The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-14
VOLUNTEERS OF HAVANA
WHY THEY ARE so ANXIOUS TO PRE-
SERVE THEIR PRIVILEGES.
They Enjoy Exemptions i'm Many Die
rectiOns ana Further Personal In
terests at Spain's Cost.


been the arbiters of the destinies of the
| island, but there are not many who know
how the organization originated and how II
came to possess such great power as to lie
able to dictate at times to the captain gen
eral himself
| The colonial policy of Spain has alxa.
been one of distrust, and it became more 50
after the emancipation of her continental
possessions became accomplished fact.
Either because she was aware that her
methods were not calculated 10 inspire the
| natives with love. or because she realized
that her colonial agents-fortune seekers as
they have invariably been-could not help
being more solicitous for their own private
interests than for the public welfare, Spain
always cantrived to keep the inhabitants
of her colonies divided into factions so
hostile to each other as 20 preclude all pos
siblity of their ever coming together in a
common effort to overthrow her domina-
ton.
With this end in view Spain bestowed all
kinds of privileges upon the Spanish-born
residents of the colonies. whose support she
thus secured. To the immigrants natural
affection for the fatherand she added the
incentive of a privileged condition, which
they would not be able to enjoy if the colo
iiCS OCNdiIIc INDEPENDENT. ne DclltI 10 Cdt-
ry out her purpose in Cuba and Porto Rico,
Spain devised a scheme by means of which
she might count upon a soldier ready to
enforce her rule in every Spanard who
went to the islands.
These immigrants were freed from active
service in the army without having to pay
the usual fee of 500 for exemption. But to
enjoy this privilege they had to enlist as
Volnnfaa n 10 6t1tia
within the cities as the authorities might
deem necessary.
If arrested on any charge a volunteer is
not taken to the ordinary jals but is kept
in custody at the military fortresses pend
ing a decision of his case. This is no
matter what may be the gravity of the
crime of which he is accused, and, strange
though it may appear this privilege counts
for much among the Spanish immigrants
as an inducement to join the volunteer
forces.
BY this ingenious means Spain has been
able to maintain in Cuba an auxiliary army
OF perhaps 100000 men at little or no expense
to the treasury, for the volunteers get no
pay and their expenses an armed force
are betrayed by contributions from the
officers.
The rank and file of the volunteers in the
larger cities, such Havana, Matanzas,
Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, are made
up from among the lower classes of immi-
grants. For the most part they are cart
drivers and workmen at the wharves and
warehouses, retail grocers and statesmen
clal classes, composed a rule of success
full immigrants, but many of them are as
coarse and ignorant as those whose lot 1t
has been to remain poor.
NO GENERALS.
To be appointed colonel a man needs 10
have a great deal of influence and money,
for, as has been suggested before, the regi-
ments maintained by means of dona-
tions from the officers. each contributing in
proportion to his rank There are no gen
erals in the force, and the command goes
to the Spanish general acting as second in
command in the governorshp of the island.
The senior colonel of volunteers in Ha-
vana at the present moment is Don Juan
Soler, Count De Diana, a sugar planter
Other colonies in Havana are Don Pruden-
clio Rabell, a man who went to Cuba
shop sweeper and now bears the title of
Marquis De Rabell Don Sequndo Garcia
Tuffon, another shop sweeper, who later
became famous and rich through his deal
lngs with the Havana custom house, and
who is now called the Marquis De la
Reguera; Don Fidel Villasuso, an army
contractor; Don Adofo LenZano Don Leo
poldo Carvajal, Marquis De Pinar del Rio,
Don Cosme Blanco Herrera, Don Luis Gar
cia Corujedo and Don Miguel Antonio
Herrera, all merchants and landed proprie-
tors.
In the small towns and rural places it is
safe to say that the symbol of SPANS au-
thority was before the war the volunteers
badges. and that many of the members of
the organization aVailed themselves of the
terror with which il was regarded by the
unarmed native peasants to further their
own interests and thrive at the expense of
the community. In all questions arising be-
tween Cuban peasants and Spanish country
volunteers the latter were sure TO win. the
justice of the peace being always q Span
lard and volunteer, and naturally the ma
tiveS, very few of whom were admitted TO
the ranks tried to avoid getting into trou-
bic with such redoubtable opponents.
For certain Spanards in the course Of
W1r IN hot
with the volunteers cockade was equivalent
to having the right OF going out into the
country and apprOpriating all the cattle
that might be found the abandoned
ranches of the Cubans who were compelled
to remain In the cities lest they might com
munlcate with the insurgents.
The logical inference from what has been
said is that in Cuba and Porto Rico the
words Spanish and volunteer are synony-
nous The influence of the Spanards who
are in great minority as compared with
the native population largely depends upon
their strength as military force. As a con
sequence. they object to being disarmed
for they feel that this would amount to
their losing their influence and power.
The volunteers did not openly revolt
against autonomy. because they were sure
that once peace had been restored they
would sooner or later come In possession of
the local government and again become as
much me masters OF Cuba rs they were
before the establishment Of the so~called
new regime. But they know well that the
situation would be entirely changed If cuba
should gain her Independence. for then their
military existence, whence their force is
derived. would be ended and being i'm the
minority they would not he able 10 rule
the island as heretofore
DOES NOT LOVE SPAIN
The Spaniard in Cuba or the volunteer
as one may choose to call this agent of
dcspottsm, is not particularly anxious for
the welfare of Spain. The methods of the
retail Erocers and other provision dealers.
all volunteers and Spanisrds i'm dealing
with the famished Spanish soldier. are well
known. as are also the wholesale pecula
tons of the army contractors
These men, likewise Spanlards and yolln-
teers. have been able to amass immense for
tunes at the expense of the soldiers health
a fact clearly pointed out by Inspector Cen
eral I!ocada, of the Spanish army in Cuba
VINO, IN his official report 10 the War De-
partinent some months ago, said that more
soldiers have died during this campaign
from the effect of insufficient food than
the island
The history of the volunteers furnishes
many instances of the length TO which they
are prone to go when defending their privi-
leged condition. They have often refused to
obey orders from Madrid which they be-
neved might result in loosening the ties be-
tween Cuba and Spain. and when called to
account for such an act Of rebellion they
said: Our rebellion is the rebellion of
loyalty.
Everybody in this country knows of the