Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09

added to the esteem
and popularity which resulted in his an
pointment as COMMUNICATIVE of the in
surgent army. Victoria was the last re-
manning link in the chain of fortified cities
connecting Puerto Principe the capital of
Camagucy, with the Oriente or Santiago de
Cuba One by one (Cascoro Guaymaro and
Victoria de las Tunas) they have capitr-
lated. and to Garcia belongs the credit OF
their capture.
defensive or waiting policy does not
satisfy Garcia. To attack and subdue the
interior strongholds of Spain on the island
has been his aim and desire from the be-
ginning, but for many months he was pre-
vented through lack of artillery While
passing near Victoria de las Tunas a year
ago the column was subjected to a heavy
fire from the forts for nearly an hour.
Garcia gave orders that not a shot should
be wasted In reply. Leaves of the forest
trees, cut by Mauser bullets, were falling
around like paper snow in a theater The
position was a trying one to even Garcia
Suddenly turning he said: Just wait till
L get possession of few I2-pounders with
which to answer those fellows, and l will
return to give them all the fight they
and Victoria. with its twelve forts garrison.
ed by 500 men and defended by two krupp
guns. succumbed in less than forty-eight
hours.
A Leader of Men.
Cen Garcia is by nature socially no.
htically and on the field of battle fitted to
be a leader of men.
All Cuba prayed for his arrival on the
scene of her great struggle, and blessed the
day which brought him TO command in the
Oriente AT the present moment he is by
Tar the most imposing figure among all of
the generals. Spanish or insurgent connect
ed with the war Nearly. if not quite six
feet in height, of powerful build and iron
muscle, Gen. Garcia although sixty wears
OF age, is well calculated 20 make both
men and women turn and gaze in admira-
ton The anxious. half-discouraged look
SO often seen on his face while In New
York year ago has entirely disappeared
As the general wrote in a letter to his
wife few days ago: Cuba has worked
wonders for me.
THE beautiful climate of nv native land
mas made new man of me. / am twenty
Years younger than when you saw me
last"
Ard 1t Is true. His old friends would
hardly recognize in the erect, easy car
riage, the weather-bronzed face and bright
laughing eyes of the commander of the
department of Camaguey and the ''Oriente'
the emaciated, care-worn CalXto. ban
ished from Cuba and supposedly waiting
only for death to relieve him from the tire
some end of a wrecked and disappointed
life.
presented himself to Estrada Palma rep
resentative of the Cuban government in
New York. he said:
You may think me. perhaps. too old to
take active part in the war but il So I
have brought my son. If l fail to stand
the test OF battle, he will take my place"
What Gen. Gomez Said.
But Estrada Palma knew the great vi
tally Of Garcia, as did Gen. Gomez, who
wrote to the delegation: Send me but
Calixto and cartridges and 1 will free
Cuba" And they were sent. Today father
and son. Calixto and Carlos. are fighting,
shoulder to shoulder, for that which Is
dearer to them than life, and but few SOL
diers in the war have displayed greater
activity and endurance than this same vet
eran, who orce sent a bullet into his own
brain rather than surrender to the arms of
Spain.
Gen Garcia's operations I'm the .-Orienter
have been fortunate from the beginning
SO Tar he has not met with a single defeat
The nature of the country and the gen
erals familiarity with it. having fought
over the same ground from '6S to rs has
OF course, greatly aided his success. But
We must not lose sight of the fact that
during Garcia's long confinement in Spain
he lost no opportunity to perfect himself
IN modern military tactics. or at least in
that portion of them which might be of
service in Cuban warfare.
Today Calixto Garcia is probably the best
organizer and tactician on the island
thousands of raw recruit have been
gathered up by him in Santiago de Cuba
province: drilled under his direction, put
through few skirInishes and then sent
on to Gomez in the west, where they proved
very good soldiers.
Gen. Garcia Is a man who impresses both
the masses and the discriminating few
consequently he is popular with all. He is
q believer In display, but nothing so i'm
presses the rank and file an occasional
glimpee of the pomp and glory Of war,