The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-03-18

Campo~ WHO was cli,f III command
durinr the former revolution, and who,
as Captain General. was now again to
direct military operations i'll the island.
The insurgents held none Of the sea-
port towns of importancc: they were
wholly without war vessels, and conse
qucntly their operations were confined
to the interior, and at first to the east
ern and middle portions of the iS.and.
The government forces, by reason of
inadequate means OF transportation into
the interior. and lack of knowledge Of
tn" country, were practically unable to
locate and reach the rcvolutionists so
as to bring on 4 decisive engagement.
Desultory skirmishes were not infre-
quent, and these were apparently mag
nitied into victories 10y each party for
the effect such reports would have on
the outside world. The expressed plan
of the insurgents was to playa waiting
game until the hot season should begin
in May. when it was reasonably eX-
pcctcd that yellow fever and other dis
eases incident to the heated term in
the island would play havoc with the
unacclima,ed Spanish soldiers, as had
Spain, being mistress in Cuban wa
ters, at once took steps to prevent the
reyoIutionists from securing munitions
of war and rcinlorccments, especially
from the United States, where the Gu
ban Junta was located She kept 4
close watch on all vessels going and
coming. and early in the difficulty came
near embroiling herself with the go:-
ernment of the United States by firing
upon an American vessel, the .iUiuHc0
engaged in the W st Indian carrying
trade. \ protest brought forth an
apology from Spain, but she by no
means relaxed her vigilance, and even
purchased several lightdratt vessels to
patrol the coast more thoroughly.
There was much openly expressed
sympathy for the Cubans in the United
States, especially in the South and
West, but the government at Wash
ineton took early occasion to warn its
citizens and others against fitting out
filibustering expeditions or doing other
acts in violation of the treaty rights
existing with Spain. But in spite of
warnings and precautions, the agents
and friends Of Cuba. who were very
active, fitted out and dispatched several
vessels which made landings at unfre-
quented points along the coast with
reinforcements and munitions of war
purchased i'm the United States. As a
consequence of this. and because of
constant acccssiOns to the ranks of the
insurgents from the interior of the is
land, their situation continued to i'm
prove, no military check Of any impor-
tance having been suffered by them up
to the clos. of tle year 1898.
Although Spain had been able to re-
lieve her financial distress by cttecting
a loan. and had continued to send rein
forcemcnts, it WAS an undoubtel fact
that the revolution was steadily gaining
Roadway. and that state of war actu-
ally existed Sentiment in the United
States was very strong IN favor Of
recognizing the insurgents as belliyer
cnts. and many business men favored
a plan for the United States to guar
antec bonds. which the Cubans were to
issue. in order to raise money with
which to purchase their freedom from
Spain. In the mean time the Cubans
became more aggressive. Their opera
tionS. which were at first confined to
extended to the western end Of the is
land, and to the very precincts OF Ha-
vana. The cvolutions of Gen. MaNimo
Come and Gen Antonio Maceo seemed
to afford a constant series of surprises
to the Spanish, who We're never able
to engage the enemy III a pitched bat
tie. The agents Of the insurgents were
also busy and negotiations for vessels
Of war were being conducted in Europe
and America. IN short, the revolu-
ton was fast gaining ground. and the
failure to check it WAS ascribed to Gen
Canpos. who had seemed to act more
in a spirit of cancellation than conquest
His enemies n home took advantage
OF the opening afforded, and brought
about his T.; call, and Gen. D. Nalcriano
Weylcr WAS made Captain General iii
bis stead The latter laid out plans of
extreme hars!lnes>, but the insurgents
appeared not to be dismaycl, since
Gen. Gomez, although - years DID,
and his llshing cavalry leader Maceo,
hal alrca l. mud m ,rr healway than
in the former ten years ofIighting, and
had evidently inspired their followers
with the belief in victory against Span
isl policy however harsh, or the Span
ish columns 10y whomsocvcr led.
In t ie m an time resolutions were
offered in the United Stat IS Senate and
House of Rrprcs rntatlvcS to the elect
that the circumstances made it right
and proper that tha Cuhans should be
re recognized us hclligrrents. These reso-
lutiouS amounted to nothing more than
al expire sion "I opinion, hn' the words