Rock Island Argus., 1896-05-25
CUBAN SITUATION.
Stated by a Cuban in Sympathy
with the Rebels.
CAUSES OF THE PRESENT WAR.

Span Promised Much md Performed Little
-Chanee Of Peace Missed When Campos
Went to Havana with Arms Instead Of
demonstrating but Free Cuba Salts
factory Now-How tho Rebels Manage
Their War for Independence.
NEW YORK, May 25-A gentleman for
forty-flye years q resident Of Cuba, in an
interview with a representative of the As
sociated Press, gave the following resume
Of the past and present Of the Cuban re-
bellion initiated Feb. "a, 1895. Owing to
his interests in Cuba and his being in
sympathy with the Cuhans he refused to
permit his name to be used. "The present
rebellion" he said, Twas devised and
planned by Cubans in New York Follow
ing its inception a carefully worked out
propaganda was made in eastern Cuba,
and was conducted with great secrecy. It
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.
Mistake Of the Spanish Government.
Everything wns done by the masses
through their representative to persuade
Spain to grant their reasonable demands,
but the long promised reforms were do
fcrret from year to year. Early in 1895
many Of the colored or working classes
werc idle. Then on the 24th of February,
1885, number raised the flag of rebellion
and demanded Cuba Libre,' or free
Cuba. The standard of revolt was set up
In number of places and the blacks
joined the petty leaders. - The
Spanish officials not believing that the
movement was serious so informed the
government. Later Spain became alarmed
and sent out Genaral Martinez Campos,
who instead of bringing the long prom
ised reforms brought soldiers, whereas, if
he had come alone duly authorized to ad-
just all the differences the extension of the
rebellion would have been prevented and
a settlement had
How the Rebels Managed Things.
'Thc rebels foraged for all living sup
plies. Next the rebels made the owners of
estates pay u tax on all cattle slaughtered
for general or private consumption. Herds
were driven into the mountain fastnesses
for future supplies. Then, as now, they
had more men than could be armed The
best men were selected and armed as tir-
radores, or sharpshootcrs. The men with
out arms saving the machctc have cult
waited large tructs of rich mountain lands,
growing corn, pumpkins, sweet potatoes
and plantains. Thus food supplies and
commiss;,riat departments are not lack
ing"
Fifty Thousand Men in Arms.
In reply to question regarding tho
rebel strength the gentleman said that
fully 5000 men are in the various rebel
commands, of whom say thrce-fourths
have arms, ''Quite recently" said he,
when General Garcia landed. hundreds
Of whites and blacks instantly Joined his
standard, many of them in excellent So
cial position. The men in the rebel army
are about half white and half negroes
The latter make the best soldiers. Asa
general rule in fights they fire two or
three vOlleys, and close with the enemy,
machete in hand, shouting their favorite
cry, "A machete.' All sense of danger
seems to disappear, and they fight like
demons and make fearful adversaries.
How They Fight Their Battles.
When asked as to the rebel method of
attack the speaker snid that it was of the
usual Cuban type. 'They post their tir-
radorcs, or sharpshooters, in parties of
fifty. First they engage the advance
guard of the royalists from ambush, firing
upon them and producing panic and death.
If crowded too much that party will fall
back, while a new one of fifty will make a
flank attack. and so they simply harass
the Spaniartls and expose themselves as
little rs possible. The Cubans are as
crafty in ambushing as Indians nmany
OF the skirmishes in which the tirradores
fall back when outnumbcrcd such engage
ments are made to do duty as Spanish
Victories