American and Spanish relations had soured over the decade preceeding the declaration of war made by President McKinley in April 1898. Spain was trying to maintain its dwindling influence on the world stage, just as the other European players were starting to sit up and notice the two new competitors, Japan and the United States. The Americans had taken a stance against further expansion by the European powers and had begun to champion the rights of self-determination for some of the lesser states, especially those close enough that could benefit from American assistance for their economic development. The Mexican Gulf was considered by the US administration to be their back-yard and right there between the gulf and the Caribbean Sea, lay Spanish Cuba and further east, Puerto Rico.

Over three years previously, civil unrest on Cuba had finally boiled over into the Spanish-Cuban crisis. Insurgent forces under Gomez and Maceo seized parts of the island from government control, forcing Madrid to send General Weyler, slated as a Butcher, in the American press, with troop reinforcements to stabilise Cuba. The Spanish forces were as good as any second-line European army, equipped with Mauser magazine rifles and modern artillery using the new smokeless ammunition.

Weyler immediately suspended political reforms and encouraged the loyalist factions to turn against the moderates, who in turn either sought exile in the states or simply joined the insurgent forces. Weyler then successfully ambushed Maceo and his small force, killing him and Gomez's son, Francisco. With only Gomez and his army of sorts left in central Cuba, Weyler was claiming to Madrid he had the rebellion wound up, but then in the province of Santiago rose another army, led by Calixto Garcia, a cunning leader that systematically drove in most of the small Spanish garrisons back to the main cities of Holguin, Manzanillo and Santiago itself.

Cuban Autonomy Proposal

Within twelve months and now with a Liberal majority controlling affairs in Madrid, Weyler was replaced by Captain General Ramon Blanco, and within a month he had released several political prisoners, cancelled the Winter offensive planned by Weyler and published the Queen Regent's proposals of autonomy for the Cubans, with Spain still holding the reins in regards to foreign affairs.

Gomez and Garcia dismissed the autonomy offer as derisory propaganda after the Spanish Premier Sagasta, in a classic contradiction, dispatched 20,000 more troopers for Blanco to use in securing the Cuban interior. Blanco resumed minor probing operations against the insurgents as the few incursions still taking place broke down. One aspect had now finally been aired though - Spain had been compelled to concede to Home Rule for Cuba.

The American administration watched on as a very concerned neighbour. In the south the Cuban exiles had begun to band together as a form of exiled government, a viable alternative to the prolonged Spanish military involvement. They, and their friends sitting in the Senate and Congress had noticed the mood change from Madrid, and fed by heroic stories of the insurgents' underdog resistance, the American people were beginning to take an active interest in the affairs in the Caribbean.

US Mediation Offered

Indeed in April 1896, Secretary Olney had offered to mediate between all sides in the Spanish-Cuban war, and again in December of that year, President Cleveland renewed the offer, warning the American patience was not unlimited. Within months, McKinley had been inaugurated as the new President and throughout 1897, the Cuban affair gained precedence with the United States. Rebellion flared in the Philippines against Spanish rule during August and again public, then political opinion swung against the Spanish. McKinley condemned the policy of reconcentration that Weyler had enforced in eastern Cuba, as Spain's authorities denuded the countryside of livestock and population in an effort to deny the insurgents support.

The policy was ill planned. Weyler had barely enough provisions to supply his army let alone these new concentration camps in and around the major cities. Upon his arrival Captain General Blanco had revoked the Reconcentration Order and the people returned to the land and the crops. The US had deplored the use of such tactics in the first place, and on 6th December 1897, McKinley made the first hints of possible US military intervention.

The new year had barely seen a ceasefire take effect in the Philippines, when riot erupted on the city streets of Havana on the 12th January. However, the rioting crowd were not insurgents; rather they were loyalists, protesting at the liberal reforms and demanding the return of General Weyler. Now the US administration began to get a more complete picture of the complex situation within Cuba.

US Campaign for Santiago Continued

Part II: Provocation
Part III: Send in the Marines and AEF
Part IV: Las Guasimas
US Campaign for Santiego Map
Order of Battle