THE CUBAN REVOLUTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1267, 11 June 1896, Page 18

THE CUBAN REVOLUTION.

(Written for the New Zealand Mail)The news received by cable on Saturday last of tho successful landing of the American vessel Three Brothers in Cuba with an expedition to help tho insurgents has a much deeper and wider meaning than appears on the surface. Certainly nover did tho independence of Cuba, .seem so hopeful. In fact it is so hopeful as to bo almost certain. In March last the Cuba Junta, with headquarters in New York, decided on tho hold experiment of issuing 10,000,(100 dollars (.£2,000,000) of Cuban bonds, “payable in gold ten years after Spain has evacuated Cuba,” all revenues being pledged to the payment of the principal and interest, which was fixed at 0 per cent. To ascertain how this financial project would bo received an issue of 2,000,000 dollars (.£100,000) worth were issued in April last, and placed on the New York market. The projectors of the scheme were surprised and delighted at

its success. Bids for the two million were opened by Benjamin J. Guerra, treasurer of the Cuban Junta, on the 21-th of April, in the presence of the Finance Committee, Messrs Bonce do Leon, Lavas and Zaldo. The bids aggregated nearly five times the amount of the loan asked, being in round numbers for !),223,000d0]5. The bids ranged from oOdols to 300,(models, at prices varying from 25 per cent, up to par. The average price offered for the entire amount was 02.1 cents on tho dollar. Thu floating of abend issue of this nature, with the value of the bonds depending on the ultimate success of the Cuban arms, was largely a financial experiment, and the most sanguine Cuban leaders were surprised at (lie amount offered. Letters asking for bonds were received from every part of the United States, particularly from the West and South. The number of bids from conservative brokers and bond-dealers of Wall street was a complete surprise to tho committee. Several large firms sent in orders for large amounts.

This bond purchase clearly and unmistakably shows not only the disposition of America towards Cuba, but also a belief in the final success of tho present struggle. The holders of these bonds will, of course, have a more active practical interest in Cuban success than ever before; and tho aid from America may bo expected to become very substantial and persistent. The successful landing of tho Three Brothers expedition is doubtless only the first of a series of such expeditions. On tho other hand, a cable despatch from London, dated March 21st, showed the wretched condition Spain had dropped to in tho matter of raising money. She uttoily failed to sell her Cuban bonds, is.-,ued in 1870, on tho European market, Paris and London financiers positively declining to raise a loan on these bonds. The Spanish Cabinet had then to pawn the bonds with the Bank of Spain,the Bank of Barcelona and other Spanish provincial banks, to raise a loan of .£5,000,000. An appeal is to bo made to tho Spanish, people to take up these bonds. About this time tho Spanish authorities were circulating reports of a great and crushing victory at Candelaria, by which tho Cuban patriots were almost wiped out of existence. But the real facts came out later, and the truth was that it was a most fearful defeat for the Spaniards, their whole army being mi nuced wit h annihil d i<>ii. The battle war, between the burrs "f General Linares and Cobmel Suarez Indan mi the Spanish side, and those ot Antonin M iteeo, IVrii-o I Ha/, and Onmtm Bandera ull the mil'!'. The tnH h ainul tin: light came out. v. lu ll iar load '• oi wounded

Spanish noldieio began t - < emue in!.' (i liana jay and Havana. A Spanish ollieer admitted that their less was Bio men. The j insurgents fought the artillery-men hand to hand, tho latter using their i-aiabine.-. The gun caissons and all the Spanish artillery ammunition fell into Maeco’s hands, Linares and ludan barely saving their command from annihilation. ANTONIO MM'F'iV MAin'll. The Cuban chief, whose death the Spaniards reported over a dozen times dining the year, has performed some wonderful work in strategy, even outwitting General Weyler. The unexpected return ot Alai•• o> and his command into tho province of Linar del Rio scored another triumph for the strategy of the insurgent leaders. When the c unbilled I'mves of Gmnez and Maceo made their brilliant raid from the east to the borders of Linar del l.’io the Spanish commanders were taken completely by surprise. Their rapid advance toward the City of Havana was so succ.-s----ful and the efforts of Martinez Campos to check them were so futile that the retirement of the Governor-General was forced upon the Spanish Government. FUTILE A'"LAIN ST THE REBELS. Every station on the line of the famous railway. Trocha, running across tho island

I had been turned into a fortress. Armoured cars, filled with troops, kept moving up and down the track. Fifty thousand soldiers, protected by artillery and given carle blanche to kill anything which came in sight, were stationed along this military iron wall. And yet, on the 4-tli day of January, Gomez and Maceo marched up to this supposedly impassable hairier, picked I out a place which caught their fancy and I crossed without losing a man. The nextday they relumed, pulled up and carried | off a few miles of the track. Maceo said this was done to let the Spanish forces know that they “appreciated the Trocha. ’ At the city <4 Alquizur, on the fitii, the people received tiro “Army of Liberty” with cheers of welcome, turning over to it ffUO rifles and funo cartridges. At Cuiba del Agua 210 miles and 5000 mure cartridges were received. Near tins city Gomez and Maceo were met by a deputation of citizens from the province of Linar del Rio. These men were so enthusiastic in their description of the welcome awaiting the Cuban forces in the West that a council of war was held that night, resulting I in Maceo receiving orders to traverse Linar | del Rio alone, while Gomez determined to rccross into the province of Havana. The following morning Maceo made a forced march to the north-east, and sud- | denly disappeared at Maiianao, a suburb less than live miles from Havana. The lights of the capital could be plainly seen j by the insurgent forces that night. This j move frightened Havana, and gave Gomez j a chance to recross the Trocha and appear j again on the east .side of it. \\ hen tho j two leaders parted, Gomez insisted on j Maceo taking with him most of the reserve j ammunition, so that on the evening of tho | ■St 1 1 he found his men with loss than five cartridges each and no reserve to draw upon.

Maceo meanwhile continued his march from oneend of Linar del Rio to the other. He secured 150 rifles and 15,000 cartridges at Cabanas. Ban Diego do Fimas surrendered without resistance. On the 22nd he reached and took possession of the City of Mantua, near tho extreme western end of the island. Here ho gave a ball and stood godfather at the christening of several children. CAREER OF THE CUBAN CHIEFTAIN MACEO. Jose Antonio Maceo, the Cuban General, was born at Santiago do Cuba July It, ISIS. His parents were Marcos Maceo and Mariana Grajales, mulattoos of that city, and well esteemed for their honesty and intelligence. Antonio had live brothers, Jose, Julio, Rafael, Tomas and Miguel, all patriots. Jose was during the revolution of 18GS one of the bravest Cuban leaders, and is now a MajorGeneral in the Cuban army, well known since the fierce battle of Sao del Indio, which he won from General Canella. Rafael was seriously wounded in the last war, and ho died in exile from Cuba. Miguel was killed in the battle of Nuovitas. Julio was killed in the encounter at El Nuevo Muudo, and Tomas is now an invalid on account of his wounds. Hatred of Spain and the Spanish is, therefore, a traditional feeling among the family of Maceo.

Maceo himself was wounded 23 times by tho Spanish troops. His chest is pierced through and through, and it is a source of wonder for every physician who lias examined him how lie can live. A wound in tho chest prevents him from speaking very loud. His voice is so low that it is necessary to approach him closely to understand what he says. W hen the war of 180 S began Maceo was working in tho country as a peasant, employed in a farm. lie joined, with his brothers, the rebel ranks, and was admitted as a soldier. By his bravery he reached the rank of Afajor - General, and, after Gomez, was the most important chief of tho last revolution. Two of his more important battles in the former war were those of Demajagua, in Holguin, and La Galicia, in which he defeated General Martinez Campos. His campaign at Baracoa was also very brilliant. In 1878 ho had his greatest triumph at Sail Ulpiano, where the Spanish column of San qpiintin had to retire before Maceo, leaving 100 dead on tho field. In that action tho Spanish were commanded by Fidel Santocildes, the same one who was killed in this war by Maceo’s forces at the battle ot Peralejo. When the peace of Zanjon was arranged, Maceo did not like to agree to any treaty with Spain, lie c.niil imied lighting two in.>i l l hs ilium. G.-neral Alart iiu-z Campus, under the dab 1 of .Van'll L.lfh, IS7N wmto Hms to the IHii no .Mini, Her, ('.tiievas del Ca. till') : “ M is very dillie.ilt loan mge I he peace in .San 1 1 a :;u de i e In, u hei e A ill nine M act o i liles. He v.a , a. pm. ant, and is now a i.eiieial. Ills ambition is i-mininm:-;, his (murage great, his prestige immense among his countrymen. He is a man <4 high nal untl talent, and for him nothing could be done, notwithstanding the wishes ol the Cuban Government. II" has convinced Vicente Garcia that to yi"!d is a dishonour. Maceo was compelled to leave Cuba, but 1m dil n<>t sign the peace, lie went to South America, compiling always against iSpain. In 10,10 iic tried to renew the j revolution in Cuba, but unsuccssiully. In is!H- he was attacked at Go. la. l.'ica by a group of Spaniards as he was leaving a theatre. He was dangerously wounded, jI ut he killed one of his opponents. In I March, J S'. LG. he landed in Cuba again, 1 foil - v.i I am: da;, afl. r l.y Marti and |(I 'li!!'/,. ili.; fife .mice is Well 1,n0'.-, n. At, the battle of Leralejo, by debating Spain's first General, he added a page of glory to his biography. lobito, Alai Tiempo, Sao del Indio, Candelaria, are bis most brilliant actions alter Leralejo. General Weyler is now very anxious to catch him passing tho military wall the Spanish have established I from Mariol to Alajana, but the Cubans are confident of Maceo’.; courage and ability. STxLUs.