Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-15
METHODS OF THE CUBAN RAIDERS,
PLANTATIONS IN THE SUGAR
DISTRICTS.

The method of the Cuban insurgents
in ra;ding place Is 10 hover about until
the Spauiards hear Of their presence and
send troops TO drive them of. No one
can ever ascertain how strong an insur-
gent force Is, rs they usually conceal
their full strength until the Spaniards
fall into the trap. In this instance,
when some OF the Soledad people ventur-
ed out. they found the insurgents going
through the evolutions of drill a.
Not one thread Of clothing protected
their bare bodies from drenching rain
falling at the time. They drilled away
In blissful Inconsistencies OF any in
friugement OF the military code.
Soledsd employe remarked 10 one OF the
rebels that no cause could succeed when
its soldiers couldn't afford clothes. The
rebel Informed him that they had taken
off their clothes and put them under
shelter, for fear of getting them wet.
He added that the Spsniards were not
far of, and that they were broken down
aud their clothes watersoaked, which
would impede their movements and-its-
courage them, while his men, being
fresh aud dry. could fall upon and easily
put them 10 flight. The result proved
the willy insurgents to be- right, and also
that nudity was not only economy but
strategy.
The climate Is powerful ally Of the
insurrection. IL has decimated the
ranks Of the government troops tentold
more than the Insurgents mlchetes. IL
mows them down with such appalling
rapidity that il seems 10 insure the vie
tory Of Cuba In the struggle. Abou,
Nav | a detachment Of Spanish troops
encsmped on the Ysabel plantation ~
the base of the mountains near Guam
tanama. They had recently arrived
from Spain, and were totally unaccli-
mated and suffering from want OF food.
Most OF them were boys and very young
men. unaccustomed 10 active military
service. The administrator OF the plan
tstion gave them two bulls, which were
killed aud consumed within twenty
minutes after being driven into camp
The next morning the Spaniards re
sumed their pursuit Of the insurgents in
the mountains, hut by the time they had
marched four miles from ssbel two
thirds OF the force were prostrated by
the heat and had To- be carried back In
bull carts.
The troops have intensified the an
- gonism of the natives by unnecessary
brutality. Many instances have oc-
Cured on their marches where the men.
found at some roadside cabin, were call
ed out aud peremptorily ordered TO join
the government forces. When the un-
lucky native, equally afraid TO join, o,
refuse TO join, demurs, and explains hi-
neutrality, he is instantly shot.
One Of the finest and largest piantA-
tious In this district Il The San Antonio
IL Is beautifully situated on the foot Ill
OF the mountains, and commsnds all ex-
tcnsiye yiew OF the surrounding country
The smok.stacks Of 20 great plantations
are visible from this magnificent place
IL has railroad connecting II with
Guantanamo bay. San Antonio has
been unfortunate enough 10 have IT,
cane fields twice destroyed by arson. II
soon recuperated, however, although
the first fire consumed all the buildi 'gs,
mills and machinery, besides ravsgiug
the cane II Ids on the adjoining pla ntA-
tion. Romalee. Its sugar production Is
owued by Mime. Adele Reloj, negres.
OF jet black complexion. This Tact tHii-
ed TO save her from being wooed am
won, like sny other heiress on this sio'
of the All ntic, by European husband.
Several sharp engagements nave peeh
fought on the san Miguel plantai ion,
doing great injury 10 the crop, and re
tarding the work by terrorizing the
Iaborers. Ia addition 10 other losses on
the plantation in the district OF Santiago
de Cuba might be mentioned the large
stores amply stocked with merchandise
adapted 10 the needs Of the plantation
community. These have been literally
cleaned out Of everything by one side or
the other, usually the insurgents
Where the sales once amounted TO
thousands OF dollars the merchants have
now either closed their doors until the
war is over, or merely keep up q
semblance OF trade by occasionally sell
iny media's worth Of tobacco. When
the store at Santa Maria plantation was
raided. the insurgents did their work so
thoroughly as TO alarm the owner,
Frenchman. and his people. He I'M
mediately closed up the business OF his
splendid plantation and removed with
his family 10 the safety and tranquility
of the United States, where many an-
other Cuban planter is just now stoicai-
ly pondering his misfortunes.
Ii is said that the staple products of b
Cuban plantation are sugar, negroes.
dogs and fleas. A prolonged war must
ruin the planters and destroy the sugar
crop; it may diminish the ratio OF
negroes. but the hordes OF dogs, with
their chronic m,nge, will be there, and
| the fleas.-New York Sun.