to the authorities. They were
treated with great leniency. Some
were imprisoned for a few days,
while others were liberated and sent
to their homes at once. Troops were
rushed over from Spain, and detach
mcnts stationed in all cities and large
towns. Volunteers to the number of
5000 or 10000 were enlisted from
among the 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, yet who hesitated
in joining them
In the province of Santiago de Cuba.
at the eastern end of the island. the
sosrh as been different The noun
taiaous nature of the cs1utry and the
plumber Of sympathizers here made this
section the natural choice for the land
ing Of 6libustering expeditions and war
material. The leaders who came here
from Fortune Island, Jamaica, San Do
miugo and perhaps, also, from the
Uuited States. found men to follow
them and local leaders to cooperate
Bands of fifty, a hundred, and 10 some
cases two hundred men. we're formed
Not half Of the men were properly
armed. but nearly all carried some sort
Of weapon-ridc, gun, machete or re
v%olver. There are from 1000 to 1000
men 10 all of these bands They fo7m
no concerted force, hut move about
from place to place in the mountainous