The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-29
THECUBAN SHERIDAN
GENERAL BRAULIO PENA IS A BOLD
CAVALRY OFFICER.

Ms MANY Brave Deeds
Cuba has Phil Sheridan. He is
General Braulio Pena, chief of cavalry
with Maxine Gomez. striking and
romantic figure in tho Cuban war and
bound to play still more important
part when tho United States takes
hand in the fracas.
Pena has been i'm the present war
since the start and Is veteran of the
ten years war. At the close of the ten
years war. with others, he escaped to
st. Thomas and made his way to Flori-
da. Unable to do anything in a mercan-
tile way, without funds, he lived catch
as catch can existence and learned the
trade of cigar maker. When the pres.
ent war started, he was in the United
States. What money he had he turned
into the general fund aud went with
one Of the FIRST expeditions sent to the
island. Ne
The things Pena saved from the ten
years war were his stars as lieuten-
ant colonel. They were tortoise shell.
When he started for Cuba, he gave
these to HQratio s. Rubens, counsel to
the iunta. Keep them,' said he. ~
propose to be general when independ-
ence is acknowledged. +" That was the
last seen of Pena in this country. Since
then ne has been heard from often.
When he landed, Gomez embraced him.
In answer to question as to where
were his lieutenant colonel stars Pena
replied:
"It was not what I did then, general.
1t is for you to say what shall be my
rank. offer my services to my country"
Gomez made him q colonel Of caval-
ry. In a week he had 800 men. That
Pena was back was enough. In Santa
Clara he was known, and the young
Cubans focked to his standard. For ey-
cry dead Spaniard he made he tried to
add recruit to his ranks. Pena's orders
to his men are always: "Use the ma
chete. Save cartridges and get Mausers
or machetes. As cavalry leader he
has no superior in the Cuban ranks. He
combines the dash of Maceo with the
Judgment of Gomez. He will ride bis
men 40 miles to attack a Spanish col
,pmn and after five hours rest will raid
q town. TIE first year Of the war Co.
rAez made him brigadier general and
appointed him chief of cavalry. Like
Sheridan, he believes in leading. No
charge that his men participate in is too
dangerous for Pena. He never calls for
volunteers to undertake particularly
tough bit of work that he doesn't him
self agree to lead.
A favorite trick Of which Pena is
master is to see large body of cavalry
and decoy it into pursuit of his troops.
At bend of road his men will face
about and charge as the Spaniaras come
around the bend. The formation pre-
vents more than half or q small portion
of the Spanish cavalry coming into ac-
tion. Those who cannot see what Is
happening believe 1t is another ambus-
cade. Fifty or GO Spanish troopers are
cut to pieces, and Pena's force is out Of
the way. An hour later, by hard rid
ing, he may have doubled on the enemy
and is hacking at the rear. While the
Spanish are figuring out their loss and
forming for another attack Pena is away
to raid the town they have left uncov-
cred by their going out to meet him.
When they return. everything worth
taking in town has been gathered in.
Pena's men are taught two things
discipline and love of horses. To a
trooper he once found mistreating his
horse he said:
"To that horse you owe your life
more than once. Mistreat him again
and you will join the infantry" Pena's
daring is shown by an incident in the
Ten Years war. With Amelio Nunez he
learned that the commandant of the
civil guards in an interior town had
guns and ammunition stored in his
house. The pair decided to raid it. In
broad daylight they rode into town, tied
their horses at his veranda and entered
his house. Six soldiers were In the
room. Nunez and Pena covered them
with their revolvers and, singing out
the oommandant, Pena demanded to
know where the ammunition was. The
commandant told him 1t was up stairs,
and while Nunez held the rest with
hands up, Pcna started with his prison
or for up stairs. The commandant ran
up uto1rb ducou, anu, alIuiu VI uriuk NJ
Pene, made slash with his machete.
It missed and struck in q stair. Pena
grabbed and missed his man, but caught
his watch chain and broke it, Pena
hsngihg ON to the end attached to the
watch. A shot was fired down stairs
and . retreat was necessary. Pena's
horse vas shot and Nunez was forced
to leave him, whilo he himself ran a
gantlet Of Ere. Pepa hid in a stable,
selecting that because he thought he
might get horse. Luck favored him,
and when no was discovered he VIZ
mounted and armed for trouble. He es-
capped and joined Eunez
''It was bad raid," said Nunez.
"Your horse, machete and dozen bull
let's lost and nothing TO show for II.
Eyes, there is," responded Pena. 81
got this watch" During all his trouble
be bad cluny to the commandments gold
timepieoe. Pena has been wounded
number Of Zines by Mauser bullets, but
has always pulled through. He Is an