Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1896 — CUBA MAY BE FREE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CUBA MAY BE FREE.

HOW SPAIN’S RECALL OF CAMPOS IS REGARDED. i ' - * '-»-«■ -o- ■ •’ The Veteran Spanish General Is Superseded by a Man Who I# Deeply Hated for His Former Cruelty on the lal'nd. I Situation Is Serious. Cuba may be free! The recall ofGen. Martinez Campos by the Spanish Government anti his replacement by Gen. Weyler is a strong Indicatton tbnt tbe situation on the island is critical and that the Insurgents are stronger than the Spanish authorities hitherto admitted. On the outbreak of the revolution it was intimated by Spain that the disturbance was merely local aqd that a fenmonths would see the end of the trouble. But the revolutionists gained strength 'every day, and then Spain decided to send her veteran and most experienced general, Campos, to take command of affairs on the island. ,He was given absolute authority to call upon all the troops needed and ever since the bravest and the best of the soldiers of Spain have been sent to the unfortunate island. Gen. Campos announced that he woulij (fuell the Rebellion in three months. He had subdued the former rebellion of ten years—lßGß-’7B—and his announcement was accordingly regarded as well founded. But the three months - elapsed and Gen. Campos had made no progress. On the contrary the

Insurgents were making headway, forcing their way each week a little nearer to the political capital, Havana. Then Campos said that Winter would see the end of the revolution. Winter in Cuba, which means the rainy season, has come, but the insurgents, instead of Campos, made progress. They forced their way over six strategic lines of defense established by Campos and a week ago appeared within striking distance of Havana. This startled the Spanish Government and it has just resolved upon a change of leaders. Gen. Campos 1b retailed and Gen. Weyler, a man who made himself notorious during the last rebellion in Cuba fair his cruelty, is appointed to take his place and will sail from Spain today. Gen. Weyler says that he will not follow the more or less humanitarian tactics of Campos, but will meet warfare With warfare. With spies nnd persons aiding the insurgents he will be inexorable; to.those who Iny down their arms hp will show clemency. He will at once endeavor so completely to blockade the

coast as to prevent the further importation of arms'and munitions.. Gen. Wcyley says emphatically thnt in his course lie will be merciless, but just. He is of the opiuL>n that two mouths ago it would have been easy to have dealt the rebellion a death blow; now he fears it will be more difficult owing to the strength the movement has gained and the losses suffered by the Spanish nrmy. Spain is still sending reinfqrcements to Cuba, nnd soon 18,000 more men will leave Spain for the seat of ffar. At first it was supposed that Gen. Campos had resigned, but it is now known thnt the Government removed him, purely, as Campos himself says, because he was not cruel enough and spoke of conciliating the rebels instead of butchering them. He now believe* thn< Cuba ia lost to Spain nnd si! through the political parties In Spain, who thought to frame a policy for the island, igfiorant of the conditions there existing. The politicians in Madrid wanted a butcher in the field aud probably hare secured one in the person of Gen. Weyler. OVer the change of generals the Cuban patriots rejoice, for they believe Campos to be an abler commander than Weyler, while the cruelties of the latter will alienate those now friendly to the Spanish

• ' w. • canse. Ip any case it .is not likely that Weyleff will make any greater headway than Campos against the insurgents, led by the veteran warrior, Maximo Gomez. The latter is one of the ablest military readers of his tiqie —a man of iron nerve auZ astute judgment. He has led the insnigelfkß victoriously from one end of the island so the gates of Havana, 400 mile* distant, and this in the face of a soldiery, greater in numbers and better equipped than the patriots. When mefts him he will meet a veteran, acquainted not alone with Jhe science of warfare, but with every pass and road and vantage point on the island.

GEN. MARTINEZ CAMPOS.

GEN. MAXIMO GOMEZ.