The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-13
Tampa Letter in the Sun.

Great rs the dl1crCnCe bClNGcn SPAN
ish and American military methods.
A little recapitulatiOn Will show it. On
the morning of Feb. "a, 1895, there was
great excitement ana disorder IN Ha-
vana at the palace Of the captain gem
eral of Cuba. News had been received
of a conspiracy throughout the island
against the Spanish government and
of the uprising of small band OF not
more than forty men in Havana prov
ince under Manuel Garcia, Of the
presence at Matanzas Of another band
composed of fifty men under Betan-
court, and also that Bartolome Maso
had taken the field near Manzanllo,
Santiago de Cuba, with about 200 fol-
lowers. 1t was the beginning of the
present revolution
The captain General, Don Emilia Cal
leja Isas! said by the Spaniards to
have been a hero and a great military
commander during the civil wars in
Spain, was bewildered that morning.
The news caused him to prepare a
decree declaring the island in a state
of siege, which he published in the
evening; to plan a military campaign
against the revolutionists; to frame
a truce to propose to them, under
promise that Spain would grant to
Cuba ample and fair reforms. He sum-
moned to the palace junta of Spanish
authorities, committee of AutOno-
mists and the colonies of volunteers,
and many of his personal friends. His
desk and two tables near by were COW
cred with maps of the six provinces,
reports from the governors of all the
important cities, and with many other
papers OF the kind. He sought advice
from everybody, and everybody, from
the officers of volunteers. to the most
ignorant Havana shopkeepers. explain
ed in loud voices, gesticuating, putting
and splitting on the marble floor. plans
Of their own. Nothing practical was
done, of course, for many long days,
and the revolution grew stronger Two
months after the Spanish cabinet of
Canovas recalled Calleja, and appoint
ed Martinez CampOs captain general
of Cuba.
CAMPOS' FAILURE.
Martinez Campos landed and was re-
ceived by the Spaniards as savior. He
was the general that pacifed Cuba in
1878 and ended the civil war in Spain
In favor Of Don Alfonso XII. He was
said to be a military genius and a
man of extraordinary luck. He made
some twenty trips around the island,
always leaving Havana unexpectedly.
He was at Peralejo. and on Dec. "a,
1895, he entered the capital pursued
by the triumphant forces of General
Gomez, who, without any military or
ganization and with few arms and little
ammunition, had marched from east
to west at the rear Of the Spanish col
umns.
Martinez CampOs, as soon as he
reached Havana that day summoned
another junta and, with tears in his
eyes, confessed to all that he had been
defeated The confusion was trcmen-
dous. The first idea of the Spaniards
was to stand by him, the second tC
Kick him out. The volunteers made a
great demonstration in his honor ant
two days later compelled him to re.
sign. Troops marched through the
streets without order or concert As
in the times of Calleia, every mar
tried to have the army adopt his in.
diVidual plans. Martinez Campos lef
in disgrace and Weyler replaced him
y witness of those scenes of disorder
and incapacity cannot fail to observe
the contrast between them and tn,
Tampa at the headquarters Of the
American army that within a few day!
will probably invade the island o
Cuba. Everything is done here quiet
ly and well. Judging only by appear
ances, no one could imagine that il
the big hotels here. where SO man!
beautiful women gather in the even
ing, surrounded by handsome officers
and listen 20 the music of fine mill
tary bands, such a serious thing as tn
invasion Of a foreign land is actual,
being planned.
THE YANKEE WAY.
General Shafter does not make
show as a Spanish general would. pre-
tending that hetis too busy to talk T.
anybody and keeping around him
regiment of officers running here an,
there with messages in their hands. J
foreigner, used to the noise and bustl
pf the Latin races, has TO ask here VIII
the general is TO find him. And yet
that man, with a simple and sever
uniform, contrasting so much with tn
gorgeous dress of a Spanish genera
is polite to all who approach him an
OF modest demeanor; that man ha
studied inch by inch the map Of Cuba
as Blanco has never done, and is read
to strike decisive blow against Spai
with the mathematical precision Of
chess PLAYER moving his men on IN
chess board,
That same strange simplicity ais
impresses the foreigner who has tray
eled in Span when he first visits tn
War department building at Washing
ton. The absence of soldiers at tn
war headquarters of nation engage
in war is a great contrast to the hun