The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-04

rived the result OF all this superb mill |
tary genius became evident. linus was |
certainly doomed. There were large bod |
les of infantry at the north and solid |
phaIanx Of plurned cavalrymen were on |
the east. some ugiy-looking pieces Of ar
tillery were posted on the hills looking to |
the southwards, while in the bay, few
miles 10 the westward, were anchored |
the Reina Cristina, hrst-ciass, thirty |
six-gun armored cruiser, and several |
other almost equally formidable repre- |
sentatives of SPANS 'invincible nayyh"
The gunnery officer on the Reina Crisd- |
ma was about the first man to announce
10 the insurgents within the doomed
town that the power Of Spain was now %
be asserted. He caused his heaviest ma-
chine to send few missiles in to the air
and down into the community whose in
habitantS were just awakening after
night Of peaceful s.umber. There were
perhaps SEQ men in linus when the bonn
bording began.
Without waiting to take vote as to
the propriety Of firing back at the Reina
Cristina, the noble 260. as il governed
by common human instinct. concluded
they could do better service in the noun
tains few miles TO the southwark than
they could where there was so much
noise and confusion on account OF those
shells from the cruiser. They did not
stand on the order of Their going. but
simply went The Formally Of a break
fast was dispensed with. The members
Of the party who We're going 10 take a
stroll off into the convenient foothills
did hot care TO take even coffee and
fruit before going. They walked out
over the lowlapds Immediately outside
the town toward the foothills which they
had in mind. The little band had not
perambulated to any great distance
when il was caught by the field glass OF
an artillery officer on the eminence a
couple of miles away. The Spaniards
evidently thought these few hundred
men were but small part of the de-
Tense OF linus, so no effort was made 70
prevent their reaching the mountains.
The Cristina bomparded away, until the
ship paymaster suggested to the gun
merry officer that firing might cease until
it was ascertained whether the govern
ment at Madrid had negotiated the pro-
posed loan or not. To operate these
heavy guns meant heavy expense. The
firing stopped and here was chance for
the infantry TO distinguish itself. de-
tachment Of several thousand men was
sen; into the city. The men in this COM
mand worked themselves into a state Of
mind which prepared them for all sorts
of sights-for the real horrors OF war.
They might expect 10 see heaps Of dead
bodies and hundreds dying from their
wounds. But the dead and dying were
not there. They were safely in the foot
hills by this time. The Cristina's guns
had demolished number of buildings
OF architectural character not intended
TO resist hundred-pounder. and dill
gent search brought 10 light a few dead
bodies. Some brave notes from the
ougle announced that linus had fallen
and there was great rejoicing The fact
that linus was not strongly defended
not defended at all-did not seem TO
neutral.ze the celebration. even II the
coup VAS shorn Of the Importance which
the Sp3 iards expected The world was
soon il -med tina; linus was burned to
the ground. hundreds and hundreds OF
rebels killed and a few thousand taken
prisoners. There was great rejoicing al
Manila. The Spanish officers went wild
with delight. and the warships in the
harbor ran up their strings OF varigated
banners, such as are employed on occa-
sions Of great gladness.
And that IS about the way the thing is
going right along.
The rebels are taking things easy.
They have suffered a number of defeats
OF some Importance during the past
month or SO, but the engagements have
not been as important, by any means,
or the rebel loss OF life as serious as
the Spanish authorities would lead the
world 10 believe. The insurgents are
acting on the defensive. They appear
TO be in excellent spirits and entirely
confident of final success. even in the
face Of a dozen reverses during the past
two months. The insurgents. 10 my per-
sonal knowledge. feel that their cause
is a righteous one, and tina. as such Il
must win. Their secret agents in Hong
kong-and they have many-say send-
ment in favor of the rebels Is constant
ly increasing II is evident that the
rebels intend 70 take things easy. hoping
y wear the government out. Tn ex-
pense OF the rebellion 20 the Spanish
government must De al least $500 900
day, and II is the opinion Of the rebel
leaders that his severe strain cannot be
endured very long Il; Is also the opin-
ion Of the rsoel leaders that the not sun
shine and severe rains which come al
teTnately during the rainy season, be-
ginnig about the middle OF May, will
tell severely on the Spanish soldiers.
most OF whom are young and undsvelop-
ed lsds-many of them conscripts direct
miliar with the climate which is partic-
uiarly severe on strangers The natives
are quite a. home during the rainy sea-
son and seem % prosper even in the
llowiands and swsmps. Thousands OF
the insurgents, who were under arms a
few months ago. have temporarily
abandoned their arms 70 take up the
cultivation OF the soil. Blu; they viii re-
turn 20 their arms. There does not ap-
pear 70 be very much system among
the rebels, yet they seem 70 know
enough about me condition % things %
keep them from getting denoraized.
General P0layieja. the governor general
o, the Philippines and commaDder-in-
chief OF the troops. just before the ter-
mina,ion OF his cruel and noto-iously in
competent rule. issued an amnesty proc
lsna;ion That was about four weeks
ago l. was declared in the prOciama-