The leadership of the war after Marti's…

The leadership of the war after Marti's death falls to Gomez and Maceo, who are now ready to implement their plan to invade the western provinces.

In repeated attacks, they undermine and defeat the Spanish troops and carry the war to the sugar heart of the island.

Maceo wages a bitter but successful campaign against larger Spanish forces in the provinces of Pinar del Rio and La Habana from January to March of 1896.

The Spanish troops are in retreat by mid-1896, and the Cubans seem victorious throughout the island.

Now comes a change in the Spanish command: the more conciliatory Marshal Arsenio Martinez Campos is replaced by General Valeriano Weyler, a tough and harsh disciplinarian.

Weyler's policy of concentrating the rural population in garrisoned towns and increasing the number of Spanish troops allows the Spaniards to regain the initiative after Maceo's death on December 7, 1896, in a minor battle.

Yet they are unable to defeat the Cuban rebels or even to engage them in a major battle.

Gomez retreats to the eastern provinces and from there carries on guerrilla operations.

He rejects any compromise with Spain.

When, in January 1898, the Spanish monarchy introduces a plan that will make Cuba a self- governing province within the Spanish empire, Gomez categorically opposes the plan.