St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-05-23

children, four years and four months
old, respectively, of an American citi-
zen had to hide in the bottom of a
cistern for an entire day and night
while a battle ragged about them.
According to Mrs. Williams, lives of
Americans are in danger because of
the psychology of the Cuban mind.
The Liberals, who are in rebellion
against the Conservative government,
desire United States intervention.
They are Wiling to go to any eXtrem-
lty to bring this about. The reason.
Mrs Williams says, is the result of the
previous intervention of the United
States, when the Conservative govern
ment was deposed in favor of the
Liberals. The Liberals figure that if
intervention is brought about again
the result will be the same. They be-
lieve also that if they massacre Amer
lean citizens the United States will
take action and to this end they plan
wholesale murder of whites.
The present revolution, which be-
gan February %, spread rapidly, the
most intense fighting taking place in
Oriente province.
Mrs. Williams described the de-
lenses put up about the town of Sha-
para when the rebels came close.
Armored cars were hastily construct
ed, trenches dug, and the employees
armed to ward off attacks. Shortly
before she left the plantation Mrs.
Williams says the rebels set fire to
the cane, and for days smoke clouded
the horizon. The people lived in fear
of their lives. The vast cane fields
were saved from the fire by provi-
dental rain which was so heavy as to
cause floods in the district. Ten square
miles of the cane were burned, how
ever, before the flames were ex-
tinguished.
The school and public buildings in
the town were filled with Cuban refu-
gees fleeing before the rebels. Ameri-
can houses in some sections were TAX
en- and completely stripped of every
portable article and terror reigned su-
preme. AT this time it was decided
that Mrs. Williams and her two child
rem should get out Of the country,
and, being fortunately near the port
of Puerto Padre, they left the country
unframed. Mr.. Williams stayed be-
hind.
by Mrs. Williams as to the equipment
Of the armies, and their existence.
The men are armed with large calibre
hunting rifles, regular army rifles ap-
parently being unavailable. The dis
tinguishing marks between the revolu-
tionary and government forces consist
of differently colored sashes and neck
ties. The salaries of the government
h nh r
the rate being $500 per day for pri-
Yates. What the rebels lack in salary
they make up in plumber.
One interesting story was that OF
the capture of the city of Tunis by
government forces. They attacked
the city and drove the rebels out,
capturing as part of the booty the
| wives of II rebel leaders. These they
held as hostages, and it proved a
| lucky move on their part. The rebels
| sent a warning that they were going
to storm and recapture the city, and
woe betide any and all who remained
alive after the capture The leaders
of the government forces took the IL
| women, put them in wooden build
ing saturated with oil and sent back
a proclamation warning that as soor
as the rebels attacked, the house
would be fired. This took some of the
ambition out Of the rebels and the
city was not attacked.
Mrs. Williams says that the loss ir
the rebellion is almost inestimable;
the railroad loss amounts to millions
of dollars; the sugar cane burned can
not be estimated, and the cattle an6
other live stock destroyed will never
be counted. And the end is not ye
| for Independence Day, corresponding
to Inauguration Day in. the United
States. comes the goth Of May.
The Liberal party has threatened
that if Menocal, reelected Conserva
tive candidate, attempts to take hi
Office they will begin war in real ear
nest and that it will be infinitely worse
than anything ever known in Cuba
Whether Menocal will dare to take of
flee is not known, but the day il
awaited with intense interest by al
who are familiar with the politica
situation in the island of Cuba.