The Portland daily press., 1898-06-04
THE POWERS INTERVENE.


with revenge, but they were not. They
were simply signing for other Spaniards
to conquer.
A difficulty had arisen. 1t seemed prob
able that the war would have to end. The
supply Of Spaniards was about exhausted.
Various soldiers of the enemy had march
ed over to the camps of the stars and
stripes, voluntarily renounoing their own
flag. The whole Spanish army had been
anxious from the first to swear allegiance
to the American flag, but they had been
told that unless there was Spanish army
there couldn't be any war. They had been
kept in line by threats, entreaties and o.
casional presents of gum and marbles.
At intervals they would be compelled to
mobilize under the command Of small
freckled boy who bore the hated titled of
General Wiler." Immediately the whole
American army, brandishing wooden
swords, would attack them. They would
offer only the mildest resistance, for, al
though they were enacting the part of q
Spanish army, they had a mental reserva-
ton In favor of the United States and felt
it sacred duty to represent the Spaniards
as craven wretohes and trembling towards.
Shortly after rally of all the forces
General Weyler made the announcement
that he was black and blue all up and
down the legs, and Furthermore was tired
of leading forlorn hope. He had been
captured and executed at feast 30 times,
and he was ready to retire in favor of a
younger and more ambitious man. The
American army protested against the res
ignation, but he said that unless it was
T.. oil 40
home. Accordingly he was permitted to
come over to the American forces and
serve as O private. No sooner had be tax
en- his place in the American line than he
announced with much glee that be would
proceed to ''get even" for all that had been
done to him. In order to wipe out all
memory of his disgraoeful record as a
Spaniard be changed his name to General
Grant, in spite of the objections to an Or
binary private bearing the title of "gen-
eral.''
The Spanish army was in bad way.
What with assertions and surrenders to
the enemy the entire fighting force was
reduced to the following:
General Neutrality-suspicious. by q
strange boy in sailor suit who did not
know of the trouble that awaited him.
The Army-Represente by a very small
boy who had been coerced into the Span
ish service by his elder brother.
These two stood backed up against a
tight board fence, awaiting with appre-
tension an attack from 18 wildly enthusi-
astic Americans who were in battle array.
The freokled boy led the charge. GEN.
eral Weyler Stood dazed and inactive, to
receive the pokes from dozen wooden
swords, but the Spanish army fed, with
the freckled boy in full pursuit.
Up an alley and across vacant lot re-
treated the Spanish forces, the freokled
boy following after and gaining at every
step. He shouted as he ran, for he was
burning with lust for vengeance. He re-
membered the blowing up of the Maine
and the starving Of the Cubans and all
the insults offered to his country-to say
nothing of what he had suffered for three
days.
When the Spanish army yielded, the
freckled boy jumped on top OF it, shaking
it by the collar, kneading and pounding
with his fists and sitting down hard coca
sionally like a man trying springy oush-
ion.
Then there arose such watling and fran
tic appeals for mercy and long drawn
bowls that every worn and ANXIOUS moth
or around that corner was brought up
standing.
just az General Grant was getting his
last fill Of vengeance something s;note him
on the side Of Che head, and he sew mil
lion of green, blue and yellow stars A
hand olutched him by the collar, and be
was lifted and sent sprawling. 1t was the
mother of the Spanish army. The powers
had interviewed. Record.