The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-12-25

The Baltimore Sun, with us accuS-
toned enterprise and foresight into the
wants of it's readers, has compiled from
its news columns of the past two
years, a. resume of the war in Cuba,
its causes, its progress, its chief items
of interest and the men who are lead
ing the forces of the respective COM
batants. The CITIZEN takes pleasure
in republishing the article in install
ment form. maybe two or three weeks
being required to complete it. By
careful perusal of the facts and figures
contained therein, one may become
we'll acquaited with Cuban and Span
ish affairs just when the world is en-
crossed with their deep consideration,
and when the information can De very
readily put to many uses:
Out of number of theories and ava
lanches of conflicting reports regard
ing the present state OF affairs in Cuba
and the past course of the rebellion, it
appears an almost hopeless task to sift
the facts of it's two years duration.
February "a, 1895, is usually given as
the date on which the insurgents de-
clared their separation from the Span
i-h monarchy, but mutterings of dis
content and revolt had been loud long
before that time, while the bill for
home rule was pending in the Spanish
COrtes, and q compromise was accepted
between the government and the revo-
lutionary opposition. The Spanish
GovernOr-G General, toward the end of
FebruaEH, proclaimed martial law in
Havana, and at about the same time
Jose Marti, nominated by the junta
head of a provisional government, and
General Maxine Gomez arrived III
Cuba TO begin operations.
FIRST YEAR OF THE REBELLION.
Two rallying points for the insur-
gents seems to have been in the prov
inces of Santiago and MantanZas.
Bands of Cubans from New York,
Key West, Florida, and adjacent is
lands, among them many veteran
rebels of 1873, had been landed during
the winter. On March l the Span
iards reported the capture of an insur-
gent force in the aforementioned prov
ince, and on March Is the American
steamer Alliance was fired at l.y a
Spanish gunboat upon Suspicion that
she had been landing rebe Is and war
material in the province of Santiago.
PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS
The revolutionary actions, as shown
in the Suns news, consisted chiefly
in the destruction OF sugar plantations
and other property, with the idea of
stopping the payment of taxes to the
Spanish authorities. No towns were
taken, no permanent camps or strong
holds established, and the Spanish Con-
tinued to hold all the important towns
both on the coast and in the interior
of the provinces entered by the rebels.
The guerrilla bands of the rebels hav-
ing no fixed headquarters, as rule,
managed to elude their assailants, and
finding their way through the dense
forests and difficult mountain country,
perseyered in destroying Cuba's chief
industry. The provinces in which
they successfully operated were Santi-
ago, Puerto Principe, Santa Clara and
Mantanzas, but they Were without the
means of maintaining large armies
aud fortified posts, against which the
larger forces of the Spaniards might
concentrate their energies.
In Santiago, where Jose and An
tonic MaceO and Gomez had landed
in the beginning of the year, amidst
regions mountainous aud densely
wooded, and eminently suited to GU
errilla campaigning, there was CON-
bet on Maich 8 with the Spaniards at
BOcas del Toro and another. with con-
sidera able loss to both parties, at Baya-
mo on the 10th. Maceo fought the
Spanish at PalmaritO on April 10.
On the oath there was an encounter at
Palmiros, aud on May 20 Jose Marti
was killed in determined fight few
miles east of BayamO, at Dos Rios.
He was only about 40 years old.
THE OPPOSING FORCES.
The government force in the island
at first appears. to have numbered
were statlOnedsin Havana, but soon
the GOvernOr-General asked for and
obtained reinfOrcemeRts, which had
been ready to sail from theports of the
home country, and unlimited credit
was given Tor the suppression Of the
EevOlf.t From thur thine. during tina
whole bf, March, sConf1ietihg reports Of
incessant engagementB reached the
United States Press, but NO decisive
action took place. On March %. 1895.
Captain-G General Callejos resigned and
Marshal Martinez CampOs was APP
pointed Chief. He
landed in Cuba April Is, the revolu-
tiOn in the meantime having spread
westward.
Among the insurgent leaders of that
period were prominent the Generals
MassO, Jose MaceO, Crambet and VAL
des. Petty encounters were of daily
report, too frequently favorable to
either side, according to Spanish or Gu
ban sources Of information, and no
revolution in the worlds history sur
passes the present III fabrication of sto-
ries and downright lying.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
The town Of Canasi, near Mantanzas.
was fired by the rebels, (whO on Nav
3, had proclaimed the Cuban Repub-
lic,) about June 10. At that time
their forces were estimated at 10000
men by the Spanish officials, and the
name of Antonio MaceO, one of their
most daring aud cunning leaders. be-
came more and more prominent.
Rebel sources, ON June %, furnished
the intelligence that ssall the Spanish
artillery in the eastern departments''
had fallen into his hands. The story
went that during several engagements.
when the Spauiards opened fire:On the
H. -. VI