The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-03
CrHA IND HAVAhH.

NtB1 bND hdFhNI
The island of Cuba, which is Just
now attracting much attention and is
more than likely soon to be the theatre
OF bloody war between this country
aud Spain, is the largest Of the West
India group, and lies between the Car
rihean sea and the Gulf OF Mexico. 1t
is about 76O miles long, cast and west,
and from twenty to 135 miles in width.
Its nearest point TO the state OF
Florida, from which it is separated by
the Floi / la strait, is 1870 miles, and the
entire ceast line is close to 2,20O miles
About the time Florida was ceded to
The United States it was reported that
Spain was about TO dispose OF the
island TO England or France, when our
government Informed the European
powers that IL would not consent to
such q transfer and the matter was
dropped. Our government also in
formed Spain that while it would
never consent to any such transfer it
had no objection to her retaining pot
session OF the island. In 1925 Spain,
in consideration OF certain commercial
concessions, wanted the United States
to forever guarantee TO her the posses
sion OF Cuba This was declined upon
the grounds that such course would
be contrary to the established policy
Of the United States.
Ia 1s4s President Polk instructed
the American minister at Madrid to
of r. the Spanish government $780,
600. OOo for Cubs, but the proposition
was Indignantly rejected.
In August, 1851, General Lopez led
an ,xpedition Of $50 men, among
whom was Colonel Crittenden, brother
OF ,x-Gov. r. l. Cittenden, OF Mis-
sou J., fro New Oleans. This expe-
ddon lAi ded 1T MosLlo jim the vuelta
Absj 3, rni fought many serious en-
gagemen . w.th the government
troops, n lost hetv.iy. Finally COL
onel Oi.tenden ami City {; his men
were clp,ured and shot in Havana.
Subsequent to this General Lopez was
captured, taken to Havana and gar
roted. In 1889 President Fillmore re-
fused to join with England and France
in treaty guaranteeing to Spain the
possession Of Cuba
This displeased Spain, and during
hr. Pieree's administration the Aneri-
can steamer Black Warrior was fred
upon by Spanish war vessel. This
came near preciPitating hostilitles be-
tween!the two countries. In 1855 Q
the subject OF taking Cuba by force
il necessary, was discussed 10 the
United States senate, but abandoned.
Beginning with the year 1852 there
has been but few intervals OF years
since that tine island has been free
from revolution. In 1878 General
Thomas Jordan, graduate Of West
Point and an officer In the southern
army OF distinction, landed in Cuba
with a small force and defeated the
Spanish troops in several sharp en-
gagements, and rose TO the command
er-in-ehief Of the revolutionary army.
Wey yleI's brutal orders recalls similar
feroeiou3 actions aud orders enforced
by the captain general Of Cuba during Z
this period One of these was that
every male over the age OF IS years
found in the country away from home,
without justiaable reason, should be
shot. That every house on which q
white flag was not displayed should be
burned, and that all women and chill
dren found alone on their farms should
be removed, bY force II necessary, to
BayAmo or JiguAni, remote distances
from their homes.
The harbor Of Havana Is defended
By numerous fortresses, chiefly among
which are the bateria dc la PuntA. &c
the right Of the entrances TO the hAr
bor; MORO Castle directly opposite
and on the same side are the forti6ea
tions OF La CAbAnas overlooking the
narrow entrance, thenl Casa Blanco
commanding the city itself; then in
regular succession around the bay are
forts Numero Cuatro, Principe, Sar
LaEaro, Pastora, the tower Chorrera
aud the greatfortress OF San Domingo
The hArbor of Havana is the hnesl
In The world, sud she maritime bust
ness annually transacted 4 almost fab
ulous. should The spanish torpedo
boats be allowed 20 gain entrance In
TO the hsrbor il would be PRACTICAL.
impossible iof the whole Amerieai
fise' Of "srships soezpelthem % or drive
I them ont except by starvation, and