The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-01
Where Cuba Libre
Is a Real Fact


Hi of the Cuban revolution, writes as
(Uj follows for publication in the New
~ York Sun. and all VINO know Car
cia VIII credit every word he says: "On
the morning OF Nov. 20 the garrison of
Guisa, fifteen miles from Bayamo, after a
one-day's siege, surrendered to my forces
in combination with those Of Gen. Jesus
Rabi. This splendid victory of the Cuban
arms is but one of a series which began
in Victoria de las Tunas Since we cap
turcd Guisa, which is now free town in
possession of the Cuban republic, we have
whipped the Spaniards at Guamo and
Cauto del Embarcadero. We control the
Cauto River to the sea. Today, Dec H.
Gen. Pando. with his 1000 Spanish SOL
dicrs ana his squadron of ten gunboats
ilve steamers, and six smaller ships, has
given up the fight ard according to my
adviceS, intends to retire. lThiS has since
been Verified.l | wish to announce here
that Cuba is now absolutely free in all
the extensive territory of Santiago con-
trolled by my troops. We nave twelve
important towns where the people, pro-
tected by the Cuban army. live quietly
under the laws of the republic of Cuba;
and we have accomplished this by our
own efforts, without any foreign aid, and
fighting against the immense armies sent
by Spain to crush us.
"The Spanards calumnia ted my army
and myself when they found it impossible
longer to conceal the news of their sew
eral defeats. In the first place it is a
Spanish lie that the force with which |
took Guisa numbered more than 5000
men, My forces and those of Gen. Jesus
Rabi in that attack did not number more
than 1900 men, | have under my orders
1900 soldiers but with them | cover all
our strategical positions in this territory.
OF the 1900 men that ] commanded at
Guisa, nearly 1000 did not enter the bat
tie. | had them ready on the road from
Bayamo to meet any Spanish column
coming to the rescue of the town. Guisa
was taken, as Victoria de las Tunas was
taken, by the dynamite gun, an admira-
Bile war machine in charge of good Gu
ban officers, and particularly Juan Miguel
Portuondo, young man bred i'm the
United States, where he completed an en-
gneerng course and thoroughly studied
| the use of explosives. At Victoria de ,as
Tunas | made him a lieutenant He had
been simply a private in charge of the
gun. When the Spanards surrendered
their chief told me that they believed dur
ing the siege that the tiendish machine
was operated by some foreign officer who
had come to Cuba especially for that pur-
pose. / then presented to them Lieuten-
ant Portuondo, almost a lad, and the 9TH
Cr young officers of my corps of artillery
/ recommend the dynamite gun to the
| friends of Cuba who help us abroad /
repeat what | have often written to the
United States, that with six dynamite
guns of the largest size we can free
Cuba from east to west.
81 protest against the calumny that we
| have assassinated women and non-com-
| batants. | leave that honor to the Span
| ish generals. My troops, composed not {
| hired ruffians, like the Spanish guerrillas
nor of ignorant peasants of Spain, like
1 -. ,...l.
who have volunteered their services
without any pay, for the noble cause of
freeing their country. are incapable of
| such cOwardce and cruelty. The latest
| OF my officers to join me belongs to a
good and refined Cuban family and | am
| ready to match him with the first of the
| Spanish generals In the matter of edu-
| cation and all the characteristics and ac-
| complishments OF a gentleman. We are
| not assassins; we are patriots. In strict
| compliance with the laws of the Cuban
| republic we shoot the irregular Spanish
guerilleros whenever We catch them, be-
cause they murder sick and wounded Gu
bans when they raid Cuban hospitals, and
also massacre Cuban women and chill
| dTen When | was last in New York. and
Americans read the reports Of such Span
| ish barbarities, | never found single one
| who did not agree with me that these
| bandits. under the protection of the Span
ish flag, ought to be punished with death
| / have confidence in the courage of the
Cubans In the field and In the patriotism
| of the Cubans abroad. II the latter con-
| tinue TO supply our army with arms and
ammunition our final triumph is very
near | answered some days ago General
| Pando's ridiculous proposal that ] sur
render with the statement that the
waters of the Cauto river would soon be
red with Spanish blood, and it was.
o.
MY opinion about autonomy Is already
known, We are lighting for independence,