The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-06-21
NEGROES ARE KILLED
WITHOUT MERCY BY
CUBAN SOLDIERS
IT Is ANNlHlLATloN INSTEAD OF
CIVILIZED WARFARE sv
EACH FACTION.
LETTER sent PRESIDENT GOnEz
Defenseiess Boys Being Shot Down
For No Other Reason Than That
Their Skin ls Black.-Governme ent
Is Bankrupt and Treasury Empty.

SANTIAGO, June 15.-COnditlonf
throughout the eastern end Of Cuba
indicate that the Washington authori
ties have no conception of the real
situation aside from the bankrupt
state Of tho Havana Government.
TIE rural districts are being depop.
uiatcd of peaceful citizens as rapid.
ly as the limited transportation faci.
lties permit. Devastation is the
chief occupation of both Rebels and
guerilla volunteers. The country has
already been set back five years, and
bitter race hatred has been aroused.
The character of the warfare over
shadows the property losses and so
shocking are the details in many
instances that they are unprintable.
A parallel is found only in the his
tory of the Congo, which made King
Leopold the most hated monarch.
Instead of civilized warfare, it is an
limitation and majority of those
Deing killed are not Insurrectos, but
unarmed blacks who took refuge in
the brush with their families when
the trouble started. Defenseless
boys are being shot down on the
only provocation that their skin is
black. Several instances of black
women being killed while fighting to
save their honor or bits of jewelry
have, been brought to notice.
General Monteagudo has directed
that no prisoners be taken and when
an officer makes the mistake of
bringing in captives they are liber-
ated and told to 60 home, but they
never reach there. Seven were shot
at San Luis yesterday the minute
their backs were turned.
Esenoz and Ivonet, the Rebel lead
ers, continue burning and looting.
Not willing to cable charges of
cruelty against Monteagudo without
giving President Gomez an opportun-
ity to defend his acts, the correspod-
ents sent the following cable to
President Gomez this morning:
President Gomez: Do you coun-
tenance the uncivilized acts of your
volunteer guerillas in this province
who are killing and mutilating the
dead. irrespective of all rules of civ
llized warfare? l would appreciate
an answer"
A reply just received indicates that
President Gomez is not fully ac-
quainted with the details of the cam
paign. He expresses confidence in
He said IN part:
Instead of sending out of Cuba
charges against the army make them
direct to Gen. Monteagudo. l know
that he will promptly investigate and
punish all law-breakers. | am salts
fed that the discipline of the Cuban
army is as good as any in the world.
(Signed) GOMEZ,
President Republica."
Another condition which invites
is the demand of the
arry officers that private interests
maize contributions to support the
volunteers. Such demand has been
made on G. Peterson, general man.
ager Of the Guantanamo & Western
Railroad, and others. 1t is admitted |
hat Gomez has no money to combat
heuprising. Some days ago Con-
,ress voted an appropriation of ST.
100000 but it might as we'll have
'een ten times as much, as the treas
Try Ia empty. Fhe customs receipts
ire decreasing daily and are made /
Iuate for the ordinary routine ex-