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 CUBA RLVILW 



"ALL ABOUT CUBA" ^ew ■ 



Copyright, 1912, by the Munson Steamship Line 



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Volume X JUNE, 1912 Number 7 



THE INSURRECTION IN CUBA 



NEGRO UPRISING CAUSES GREAT ALARM ANOTHER INTERVENTION 



PREDICTED UNITED STATES TROOPS ON CUBAN SOIL 



The insurrection had its beginning on May 18th when negroes began to be arrested 

 at Sagua la Grande, Santa Clara Province, and their homes searched for weapons. The 

 same day similar arrests were made in Pinar del Rio and Oriente Provinces, the 

 government having received information that an immediate uprising was threatened 

 to take place all over the island. 



On May 20th there was no longer any doubt of the existence of a far reaching 

 negro conspiracy extending to all the provinces to begin on May 20th, the tenth anni- 

 versary of Cuban independence. 



It had been known for years that the negroes were dissatisfied at being ignored in 

 the distribution of political, rewards for their services in the war, and this deepened 

 into hostility against the administration by the operation of the Morua law, which 

 denied the negroes the right to organize a political party along racial lines. 



Hostilities began almost immediately, clashes occurring between the rural guard and 

 armed bands of negroes in parts of Santa Clara and Oriente Provinces. Telegraph 

 wires were cut and several bridges burned in the former province. The government 

 then became active and despatched 1,200 troops by rail to Oriente Province and 600 

 more on May 21st by the new cruiser "Cuba." It was then stated that the rebels had 

 600 fully armed followers in that province. Up to now there had been but little 

 disturbances in the western provinces, Matanzas, Havana and Pinar del Rio, all the 

 activities of the rebels being concentrated in Oriente Province, where the mountainous 

 character of the country favors guerilla warfare and makes it almost impossible to 

 dislodge an enemy. Complaints of destruction to property began to come in to the 

 Cuban government from mining interests and appeals for protection were also sent 

 to Washington. In consequence, the American Minister in Havana, Arthur M. Beaupre, 

 on May 22d demanded protection for the property of the Juragua Iron Company, 

 which Secertary of State Sanguily assured him would be given. Washington despatches 

 at this time said that the United States government considered the disturbance as a 

 mere "flash in the pan," but this opinion underwent a sudden change, for on the next 

 day the State Department was seriously considering the advisability of sending one or 

 more warships to the coast of the island republic. 



The situation developed quickly, the insurgent force having increased in Oriente 

 Province from 600 to 5,000 unders arms and State Department reports declared that 

 numerous conflicts had occurred between the forces with much loss of life. The 

 organizer of the negro plot was definitely known to be General Evaristo Estenoz, 

 president of the "Independent Colored Party." On May 22d armed l)ands appeared 

 near the city of Havana and also in Santa Clara Province and attacked the rural 

 guards. They also appeared in the vicinity of Baracoa, in the farthest eastern section 

 of the island on the north coast, and a band numbering 2,000 were reported near 

 Guantanamo city by the mayor. By this time almost a panic prevailed throughout 

 Oriente Province, white planters and storekeepers with their families fleeing to the 

 cities for safety. On the same day President Gomez cabled the Nezv York Times 

 that he expected to have the situation under control "within a short time." On May 

 23d the United States government issued orders to send 600 marines to the Guantanamo 



