The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-08
Cannot Crush the Cubans.
Weyler's Policy Proving a
Boomerang as Predicted.

Boomerang as Predicted.
HabaDa, April l, via, Tampa, Fla,
April 3.-Army operations have been
pushed With great vigor for the past
month. General Weyler has given
officers and men no rest. His orders
have been peremptory, and may a
general has incurred his dIspleasure by
tardiness in the pursuit of the enemy.
The result of these active movements
has been to completely tire out large
portion Of the army in the field. The
insurgents have been kept moving,
their camps have been destroyed, and
a dozen of their hospitals have been
burned during the month that has just
passed, but the government has oot
forced as single battle upoa the rebels.
The only serious engagements have
been those in which the insurgents,
having the advantage of position Or
uum bers, as at Cayajabos and Cande
Iaria, assumed the offensive and defeat
ed the regular troops Of Spain. There
have been many rear guard sk;rmishes.
which appear in the Spanish Official re-
ports as battles and victories for the
crown, but which, upon Investigation,
prove to be like sons Of the battles
fought oy Don Quixote. Quite num-
Der of them have been found to be
massacres Of uuarmed citizeus, and
there have been more tales Of horrors
committed thar battles fought 10 this
island Of Cuba during the month of
March.
If one hundreth part Of the stories
that reach here Of the operations of the
columns of Generals Melgui2o and Ber-
nel. and Of CcloneIs Molina. Tort, Sc
gu!a and others are true. the reason
Why General Wey!er cancelled ali
passes held by correspondents is plain
Owners of estates report e2cesses con-
mitted By detached bodies Of Spanish
troops iu all parts of the island, and
there is no longer talk OF atsen pting
to grind sugar this year. The problem
is how to preserve the lives Of e'n-
ployees and prevent wanton destructioo
by the troops.
The insurgents have gained more in
the past month than in any TWO that
have preceded i:. Weyler's decree
compelling people to abandon their
homes 10 the interior has driven many
peaceable Inhabitants into the rebel
armies. The harsh measures adopted
toward suspects in cities and towns have
also increased the number Of recruits
from families Of the better class i" Cit
les. The landing of four important
has given inspiration and
cartridges to the patriot army ''he'r
hopes we're never brighter Hot wrath.
ec is already here and rains are not far
eff. The limited time remaining FOR
military operations this spring uake- it
plain that Spain cannot crush the ''.he-
lion before the vet season sets in and
the serious problem of caring fos the
lives of her soldiers presents Itself a
Spanish officer io.orms me tha! she
losses Of the army through fevecs and
other sickaesses haze been II. 600 since
September and over 25 600 durlag the
year ending March l. TIE recent
statistics made public By the Spanish
consul general at New York. in which
The total losses for the year we're given
as 3.877, of whom 2S6 were killed lo
battle, are so paIpaoly absurd that one
wonders if the Spauisb government is
serious 10 presenting then. There
bave been single battles 10 which the
Spanish losses amounted TO more than
that given FOR the entire year.
Generals Aldecoa and Bazan have
been sent back to Spain. making pine
generals wao have failed to satisfy
General Weyler since his arrival.
General Obrejon is also booked to re-
turn and General Pando. commander
of the first army corps, has been or
dered back for allowing Gomez to enter
Santa Clara without fighting battle.
General Suarez Valdez is also on the
list He is 10 command Of Pinar del
Rio, aud besides failing to suppress the
rebellion in his section. he sent an
impertinent message to Weyler by
heliograpb. Weyler says be can get
more active work out Of coloDels thao
from generals, aud the exodus con-
tinues.