The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-28
A NATURAL LEADER
IS CALIXTO GARCIA
Side Lights on the Character OF the
Cuban Commander.
RESPECTED BY FRIEND AND FOE

Gorge Reno in Washlngton Star.

George Reno in Washington Star.
When fate during the "ten years
war" snatched CaliXto Garcia from the
jaws of q self-inllicted death. it must
have been TO spare him for a leader in
the present revolution. The fall of Vic
toria de las Tunas was a severe blow
TO the success Of Spanish arms and
greatly added to the esteem and popu
larity in which he is held. Victoria was
the last remaining link in the chain of
fortified cities connecting Puerto Prin-
cipe, the capital of Camaguey, with the
Oriente or Santiago de Cuba. One by
one (Cascoro. Guaymaro and Victoria
de las Tunas) they have capitulated,
and to Garcia belongs the credit Of
their Capture.
A defensive or waiting policy does
not satisfy Garcia. To attack and sub
due the interior strongholds of Spain
on the island has been his aim ana de-
sire from the beginning, but for many
months he was prevented through lack
of artillery While passing near Vic
toria de las Tunas a year ago the
column was subjected rc a heavy fire
from the forts for nearly an hour. Car
cia gave orders that not a shot should
be wasted in reply. Leaves Of the for
est trees, cut by NTauser bullets, were
falling around like paper snow in q
theater. The position was a trying one
to even Garcia.
Suddenly turning he said: Just
wait till ! get possession of a few 12-
FOUNDERS with which to answer those
those fellows. and l will return to give
them all the fight they want" A few
days agO he kept his word. ana We
toria, with its twelve forts garrisOned
Krupp guns, succumbed in less than
| forty-eight hours.
A LEADER OF MEN.
Gen. Garcia is by nature, socially. ro-
| litically and ON the field of battle, fitted
| to be II leader of men.
All Cuba prayed for his arrival on
| the scene of har great struggle. and
| blessed the day which brought him to
| command in the "Orientc.' AT the
present moment he is by far the most
| imposing figure among all of the gen.
| erals, Spanish or insurgent, connected
with the war. Nearly, if not quite, six
| feet in height, of powerful build and
| iron muscle Gen. Garcia, although six
| ty years of age, is well calculated to
! make both men ana women turn and
! gaze in admiratiou. The anxious, half
! discouraged look SO often seen on his
| face while in New York Il year ago has
entirely disappeared.
As the general wrote in letter to
! his wife a few days ago: Cuba has
worked wonders for me.
THE beautiful climate of my native
| land has maze a new man Of me. l
am twenty years younger than whsn
| you saw me last"
And it is true. His old friends would
| hardly recognize in the erect, easy
carriage. the Weather-bronZed face and
| bright, laughing eyes of the command
or of the department of Camaguey and
| the "Oriente" the enacted, Carc~Worn
| CaliNto, banished from cuba and sup
pCscdly waiting only for death to re-
| leve him from the tircsome end of a
wrecked and disappointed life.
When. on his arrival from Madrid he
presented himself to Estrada Palma
! representative of the Cuban govern
ment in New York. he said:
"You may think me, perhaps, too OLD
to take active part in the war, but, II
so, / have brought my son. If l fail tC
stand the test of battle, he will take
my place
WHAT GOMEN SAID.
%