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


the time was not yet ripe for the full
recognition of Cuban bel!igcrcncy. and
that in the present temper ofthe Span
ish people there Was Slight chance OF
the acceptance of Il tender or friendly
offices in behalf of the cubaTs engaged
in carrying on an instruction. The
position Of Spain, rs laid down Y
Prime Minister Canovas de Castillo
was to the effect that the island must
he reduced to state Of submission to
Spanish authority before reforms could
Or would be instituted and the govern.
ment, notwithstanding her expressions
of regret for popular demonstrations
against the United States, was alive
for preparations for L possible rupture
War-ships and the training squadron
were put in readiness, and many mer.
chant vessels were armed as priyateers
it was also frequently stated in Madrid
that the recognition of Cuba by the
United States would be followed by a
firm protest from all the European
powers.
In the mean time reinforcements
from Spain had continued to arrive in
Cuba, and Captain General Weyler had
established the hotha or fortified line
of % miles crossing the island from
north to south near Havana, and at La
Chuza, in Pinar-del-Rio provinces, not
far from the trocha an important battle
was fought on April 18th. The rcvo-
lutionary forces under Gen. Gomez de-
feated the Spaniards with loss OF $50
killed and 500 wounded, and drove the
fugitive Spaniards to the sea, where
they were finally rescued by war-ship
which opened fire upon the pursuing
Cubans. Just previous to this,s how
ever, Macco had attempted to capture
the fortified town of La Palma, held
by the Spaniards, and was repulsed
with heavy loss. The wrecking 4svof
trains and bridges by dynamite, tie
burning of sugar-cane, tobacco AND
cotton still went on, and there Avere
frequent skirmishcs with lebsa bands
up to The latter part of Fpfil.. when
Gen. Munez, of the Spanish forces,
marching to attack Gen Garcia in
Santiago province, was. Inmsclfattackcd
by the latter and defeated with q loss
of 800 killed and 400 weuhded. =.
Early in May Gen. Inclan attacked
one Of Maceo's forts at Carcarajicara,
and was defeated with severe loss, and
little later the town of Punta Brava,
near Havana, was burned by the : in
surgents, and other villages were alse
destroyed by them. \ little later
Maceo made 4 night attack upon the
trocha, and succeeded in breaking
through, thus demonstrating that Gen.
Weyler's fortified line was by no means
invulnerablc, as subsequent events
also proved, for the insurgents passed
through it repeatedly from time to time.
Meanwhile, filibustering expeditions
organized by the Cuban Junta i'll the
United States, had become more fire.
nr"nt. and some of them were success
iul, ',,it the schooner Competitor, with
small rebel band, and carrying dyna-
mite, cartridges and rifles, was cap
tured while trying to land on the Gu
ban coast. The captain and five of the
crew were tried by a naval court-mar-
tial, and condemned to Death. One of
the men was an American, two others
claimed to be such. and the fourth was
an Englishman. The United States
strongly insisted that the Americans
should be tried by civil tribunal, in
accordance with treaty rights, which
was finally granted, after much protest;
yet the affair at one time promised Il
serious rupture between the two coun-
tries. Successful landings were made
by other tlibustering craft, among
them the Lnmru,I,, Thrrc Friends, and
B,rmmla, while the tity IF Richmond
and the Horsa were apprehended by the
authorities of the United States, and
the captain of the latter was fined and
sentenced to l6 months imprisonment.
At this time the military situation
showed little signs of Spanish success.
The regular Spanish army in Cuba at
the beginning of the war Numbered
Il 900, but now it numbered not less
than l3O, 900 regulars and $4,000 vol
unit .crs, which, together with police
and others, increased it nominallv to
over 200 600 men; but of these at least
40, 900 had died or were in hospitals
The Cubans had about 10000 men in
the field, although they claimed $4,000,
either estimate being very large pro
portion for 4 population of between
100000 and 500. 900 from which he
insurgent forces were drawn Spain
had spent 100000 900 and her tnan-
cial affairs were in a distressing state.
although she had managed to negotiate
loan of $20,000,000. The revolution
was supported chiefly by contributions
from the Cuban organizations in the
United States and irCm voluntary gifts
to the cause, yet with all the difference
i'll resources, the government seemed
to be constantly but slowly losing
ground. The rebels indeed were be
coming more and more aggressive, and