Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-04-16
BRAVE LITTLE NATION
FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM FROM
CRUEL WRONGS.
Tho Story OF Cuba and Its Struggle
Briefly Teld-A Record of Tyran.
ny and Corruption-Despo Pol-
iCics of Spain.

nv 'tciN vi SdDsh oliu SlIuSSlt
for release from the rule OF the Span.
lard is the oft-repeated story OF cruelty
of tyranny and of corruption SO often
met with in the war of Spain, once a
vast empire, but now a meagre nation.
1t is story of the weak against the
strong, of the few against the many
OF the oppressed and down-trodden
and the tax-ridden against the op-
prcssor and tax-master and the tax
gatherer.
A brief cpitomc of the struggle for
freedom during the last eighteen
months is as follows:
By the 1st of October, 1895, a provis-
ional government had been established,
constitution promulgated and flag
adopted. On the 10th of October Bar
acoa, an important seaport in north
eastern Cuba, was blown up by the
rebels, and on the same day a division
of the Spanish army under Cortina
and Diaz was completely routed.
The biggest battle of the month was
at Mount Mogote between Maceo with
500 Cubans and Navarro and Linares
with 1000 Spaniards.
In spite OF these great odds the Span
iards were defeated after five hours
fighting. A number of successes fol-
lowed, which gave promise that the
Cubans would soon win, but General
Pando was now sent from Spain with
10000 fresh troops, with instructions
to push the war with vigor.
Early in December the patriots suf.
fered two defeats, but by the 10th of
the month redeemed them with the
victory of La Virginia. On the 23d the
Cubans entrapped 5000 Spaniards at
Palmarito and nearly obliterated the
entire force. The insurgents we're
now emboldened by their successes to
invade the province of Havana, but
they were driven out by two severe
defeats.
The close of 1895 found the Cubans
i'll possession of more than one.half
the island and valiantly disputing the
possession of the other half with the
Spaniards.
The year 1896 opened with bright
prospects for the insurgents, and by
the capture of number of garrisoned
towns they obtained quantities of arms
and ammunition. All the railroads
leading from Havana were DESTROYED
and Gomez had his cavalry finely
mounted and the Spanish infantry
could accomplish nothing against
them.
On the 17th of January General
Campos was recalled to Spain. He
had been employing 100000 men in
the fruitless attempt to put down the
rebellion, and had expended over $19,-
100000. General Weyler was appoint.
ed to take his place, and reached Cuba
on the 10th of February.
On the 1st of February Cisneros Bet
ancourt, the President of the Cuban
republic, issued an address to the peo-
pie of the United State in which he
stated that he selected the United
States to make the appeal to becaus c
they had themselves suffered oppres-
sion and felt the iron heel of the ty-
rant. 1t closed with these words
"Cuba, the bleeding, appeals to her
American sisters. She does it in the
name of God, of justice, of civilization
and of America"
This address produced a profound
sensation for the Cubans in the United
States.
General Weyler reorganized the
military forces as soon as he arrived
and placed the country under martial
law. He added to the long line OF
Notifications called the ;" trocha," and
manned them with $4,000 troops.
The trocha is three miles in width
and twenty-five miles in length, and
extends across the island. 1t has fire.
quently been pierced by Cuban forces.
Early in March Gomez invaded the
province of Havana with $4,000 men
and destroyed railroads and bridges up
to few miles of the city of Havana.
In March a Spanish column was de-
featcd by the Cuban General, Maceo.
At this time the whole insurgent army
of Cuba was estimated at 10000 and
the Spaniards had 100000 on the
island.
One OF the most desperate battles of
the war was fought in April in the
province of Pinar del Rio, in which
Maceo was victor over the Royalists,
but was defeated with heavy loss when
he attempted to take the city of La
Palma.
In May the rainy season began and
important military operations were
practically suspended. Early in July
serious battle was fought at Najosa
1t lasted forty hours and was drawn
battle. In fight near Santa Ana the
rebels under Garcia were badly de.
! feated.