The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-21
Sees That the Spaniards Can Not Con-
quer Cuba.
AND is ARMING THE NEGROES
The Monster Not Aware of the
Feeling In America-His
Lying News Bull
letinS.

small body OF negroes known as the
'Yateran Black Guerrillas," who had
enlisted under the Spanish flag. saved
the Spanish force i'm the skirmish at
Guiana jay, there have been prepara-
tions for the further employment of
negroes i'm the war against the revolu-
ton. Upon that occasion, as we have
learned. when the regular troops of
Spain had suffered discontinue. the
Yateran Suerrillas sprang TO their re-
lief. charged with desperate energy.
fighting hand to hand. cut their way
through Maceo's lines, attacked his men
i'm the rear and thus enabled Spain to
claim a victory at Guanajay. These
guerrillas fought with the machete, the
weapon of the Cuban revolution; here
IL was that, for the first time in the
Cuban war known to us, machete met
machete in the hot conflict of battle.
Soon after the skirmish at Guanajay,
Spain began to enlist bodies of negroes
for service in the field African legions,
bearing the royal flag. have been
formed at Matanzas, at Colon, at Glen
fuegos, at Santa Clara, at Baracoa and
now we learn OF the formation of the
first two legions of blacks at Havana.
Those of them who are mounted carry
carbines, while the infantry rely chiefly
upon the machete.
1t is manifest that Weyler believes
they can be used to advantage in the
interest of Spain, for otherwise he
would not make enlstments of them at
Havana. In many a fight during the
past year the blacks in the service OF
the revolution have proved more than
match for the best regiments OF
Spain; and the mulatto chief, Antonio
Maceo, has given volume of proof
that he is a better strategist and tactic
ian than the greatest OF the living
Spanish commanders. whose plans he
has often thwarted.
We learn from these negroe enlist
ments that Spain will resort TO the
most extreme measures for securing
success. The formation of the African
legions is a confession that the great
Spanish army in Cuba is unable TO
crush the revolution. More than 100000
soldiers have been sent from Spain
within the past twelvemonth to reen-
force the Spanish garrisons in Cuba;
and yet the incompetence of Spain to
annihilate the spirit of freedom there
is more fully manifested in these days
than IL ever was at any other time
since the outbreak of the war. Now.
in Spain's desperate struggle for the
ascendancy, she calls upon the black
race in Cuba to come TO her help.
Never before. i'm all her sanguinary
history. did Spain reach such depth
of humiliation.
Under the orders that have been is
sued by Weyler since he landed at Ha-
TO enlist in the Spanish army. IL is, in
effect a CONSUMPTION to which they are
subjected. All the men of every color
in the country districts are compelled,
after swearing allegiance to Spain, to
take up their residence at points within
the Spanish lines. and to hold them
selves in readiness to render any ser
vice that Spain may require of them.
The able-bodied men, black or white,
who refuse to obey these orders, must
either suffer the penalties prescribed
for disobedience or fly within the revo-
lutionary lines, and poin the ranks of
the revolution. From the places that
are garrisoned escape is impossible.
and we infer from the names of the
cities where African legions have been
organized that IL is chiefly at these
places that the negroes have enlisted
for the service of Spain.
The words uttered by Weyler when
he took the oath of office on the day
after his arrival at Havana may be re-
garded as a notice preparatory to the
arming of the negroes. "All Cubans,
he said i'm his address to the Spanish
officers who join our battalions and
fight by our side must be received as
brothers.: the blacks and the whites
must be treated alike. The question of
color must not he raised. l have nc
race prejudice. During the former war
here my own body guard was com
posed wholly OF negroes: and their 10y
atty and bravery We're demonstrated
upon more than one occasion" This
language of Weyler clearly indicates
his purpose in making the new enlist.
ments. Ii is more than probable thai
before leaving Spain he got orders &c
impress the negroes. The news of tho
service rendered to Spain in the last
week of January by the Yateran Black
Guerrillas may have been cabled &c
.l-41 l.. g..
Cuba. At all events, he heard of Il
when he landed at Havana.
Not only will blacks be impressed in
10 the Spanish army, but we presume
that hunger also will drive recruits in
10 its ranks. BY Weyler's second de
cree, issued Feb. 16. all country mer
chants were notified TO proceed imme
diately with all their goods To tn,
nearest town garrisoned by govern
ment forces" and remain there. Thi
abominable decree insures starvation q
all men and their families, black o.
white. who fail to obey IT, These PEG
pie cannot procure provisions of an,
kind from the dealers i'm the severa
provinces and districts named i'm tn
decree. They must take refuge in tn
garrisoned places or perish of famin
at their homes. The season in whicl
sugar cane that can be used for sus
tenance could be obtained has passe,
for this year. IL is possible that. undo
these circumstances, negroes may en-
list in the Spanish army, upon arriving
at garrisoned places. as the only wa.
of getting a living for themselves AM
families. During the recent troubles Il
Armenia thousands of Christians turne
TO Mohammedanism i'm order to saw
their families from persecution wors
than death.
We suppose that Weyler may be abb
20 impress 10000 or $4,000 negroes int
the Spanish ranks. He may be able I
trust in their loyalty" until the It'd
turns a little more strongly In favor q
the revolution. They are all acclimate
and. in that respect. Will be more SCI
viceable than the troops from SPAR
They are accustomed To the handling q
the machete in the sugar cane fields
and their experience with IL will serv
them well on the battlefield. They ma