Independence War
Cuba's first major struggle for independence, the Ten Years'
War, was
ended by Spanish deceit. In 1895, José
Martí concluded
that it was the time to return to struggle.
Gómez and Maceo,
returning from abroad, where again the leaders of the war.
Martí died soon after his arrival, and throughout the country Cubans
flocked into the ranks of the Cuban army.
Spanish troops outnumbered Cuban troops five to one. The
Spanish had a powerful navy and their army, headed by General
Martínez Campos, was far
better equipped than the revolutionaries'. The Spanish
Government pledged to fight "to the last man and the last
peseta."
The Cuban troops used what rifles they had and machetes.
Riding on horseback, the Cuban army would make effective machete
charges on the unprepared Spanish infantry.
Another essential tactic of the rebels was the destruction of the
economy. They wanted to make Cuba useless to Spain, and burned
most sugar mills and many buildings.
The rebel army made a charge to the west of the island. The
success of this campaign led the Spanish to bring in the ruthless General
Weyler.
Weyler brought the population into concentration camps to end the
rebels' supply of recruits and food. Many died in the camps,
and they united Cubans against Spain.
In 1896, Antonio Maceo was killed. Like the death of Martí,
the Spanish looked upon this event with great optimism.
However, the Spanish forces could never catch Gómez's quick moving
guerilla army.
The Cubans claimed an army as strong as 60,000, and though the
Spanish were far greater in number, the war was not approaching any
end. Eventually, Weyler was recalled from Spain.
The war dragged on for a while. Cuban General
Calixto
García in the
east captured Victoria de la Tunas. At home, the Spanish were
growing angry at the number of dead soldiers. Finally, the US
entered and quickly defeated Spain.
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