The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-28
HISTORY OF CUBAN REVOLT
AN OLD RESIDENT OF CUBA
GIVES SOME INTERESTING
DATA.
THOSE REFORMS THAT NEVER GAME
But Were Promised, Caused the Out
break-The filibuster Bermuda Was
Chased by Two Spanish War
ships on Her Last Trip.

1896, by the Associated Press. "A gen.
tleman 40 years resident of Cuba, in an
interview with Il representative of the
Associated Press today gave the follow
ing timely resume of the past and present
of the Cuban rebellion of today, initiated
February "a, 1895.
Owing to his interests in Cuba and his
being in sympathy with the Cubans he
refuses to permit his name to be used.
THE present rebellion" he said, "was
devised and planned by Cubans in New
York. Following its inception a careful
ly worked up propaganda was made in
eastern Cuba and was conducted with
great secrecy. 1t had many active agents
among the best classes in central and
eastern Cuba.
''Since the close of the last war the very
active propaganda of the autonomists has
educated the masses. Today they want
equal freedom for all
Everything was done by the masses
through their representatives to persuade
Spain to grant their reasonable demands,
layed from year to year.
EARLY in 1895 many of the colored or
working classes were idle. Then, on the
9th of February, 1895, number raised
the flag of rebellion and demanded Cuba
libre," or free Cuba. The standard of re-
volt was set up in a number of places and
the blacks joined the petty leaders Sim
ultaneously in central Cuba small parties
formed. At that time the movement was
not deemed really serious one. How
ever, the small parties maintained their
independence and grew in numbers and
strength. Then they had but few or no
arms, but all had the death-dealing
machete.
1.-The Spanish officials, not believing that
the event was serious, so informed the
government, and made little of the whole
uprising Later Spain became alarmed
and sent out Gen. Martinez de Campos,
who, instead of bringing the long prom
Used reforms, brought soldiers, whereas
if he had come alone, duly authorized to
adjust all the differences, the extension of
the rebellion would have been prevented
and settlement had.
while the insular events were multi.
plying Gems. Maxine Gomez and Anto-
MO Maceo landed with considerable fol.
lowing. They were joined later by the
late Jose Marti. Then Gen. CrOmbet and
his party landed. They were ambushed
by the Spanish, Crombet was killed, the
survivors were made prisoners, and today
are in MORO castle at Havana.
when it became known that Gomez,
Marti and Maceo had landed hundreds of
Cubans abandoned their homes and join
ed them.
Gems. Gomez, Marti and others com,
menced organizing their respective com,
mands. Later, reports came of skirmish
es with the Spanish troops. The rebeS
made many prisoners and thus secured
arms.
1.-The rebels foraged for all living sup
plies. Next the rebels made the owners
of estates pay tax on all cattle slaugh-
tered for general or private consumption.
Herds were driven in the mountain fast
nesses for rebel supplies. Then, as now,
they had more men than could be armed.
The best men were selected and armed
as tirradores or sharpshooters. The men
without arms, saving the machctes, have
cultivated large tracts of rich mountain
lands, growing corn. pumpkins, sweet
potatoes and plantains. Thus food sup
plies and commissioned departments were
not lacking.
Eastern Cuba has been and remains
the main center of the rebellion. The
people in central and eastern Cuba, who
are openly on the side of the rebels. sym
pathize with them and keep them fully adj
vised of every movement of the royal
troops"
In reply to a question regarding the
rebel strength the gentleman said that
fully $4,000 men are in the various rebel
commands, of whom say three-fourths
have arms.
Quite recently" said he. when Gen.
Calixto Garcia landed, hundreds of whites
and blacks instantly joined his stand
ard, many of them in excellent social posi-
tons.
1.-THE men in the rebel army are about
half white and half negroes. The latter
make the best soldiers. AS a general rule
in fights they fire two or three vOlleys,
close with the enemy and rush in, ma
chete in hand, shouting their .favorite
cry. "Amachete." All sense of danger
seems to disappear, and they fight like
demons and make fearful adversaries.
Arms are cut off at blow and heads split
open to the very chin. The rebel army
is differed by whites and blacks. Discip-
line is rigidly enforced. Robbery also, in
broad sense, is punished"
When asked as to the rebel mode of at
tack the speaker said it was of the usual
Cuban type.
"They post their tirradores or sharp
shooters in parties of fifty. First, they
engage the advance guard of royalists
from ambush, firing on them and creating
panic and death. If crowded too much
the party will fall back while new one
of fifty will make a flank attack, and so
they simply harrass the Spaniards and
expose themselves as little as possible.
The Cubans are as crafty in ambushing
as Indians. In many of the skirmishes
in which the tirradores fell back when
such engagements are made
to duty as Spanish victories. The policy
of the Spanish troops is one of makeshifts
rather than of search and battling with
Cubans,
1.-The real fighting today is in the west
ern part of central Cuba, and to that part
the rebels are hurrying forward every
available man. In many coast cities and
towns trade is at a standstll and there
is much misery and want, milk selling at
81 gallon. No vegetables are available, |
md there is great difficulty in getting |
meat. But for breadstuffs received from
the United States and elsewhere famine |
would follow. Despite all statements to
he contrary the rebels cross the trOcha |
whenever they please. The continued
presence of Antonio Maceo in the province
If pinar del Rio iS of his own yolition