The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-04-27

The Juntas, leagues organized by Gu
ban exiles at Key West and other nom
Spanish ports, now numbered many
thousands and We're ready at any time
to help liberate Cuba.
Maxine Gomez was rendered the
command and organization of the Gu
ban army, with Antonio Maceo and
Jose Marti as generals. The army at
this time was merely an unorganized
body of scattered troops, as Gomez
says, with scarcely four rounds of
ammunition apiece" The one weapon
with which even the poorest was
equipped, however was the far-famed
machette. Originally this was not a
weapon at all, merely an implement
used for cutting passages through
woody and bushy underground of the
island, and for cutting cane; but re-
Gently it has become a general term
used for most any kind of a sword or
sabre.
Gomez accepted the command with
the distinct stipulation that the COM
mander- in-chief should have supreme
and absolute control and direction of
the patriot army. He is a man of such
great judgment and foresight and such
renowned ability, that it was with the
utmost confidence that the insurgents
gave him control of military affairs
Gomez Is the son of a farmer. During
the early dissatisfaction on the island
he Joined the Spanish troops and, as a
private, aided in quelling the rebellion.
Afterwards, as he grew older, having
given the matter much thought, he be-
81 ~ n.
erty. This change, of course, was pre-
vious to the "Ten years war;" as dur
ing that rebellion he was in active SER
vice for Cuba Libre."
General Gomez tells the story of his
last campaign in a little book entitled
mi Escolta' ("My Escort'D which he
secretly had printed and published.
The date set for the war declarat ton
was February "a, 1895. but the flag of
the republic could only be raised in
three of the provinces. Then followed
desultory outbreaks the insurgents
seldom coming out in open warfare,
but secreting themselves in swamps
and mountains, and at night terroriz-
ing the Loyalists by raiding their plan
tations.
General Valerino Weyler was sent
over in command of practically the
flower of the Spanish army at the be-
ginning of 1896. His campaign was
characterized with less fighting, but
continual devastation, and cruelty pre-
viously unknown in modern warfare.
1t was during this year that the bril-
liant Cuban general, Antonio Maceo,
was decoyed away under flag of
truce, and killed. The Cubans believe
the Spaniards purchased the treach-
cry of one on Maceo's own staff. How
ever, nothing except the bare fact of
his death came to us as authentic
Strkingly similar to this incident was
the death of Lieut.. Joaquin Ruiz, a
prominent Spanish military leader who
the Spaniards claim, was shot down
by the insurgents while in camp under
a parole flag. The Cubans' explana-
ton is quite different They claim that
Ruiz came to them with the well-worn
proposition of autonomy, when he
knew that Gomez had issued orders to
the effect that any one proposing any,
thing short of an absolute independence
should be treated as a spy. Accounts
so conflict that in Justice to both par
Ties we dIe oDilSeu w tltdI Gill uiioL~
fetal reports incredulously.
Gomez's policy was to destroy the
whole island, thereby depriving Spain
of any possible revenue or supplies
like the Cuban chief in the fifteenth
century who discovered gold, and call
ing his people to him with a great deal
of ceremony, threw the shining mug
get into the river so there would be no
possibility Of the Spaniards ever find
ing and profiting by it.
At the opening of '97 the situation in
Cuba was something fearful. Weyler's
orders were cruel and relentless. The
suffering of the nom combatants was
increasing. Already the foreigners in
Havana were doing all they could to
provide for the famine stricken people
Loyalists, Separatists, Autonomists
were suffering alike. Europe looked on
with apparent Indifference. Spain was
too Impoverished to aid financially in
the work. 1t was daily becoming ex-
clusively a question of humanity.
Through great dissatisfaction Weyler
was recalled and General Blanco sue
ceeded him. Statistics show that al
ready four hundred thousand have per-
ished through starvation alone. Matan-
zas, primarily one of Cuba's wealthiest
Cities of about fifty thousand inhabi-
tants, will disappear entirely through
extinction, it is said, if this fearful
state of affairs continues much longer.
The dead carts" make their hourly
trips through city and outskirts, and
often out of a family of six or seven
there is but a single survivor to bury
those who have gradually wasted away
for want of food.
The state of affairs at present brings
to mind the incident in '73 when Cap
ain Fry and fifty-two Americans were
taken prisoners in Santiago and shot
as pirates.
Miss Clara Barton, president of the
American Red Cross society, with the
assistance of Consul Gen. Lee, has re-
lieved the suffering of thousands of re-
concentrates. Time alone can show
the possibilities of the results of Cuba
independence. One thing is assured
however, the old regime is doomed.
1t will be replaced with something en-
tirely new to Cubans, and something
doubtless, more in keeping with the
spirit of American liberty and justice.
The island has been in revolt many
times, but now with the United States
as an ally permanent success is assur-
ed. Before many days go by in all prob
ability the ''stars and stripes" and the
C,,,hoy, 40 will he r1anta6 cida hy Sida