The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-02-28
a Review of Cuba's Struggle.

Oa February oath last the cuban strug.
gle reached its third anniversary. In
numbers. Of course. the insuTgent ranks
are somewhat reduced. but in fearless
determination they are still character
lied by the same inhoXible spirit which
they carried into tn field three years
ago. and from one end Of the island to
the other the fires of independence still
burn.
Fom the past few days the interest OF
the American public has been centered
upon the problems growing ont of the
destruction of our battleship Maine: but
while the special commission is faithful
ly endeaVOring to ascertain the cause
Of this horrible disaster it may not be
amiSs at this time to review briefly the
principal developments of the Cuban war
since the breaking out of hOstlities. In
making this review ii is not necessary to
inquire into the causes Of the war fCr
these are sufficiently well known already
On February 2tth. 1898, the Cubans rails
ed the standard Of revolt in the prov
nccs Of Santiago and Mant2nzas and
notified the home authorities that they
would, submit no longer to the CALLING
yoke of Spanish despOtsm. In spite OF
the vigorous efforts of the home author
tiles to put down the insurgents the reVo-
lutOnary movement grew apaCe. Some
of the most influential citizens of the
island including Gomez, MassO Rabi
Marti, CisnerOS and others arrayed them
selves under the insurgent banner. When
the patriot forces We're ready for or
ganizatiOn General Maxine Gomez was
placed in command and hostlities com
mcnced in good earnest, In vain Cap
tain General CALICO sought to quell the
insmrection Every iuducement was
offered to the insurgents but without
avail. Within two months from the
time of the Cuban outbreak ii became
evident TO Spain that she was in great
danger of losing her colonial possession
and that in order to save it she must
exert her best efforts. Accordingly in
April. 1895, Captain General Martinez
Campos took charge of affairs on the
island displacing Captain General Cal
lcio. But in spite of the prestige which
this renowned Spanish officer brought
into the field he failed utterly to subdue
the insurgont forces. One cuban victory
followed close upon another until finally
at the end of the first year of hOstilitioS
Spain realized that in order 70 pat down
the uprising she must change her plan
of campaign. ThcreupOn Captain Gen
eraI CampOs was recalled home and cap
tain General Weyler appointed to sue
ceed him. With the brutal and feroclouS
tactics which Captain General Neyler
pat into effect on his arrival in tuba
the civilized world is familiar; but in
spite of the savage inhumanity of these
tactics. the Spanish butcher made little
Improvement on the record OF his pre-
deccesor. He found that the spirit OF
independence perYaded every nook ana
corner Of the island and that even the
utmost resources of his cruelty were
p0WerIess to suppress il. OF course
with the death of the brave insurgont
leader. General Maceo. who sustained to
General Gomez much of the same rela-
ton which General Stonewall Jackson
sustained to General Lee In our own late
war. the cause of Cuban independence
Wayered temporarily. but ere another
month had elapsed il bOssOmed out
again with renewed strength and vigOr
I'd 10 August 1896, Spain had sent over
10 Cuba not less than 1870, 600 men while
the strength of the Cuban forces barely
aggregated more than 10000 men. In
contest so uneven il is little short OF
marvellous that the CubanS have man
aged to exist; and yet, in spite Of over
whelming odds. they have glorified the
flag of free Cuba with victories innumer
able At this time there is no thought
of giving up the struggle until Spain
stands ready to acknowledge the indie
DnDdcnco Of the island.
Io,.Cl,- marc than six mon his have
elapsed since Captain General Ney'er
was superseded in the command of the