Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-07-12
(Washington Starr

"SS ~ NSt<S wv s"S"esSs
(Washington starr
Emphatically denying that the pres.
ent struggle In Cuba 10 a race war, and
declaring that he has a number Of
whites In his ranks and that his fol.
lowers would rather be governed by
strangers than by Cuban methods, as
In the past, Gen. Estenoz has issued a
formal statement to the United States
government.
The message was brought from the
rebel headquarters to the American
consulate at Santiago by George Col
lister, the American ranch owner, who
was reported captured. The statement
made public at the state department
Is declared to be the first one of its
kind issued from the rebel headQuar-
tiers. 1t reads, in part as follows:
The negro under the present con-
ditions In this country has no chance
and the object of the warfare which
We are now carrying on Is to secure
for him the civic rights to which he,
In connection with other Cubans, is
entitled under the constitution Of the
republic of Cuba, and for which he
fought during SO many years. The
warfare We are carrying on is civil
lized warfare. We are neither rob-
bling nor molesting women. We are
not numbering white people, nor have
we any intention Of doing 80, al
though the Cuban government Is con-
stantly stating that such fs our pur-
pose. We are not making war against
foreigners and we hope that they will
not take sides in this conflict.
Il have learned that the American
mining companies have armed their
Gallego laborers, and l have warned
them not to permit these men to en-.
ter the fight against US, for 1t they
do so, we shall retaliate by killing
every Gallego on whom we can lay
our hands.
"The present government Of Cuba
has endeavored to convince the peo
pie that the present is a race war.
This, however is false, as evidenced
by the fact that in our ranks We have
many white men. and that in Cuba a
race war would be an absolute i'm
possibility, for, with the exception Of
few white foreigners, all would be
on one side. 1t was for the purpose
Of notifying the world that had un-
dertaken and was conducting revo-
luton in Cuba that burned the build
ings Of the Spanish American Iron
company. ."
II regretted the necessity for this
action and also the taking Of such
property as arms, horses, saddles, etc,
but for the success of the enterprise
it was absolutely necessary to obtain
these things, as 1t would be impossi-
Bile to carry on revolution merely
by organizing band of men and quiet
ly sitting under mango tree.
"Any agreement that might make
with the government of Cuba for the
settlement Of this affair would have
to be concluded in the presence OF a
representative of the United States
of America and only upon the assur-
ance of this representative that the
United States would guarantee the alb.
solute fulfillment by the Cuban govern
ment of the agreement, as the off,
cials of that government have made
many promises to me in the past and
80 far none of them have been full
filed. We ask only for our rights as
citizens and we hope the American
people will comprehend our position
and will study the matter with great
care before they become satisfied that
it is necessary to intervene"
George Collister. the American own
er Of ranch at Sigua near Diaquiri.
who was reported to have been held
for ransom by the insurgents, has ar
rived here. He tells an interesting
story Of the experiences Of himself
and his partner, Mr.. Wheeler, in the
insurgent camp. On May 30 four
armed negroes arrived at their ranch.
They requested horses for the rebels.
then camped at Alta Gracia and when
they departed took six horses with
them.
Later a messenger arrived from the
rebel headquarters and informed Col
lister and Wheeler that Generals Col
noz and Ivonet desired to see them.
They proceeded to the rebel camp.
and General Estenoz made profuse
apologies for taking their horses. but
said that he had been compelled to do
so. Estenoz assured them that the
insurgents would not disturb their
ranch, as they were carrying On civiliz-
ed warfare. He added that he had
been compelled to destroy property at
Daiquiri in order to show the world
that they were engaged in a revolu-
ton. but denied that the was fighting
against foreigners. The movement was
aimed entirely against the Cuban gov
eminent.
The rebel leader declared that he
would allow none of his men to CON-
init any outrage, and promised that
all found guilty of such acts would be
punished. He thanked the Americans
for visiting him and escorted them
beyond the outposts, from which they
reached home without difficulty.