Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-26
HOW THE CUBANS FIGHT
New Facts About the Progress of the
Revolt
History of the Uprising-The Mode of
Misunderstanding the Ex-
petitions.

A gentleman, for forty-ive years a resi-
dent of Cuba, in an interview in New
York. gave the following timely re-
sumo of the Cuban rebellion. Owing TO his
interests in Cuba and his strong sympathy
for tie Cubans he refused to allow his
anne to be used:
1.-The present rebellion, he said, was de-
vised and planned by Cubans in New York.
Following its inception carefully worked
cut 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.
Everything was done by the masses
through their representatives, to persuade
Spain to grant their reasonable demands,
but the long-promis ed reforms were defer
red from year to year, first for the one as
signed cause and then under another, that
they were being studied or thei: claims
investigated. Meanwhile seventeen years
slipped by.
The Start of the Fight.
waiting seemed vain. Early in 1895
many of the colored or working classes
were idle. Then on February "a. 1895,
number raised the flag of rebellion. The
standard of revolt was set up in a number
of places in eastern CIba, a rich province
in which the blacks greatly outnumbered
the whites. The blacks Joined the petty
leaders.
simultaneously, in central Cuba, small
parties formed. At that time the move
ment was not deemed really serious one.
However. the small parties maintained
their independence and grew in number and
strength Then they had few or no arms,
hut all had the death-dealng machete.
The several parties of rebels commenced
systematic search of the country estates
and plantations, Selling all the arms that
could be found. Masse, in Bayamo. gave
an impetus to the movement by raising a
body of men, who instantly took the field
ready for aggressive work.
The Spanish officials made little of the
whole uprising. They did not want any
disturbance that would upset their own
more making plans. Later Spain became
alarmed and sent out Gen. Martinez Cam
pos, who instead of bringing the long
| promised reforms, brought soldiers where
as, If he had come alone, duly authorized
TO adjust all the differences, the extension
Of the rebellion would have been prevented,
and settlement reached.
Landing of Gomez and Maceo.
while the insular events were multiply
irg, Gems. Maxine Gomez and Antonio
Maceo landed with a considerable follow
ing. They Joined small party of rebels
under Gen. Jose Maceo, a brother of An
| tonic. They were Joined later by the late
| Jose Marti, who had been the life and chief
organizer of the Cuban junta in New
York. Then General Crombet and his party
landed; they were ambushed by the Span
iards; Crombet was killed; the survivors
were made prisoners, and today are in the
Moro Castle at Havana.
AT that time the general rebel rendez-
vous was in the lofty mountains, east of
Guantanamo, in the extreme east of east
ern Cuba. When it became known that
Gomez, Mart and Maceo had landed, hun
dreds of Cubaus abandoned their homes
and Joined them. Generals Gomez, Marti
and the others seized horses supplies, etc.
Later, reports came of skirmishes with the
Spanish troops. The rebels made many
prisoners and thus secured arms. In the
early days of the rebellion. arms and sup
plies were sent to the rebels by Their
friends and sympathizers, and smuggled
into the country.
Methods of the Rebels.
THE rebels foraged for all living sup
plies. Next the rebels made the owners of
estates pay tax on all cattle slaughtered
for general or private consumption. Herds
were driven into the mountain Businesses
for future supplies. The best men were
selected and armed as sharpshooters The
men without arms, saving the machete,
have cultivated large tracts of rich noun
tain lands, growing corn. pumpkins, sweet
potatoes and plantains. Thus food supplies
In the commisSariat departments are not
lacking. Friends send them salt, etc. and
when in need they simply raid a town,
taking whatever is wanted.
Eastern Cuba has been and remains the
main center of the rebellion. There the
blacks and their descendants are banded
together ike the old-ttme Carbonari of
Italy. The negroes are perfect woodsmen
TO Cuba they are what the early day In
dams were in the North American CONT
nent, hardy and crafty enemy, Astounding
in skill and endurance, living under cir
Gums tances where ordinary men cannot
live and maintain health. The people in
central and eastern Cuba, who are not
| openly on the side Of the rebels sympa-
| tnize with them and keep them fully ad-
vised of every movement OF the royal
| troops.
Strength of the Rebels,
Fully $1,000 men are In the various rebel
commands. of whom three-fourths have
arms. When General Calixto Garcia landed
hundreds of whites and blacks instantly
| Joined his standard. Yesterday May %
Garcia was marching toward the center of
the island to join General Gomez
The men in the rebel army are about half
whites and half negroes-the latter make
the best soldiers. They sleep in the open
ar csn march whole day without food
Their wants are few and the native forests
supply many Of them. As general rule in
fights they fire two or three volleys, close
with the enemy and rush in, machete In
hand. shouting their favorite cry, a
machete"
Desperation of the Fighters.
"All sense of danger seems TO disappear
| and they fight like demons. On several &C.
| casions blow from a machetero has cut a
1 a. t.