The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-25
The War In Cuba

Early in 1896. Marti had received
Pledges of support from two Well known
military leaders in the preceding rebel
lion, Maxine Gomez and Antonio Ma
hands of the delegation. Marti went to
Santo Domingo, gave orders for the up
rising, and issued a revolutionary mani
feStO. A few men in Barre and ManZan-
lilo took the field against a Spanish force
under General Lachanibre, on February
oath. Marti Joined Gomez. and landed,
April 1lth at Sabana Ia Mar, on the
southern coast of Cuba. In the next five
weeks he had called for an assembly of
representatives of all the provinces to
elect a provisional government. On May
18th he was killed in a charge at Dos
Rios. h assembly did not meet until
the next September, when, at Jimagnayu
Bartoiame Maso was elected president.
The captain general of Cuba made pro-
posals of peace TO Maso, but they were
rejected.
In March, soon after the first gun was
fired February "a, 1856, Antonio Maceo
landed at Duava, in Santiago de Cuba
province, from a small open boat, in
which he had come from Jamaica. He
and his brother Jose Maceo, with a few
followers. broke through the Spanish
lines, and reached the country. In a few
days many rebels gathered about him
10000 it is said. The news of the landing
of Maceo reached Madrid soon after the
overthrow of the Sagasta ministry. Can
ovas. his successor, resolved to send
opdii . biC dito IIOSI "
itic ruler to the island. General Calleja
was recalled and General Martinez Cam
pos, with 25,0.9 troops. landed on April
18th.
During the first half of 1895 there had
been little more than guerilla fighting.
the insurgents keeping away from large
bodies of Spanish troops and making
dashes, here and there, on supply trains,
and this chiefly in the province of San
tiago de Cuba. to which the trouble was
confined. In July Campos, with 5000 men.
and Maceo, with 5000, met near Peralejo.
1t was a pitched battle and the Spaniards
were defeated. Among their dead was
General Santocildes, Who fell in s..eht OF
Campos. 1t was with difficulty that Cam
pos escaped capture. Gomez. during the
summer, operated in Puerto Principe
province. In September he was appoint
ed commander-in-chief Of the insurgent
forces. and soon after he sent Maceo
with 1000 men to the west. In November
he Joined him, and on December Bird they
defeated Colonel Segura; on December
18th they routed the battalions of Cara
rias and Trevino. and on December 2lst.
by a victory at Ell Desquite they cleared
the way to the province of Matanzas.
Campos met them at FL Coliseo on the
23rd and was defeated.
This succession of insurgent histories
led to a demand for the resignation of
Campos, and Canovas sent Weyler. Co
mez and Maceo separated and confined
themselves to attacks or the subsistence
trains sent out to the scattered Spanish
forces. On February 16. 1896, Weyler is
sued his DEGREES Of concentration. Under
these, all who were not in the insurgent
camps were ordered to concentrate in
the nearest fortified towns, their houses
were burned, and their crops destroyed,
SO that they could not feed the insur-
gents. OF the effects of these DEGREES
there are different accounts. but ii is
agreed that an immense number have
persisted by starvation.
On December Z. 1896, Mcceo was am
pushed and killed in Havana province.
He was succeeded by Calixto Garcia, who
had landed in Cuba the preceding March.
Gomez won the battle of Saratoga and
gained control of Santa Clara province.
He was reported to ave defeated the
Spanish again, in February. 1897. at Juan
Crilo, while Garcia won the battle of
Victoria de las Tunas. These victories
resulted in a strong feeling against Wey-
Ter, although his recall is said to have
been due to the influence of President
Mckinley. After the death of Canovas.
Weyler was recalled, an Sagasta sent
General Blanco to take his place, the
new commander reaching Cuba Novem-
Der g. 1897.
Spain granted to Cuba an autonomist
system against the protests of the Span
iards in havana. This the insurgents re-
jected, declaring death to those who ac-
cept it. They. have hanged Spanish
agents who have gone to them in the in
terest Of autonomy. Since the killing OF
Aranguren, while visiting a young wo-
man near Havana, there has been no
trustworthy news of Importance from the
Observation-Disclosures Herald.