General of Cuba before he embarked for Manzanillo. He remained in Santiago de Cuba only two days, and nearly every moment of the time was occupied in making changes of military commanders, receiving deputations and holding consultations with subordinates. General Campos said he understood that the press of the United States had sent several representatives to Cuba to study the situation. He felt gratified that there was a desire to obtain facts, and he welcomed such investigation. Asked if he proposed to take the field.

A REVOLUTIONARY OUTPOST.

he replied: "I expect to go everywhere. I intend to direct the movements of the army, and to conduct operations that will tend to secure law and order throughout the island.”

Shall you remain here or go to Havana ?"

The Marshal replied indirectly; said he expected to leave Santiago that evening, but would return.

“Are you taking any step in the "Allianca" affair?"

The Captain-General shook his head slightly in a deprecating manner, and said the subject was being considered by Señor Dupuy de Lome, Spain's new Minister to Washington. "Señor Lome is a

diplomat," the General remarked, "and the question is for the diplo mats of Spain and the United States to consider. Spain desires to be at peace with the United States and with all other nations."

He was asked how many revolutionists are in the field. "There is no army," was the reply. "Small guerrilla bands are scattered about the interior at the eastern end of the Island. The country is thinly settled, and very difficult for an army to operate in. A few men who know the paths can roam about in the chapparal, and their capture is difficult. The United States had much trouble with guerrilla bands during the Civil War."

He was asked what disposition would be made of the members of Maceo's party, imprisoned at Guantanamo. The Marshal shook his head emphatically, and said rather quickly: "They are in the hands of the law." Then he added: "I do not propose to be severe withWhen those in arms put them aside and submit, they

out reason.

will be well received."

"How about the leaders ?" The Marshal answered by referring to his proclamation, in which amnesty was made the reward for surrender, but the leaders were not included. The Captain-General, at the close of the interview, declined to issue to the correspondent a special permit to travel in the interior, but said: "The country is before you; go and see for yourself. Your passport as a citizen of the United States will protect you in legitimate travel."

B

CHAPTER IV.

Beginning of the War.

ETWEEN April 1 and 12th, 1895, Marti and Gomez, the

Cuban exiles, with a handful of companions, landed at Baracoa, on the eastern coast of Cuba, and proclaimed the republic. The effect of this bold move was instantaneous. The news spread from end to end of the Island, and although the friends of Cuba thought the movement ill-timed, hundreds of sympathizers flocked to the patriot standard. Like a prairie fire before a brisk breeze, the single spark of insurrection fired the dry tinder of the oppressed Cubans, and the rebellion grew in volume as it flew westward.

This is not Spain's first experience of the temper of her colony. For the past seventy years conspiracy, insurrection, rebellion and red war have followed one another in endless progression. A few words will suffice to explain the causes leading up to the latest revolution.

Cuba became a possession of Spain by the right of discovery on Columbus' second voyage. He named it Juana, after the son of Ferdinand and Isabella, and it has successively been known as Juana, Fernandina, Santiago, Ave Maria and Cuba, the latter being the native name of the "6 Queen of the Antilles." It was colonized by Spain, and its early history is a series of sacks and ravages by Europea foes. Not until the rule of Captain-General Las Casas, beginning 1790, did prosperity begin.

Under his guidance agriculture and commerce flourished, and the condition of the native population was ameliorated. The effect of his sagacious rule was felt for over thirty years, and when Napoleon deposed the royal family of Spain every member of the local government took oath to preserve the Island for their monarchy, and, going even further, they declared war against the French conqueror. This much to show the instinctive feeling of the colony toward the mother country.

Spanish coffers were empty with the restoration of the Bourbons in the person of Ferdinand VII., and Spain's mistress looked with hungry eyes upon the rich Island with her 1800 miles of sea coast, gemmed with prosperous ports, and her plantations of indigo, sugar, tobacco and fruit. It was Fortunata's purse wherein Spain might dip her fingers, and forever find it full to overflowing. With this discovery came oppressive taxation. With the gradual impoverishment of Spain came added demands. Then the deprivation of all civil, political and religious liberty, and the exclusion of Cubans from all public stations, and in order to enforce this the Cubans were taxed to support a standing army and navy-their jailors.

Conspiracy of the "Black Eagle."

With their oppression came their desire for liberty. In 1829 lue Black Eagle conspiracy arose, the purpose of which was to throw off the Spanish yoke. It was suppressed, but was followed in 1840 by an insurrection of the colored population. After smouldering and blazing for a while the fires of insurrection were smothered only to break out eight years later in a genuine conspiracy of the Cubans under the leadership of Narcisso Lopez. This rebellion was quelled, and Lopez fled. In 1850 he landed in Cuba with 600 men from the United States. He made a third attempt in 1851, and together with most of his companions was captured and executed by the Spanish authorities.

The Reformist party, which sprang up at this time, succeeded in getting an inquiry of the abuses at Madrid, with the result, however, of increased taxation. In 1868 the Advance party in Cuba rose in the district of Bayamo, and on October 10, 1868, signed a declaration of independence at Manzanillo. Their first successes were so great that almost all the Spanish-American republics recognized the insurgents as belligerents. After a war of ten years, that was confined to the mountainous regions east of the town of Puerto Principe, the rebellion was put down. To confine it to that locality the Spanish troops built a great fortified trench, known as La Trocha, across the entire width of the island, in the western portion of the State of

!

Puerto Principe. It was here that Captain-General Campos, the commander of the Spanish army, drew up his forces in the summer of 1895, to prevent the eastward march of the insurgents, who were now heavily reinforced.

All during the summer of 1895 the insurgents leaders were organizing their forces and receiving supplies of arms and ammunition. The people were flocking to the standard of revolt, and during October, 1895, Gomez and Maceo with ease penetrated the lines of the Spanish captain-general, crossing La Trocha, and causing the regular troops to fall back to a line just east of Remedios. The insurgents still pushing on, this was followed by a retreat of Campos to Sant> Clara, in the province of Santa Clara, still further west.

Two Cuban Generals.

Gomez and Maceo were now in supreme authority, for Marti, the great leader of the revolutionary party, died just as the command started west. This blow to the insurgent cause was more than offset by the character of the people among which they found themselves. Of all the provinces of Cuba, Santa Clara is the most outspoken and loyal to the cause of liberty. The ranks of Gomez and Maceo were increased by thousands of volunteers of an intelligence and physical strength superior even to those of Santiago. Horses were procured in abundance, and the bulk of the insurgent army was formed into a speedy and well-equipped cavalry. They were armed with rifles, and carried with them an abundance of ammunition. Each man also carried a machete, which is a long, heavily-weighted iron knife, used by the sugar-planters to cut the cane, and by all travelers to open up paths through the heavy tropical underbrush. They are terrible weapons in the hands of the Cubans, and the Spanish troops fear them more than the rifles. The insurgents took no supply train with them. A stray pig or fowl supplied them with supper, while an ox meant dinner for a company. Thus prepared, they turned their faces toward the setting sun and Havana.

All this while Campos, the Spanish general, was "concentrating," according to the official dispatches. In other words, he was drawing