The Holly chieftain., 1922-10-19

born when the Maine was blown up In Havana
harbor. They say putting 1t across" or something
OF the kind and haven't the least idea what their
fathers meant In saying carrying the message TO
Garcia" Well. the Job brought Rowan deathless
fame. And it's Il story well worth reteling-so
here 1t is for the benefit of the young World War
veterans:
To begin at the beginning, in 1895 there was
Cuban revolt against the Spanish policy of re
gconcentration.' which had resulted under General
Weyier In the suffering md death of thousands.
American sympathy strong. February 10.
1898, the American warshlp Maine was blown up
In Havana harbor with the loss of 286 officers and
men. Uncle Sam issued utimatum to SPAIN
Get out of Cuba Spain didn't go. Uncle Sam
declared war April 25 and by August IL had
whipped Spain to standstill.
1t Is the fashion nowadays to speak Of the
Spansh-A American war as successful skirmish or
words to that effect 1t was short and sweet.
to be sure. but 1t was an impol tant war with far
reaching results.
For one thing 1t reunited the North and South
of the United States. The fighting men of both
sections fought under the Stars and Stripes.
X dreve the Spaniard from his last fOothOd on
the Western Hemisphere.
1t opened the eyes of the world to the quality
Of the American fighting man. Lieutenant Lee
British military observer (now Lord Lee Of Fare
iiam). the assault of San Juan HILL 1T Is
magnificent" he gasped, "but 1t is not war;" The
Spanrds put 1t another way when they said, '"rhe
Yankee pigs should have turned and run, fred
such volleys. But they came on and tried to
catch with their hands"
1t put the American navy on the Seven Seas
Europe expected the Spaniards to whip us on the
sea. 1t gasped over the ceancut victories Of
Manila and Santiago.
1t made us world power in spite of ourselves
through the acquisition OF the Philippines and
Porto Rico and our relationship with Cuba.
OF course the blowing up of the Maine meant
and naturally Uncle Sam wanted to know
the military conditions In Cuba. Now the Cuban
revolutionsts were under command of certain
General Garcia buried somewhere In the inacces-
sibe interior. Incidentally this rebel leader was
CHlxtO fniguez Garcin l1S38-9S), a Cuban patriot
who had rebelled against Spain In 1880 and had
been captured md imprisoned in Spain for fifteen
years In 1905 he escaped and got back into Cuba.
SO 1t was decided to send message to Garcia"
Here some of the questions to which answers
wanted
How mnuy Spanish troops were now. 1893, in
Cuba How they distributed? How were
they wagine war? How were they armed md
eauippedi How clothed? How fedf The condI-
lion and quality of the Spanish forces? The char
acter of their officers, especially the commanding
officers; what of the Spanish morale? What were
the Typographical conditions, local and general?
The character and conditions of the roads then
and at all seasons?
Similar Information regarding the Cubans and
:ie Cuban forces was also wanted How were the
Cubans armed. equipped and fed? What was need
ed in the way Of placing the forces In condition
10 harass the enemy while the American army
m0biIizng7
"On April 8. 1885," says Colonel Rowan. telling
the story after twenty-four years, II was on duty