11 The Republic of Cuba 



MARIO G. MENOCAL 



President 



MARIO G. Menocal graduated from Cornell 

 University as a Civil Engineer in the class of 

 1888. Shortly afterwards he was called to assist his 

 uncle Aniceto Menocal, the celebrated engineer 

 who was then engaged in the survey of the 

 Nicaragua Canal route between the Atlantic and 

 Pacific. He continued in the practice of his 

 profession until the beginning of the war of 

 Independence in the Spring of 1895, when he at 

 once joined the Insurgents, rising rapidly to the 

 rank of Colonel. In the Spring of 1896 General 

 Calixto Garcia, operating in Oriente and Cama- 

 guey Provinces, made him his Chief of Staff. 



In the capture of Victoria de las Tunas, and 

 of Guaimaro by General Calixto Garcia, Menocal 

 so distinguished himself that he was promoted to 

 a General of Brigade and sent with his command 

 into the Western end of the Island, where the 

 struggle for supremacy was day by day growing 

 more serious. 



The close of the war found him in command of 

 the Cuban forces of Havana Province, and when, 

 after the withdrawal of Spain's army, the Ameri- 

 cans took charge of the capital. Gen. Menocal 

 was chosen to assist in the difficult task of bringing 

 order out of chaos. With that end in view he 

 visited Washington as one of the Cuban Delegates 

 to the Intervention Conference. On his return 

 Gen. Leonard A. Wood made him Chief of Police. 



The almost abandoned industrial interests of 

 the Island at this time were clamoring for men 

 of practical ability, hence it is not strange that 

 a man of Gen. Menocal's technical skill, experi- 

 ence and acquaintance with the world was offered 



