Alberto G. Abreu, at the age of 15, aided a revolutionary general to escape from Spain, immediately joined the army, and after being wounded twice in the battle against the Spanish, aided the American forces to win the war and at 18 was wearing the epaulets of a Captain.

By a Globe-Democrat Staff Writer.

The story of the sheer patriotism and the undisputed heroism displayed by Alberto G. Abreu in helping to free his country from oppression, of the suffering and the sacrifice he made on the altar of his country, is not unlike the stories of our own Revolutionary war heroes. There is something of the Paul Revere, mayhap of the Patrick Henry, in the services he rendered his native Cuba more than thirty years ago when the peoples of the island were endeavoring to throw off the Spanish shackles that bound them.

As the Cuban Consul in St. Louis Senor Abreu is rather widely known. He is known in business circles by virtue of the constant close relations he maintains with the Chamber of Commerce and all individuals and firms trying to promote trade with his country. He is known to the members of patriotic societies by reason of the fact that he frequently participates in their ceremonies or lends a helping hand to their movements.

In short, the consular representative bears an extended reputation because of his efforts to establish and preserve amicable relations between the people of St. Louis and the Republic of Cuba. But what St. Louisans may not know is the story of the background of the intense interest which Senor Abreu manifested in his country.

It is a story of which St. Louisans might well take cognizance; indeed, some significance might be attached to the fact that the Cuban Republic has sent one of its war heroes, the very youngest of them, to St. Louis to protect and promote the interest of the country. Alberto G. Abreu has held the post for the past eight years with the exception of four months, when he had charge of the consulate at Cincinnati.

Senor Abreu is not an old man, Just past 56, but he played an important part in the Cuban War of Independence, the hostilities in which the United States later took a hand and which the American school children know as the Spanish-American war. When he was 15, Abreu enlisted in the Cuban army as a private and three years later emerged as a Captain with the scars of battle bearing evidence of his suffering and his sacrifice.

Aided Gen. Fred. Funston Join Cuban Army

And even that tells only a part of the story, for not only did he take up arms for the cause of Cuban independence at a very early age, but he performed a mission for the cause before the outbreak of hostilities which in the light of subsequent events can be classed only as a distinguished service. Mayhap it was the successful performance of that mission which furnished the needed impetus for the organization of the first Cuban expedition.

Be that as it may, it is a fact that adventure came thick and fast to the youthful patriot in the four years from his 15th to his 19th birthday. Nor is it without interest to note that during those years he was brought into contact with Americans who later were to have a Ieading part in molding the military destinies of the world. Among these was Gen. Frederick Funston, who was able to enlist in the Cuban army only upon Abreu's recommendation.

But all that is getting ahead of the story. Besides, it is a story that may best be told chronologically. First, however, there is a background that should be set up.

Alberto G. Abreu was born November 10, 1880, into a Cuban family of long standing, a family of great wealth that lay mostly in vast sugar plantations. His ancestors long had been distinguished residents of the island. Some facts in that connection which he proudly relates are that his grandfather gave the land on which the City of Cienfuegos now stands and that the castle known as Angelo del Castillo [Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua] was constructed with funds donated by his grandmother. His father was Leopoldo G. Abreu who, the son says, was once the richest man in Cuba. His mother, Dolores Sanchez Abreu, still lives and spends part of her time in New York.

The wealth of his parents enabled them to send Alberto to Paris to school when he was 11 years old. For the next four years he remained in the French capital studying at a college maintained by the Catholic order, the Jesuits. Although he was far away from his native country, he was aware the people there were dissatisfied with the rule of Spain which then had possession of the island. Little did he dream, however, that he was to have so important a part in the war to break that rule.

There were other Cubans living in Paris and one day young Abreu received a letter from one of the most distinguished of them, Dr. R[amon] E. Betances. In the letter the physician stated he wanted a man whom he could dispatch on a secret and important mission for Cuba. He did not explain the nature of the mission.

"I went to see Dr. Betances," says senor Abreu, to let him take up the story here, "to find out what the mission was so I would know whether I knew a man capable of performing it. You see, I thought the doctor wanted me to help him find the man.

"I was informed the mission was to go to Barcelona, Spain, and there to aid the escape of Gen. Juan Fernandez Ruz, who had served in the first Cuban revolution, from 1868 to 1878. Some years after the revolution, the Spanish Government sent all the leaders, including Gen. Ruz, to various Spanish cities, where they were compelled to remain. They were allowed the freedom of the city, but could not leave. Gen. Ruz was wanted in Cuba to aid in the second revolution.

"After hearing what was wanted, I told Dr. Betances I would try to find him a man. 'Why,' he said, 'you are the man.' You can imagine my astonishment. I, a 15-year-old boy, was being asked to perform such a difficult and important mission. 'When do I start?' I asked. 'Well, there is a train at 6:30 o'clock tonight, but you had better wait until tomorrow so I can get the money for you,' the physician replied-'No,' I said, 'I have money and I will go tonight.' I left on the first train for Barcelona.

"I reached the General without difficulty, but he said he was afraid to leave then and suggested that we wait a few days. He explained there was a possibility of a revolution in Spain and suggested that escape would be much easier then. Moreover, he suggested that I aid in fomenting the revolution. To do so, I posed as a student at the University of Barcelona and for several days I took part in demonstrations against the government. I was arrested and put in jail, but managed to escape the first night.

"Going immediately to the General's home, I told him we must leave at once. He consented and we employed a hack to take us to a near-by town. After seven days, we reached the border between Spain and France. We experienced no difficulty, but I was afraid the General's whiskers were going to get us into trouble. I suggested he cut them off, but he stoutly refused, saying he needed them for dignity. I took a large scarf and wrapped it around his head and under his chin, just like he had the toothache. I told him to act ill and, since he was really ill, he had no difficulty.

"We encountered a Sergeant of the border patrol. I gave him $20 in gold, asked him to buy us tickets to the first town in France and told him to keep the change. He did, and then assisted me to help the General on the train."

Outside the borders of Spain, Abreu and his aged charge easily made their way to Paris, from where Gen. Ruz went to New York and thence to Cuba. Thanks to the services of a 15-year-old boy, the revolution had his aid.

Against the wishes of his parents, who had forbade him to enlist in the army, the boy soon followed to New York. He found enlistment blocked by his uncle, Gen. Rafael Cabrera, who was cognizant of the wishes of his parents and the Cuban delegate who was in New York to organize the first expedition refused to admit him into the army, explaining no more men were needed. But Abreu found a way.

"I told the leader that my country was indebted to me," he says. "I reminded him that I had just performed a valuable service and that the only compensation I wanted or expected was the privilege of fighting for the freedom of my country. Finally he was persuaded I was right and he permitted me to enlist as a private."

In the interim before setting sail for Cuba, young Abreu became acquainted with another young man who was destined to become famous as Gen. [Frederick] Funston of the United States Army and to have an army camp named for him, But let him tell about it.

"When I was introduced to Funston," Abreu relates, "he explained to me that he had come to New York to enlist in the expedition being formed to go to Cuba. He said he was having some difficulty convincing the leaders he should be permitted to enlist. So I took him to the leader and introduced him. Upon my recommendation, Funston was enlisted as a private in the Cuban Army. We went to Cuba together on the same ship and I saw a great deal of him during the war, even lived in the same tent with him for a time."

Private Abreu was not long in getting into action. His first service was as a bugler under command of his uncle, Gen. Cabrera. Soon he was promoted to sergeant, and it was not long until he was made a first lieutenant. While holding this rank he shed his first blood for his country.

During fierce fighting at the battle of Saratoga [Camaguey, June 11, 1896], a bullet from a Spanish rifle pierced his right shoulder, making it necessary for him to be out of action for several days. But the wound soon healed and he a was back again with his unit.

He was less fortunate, however, the next time an enemy bullet found its mark in him. In a drive on a formidable line of fortifications stretching across the center of the island, from Jucaro on the north to Moron on the south. Lieut. Abreu was wounded severely in the left ankle. In contrast to the first, the second injury healed slowly and it was not until a rather crude and painful bit of surgery had been practiced that he recovered sufficiently to join in the fighting once more.

Eventually the United States took up the cudgel for Cuba and the war was soon terminated, but not before Abreu had advanced to the rank of captain and was attached as adjutant to the staff of Maj. Gen. Francisco Carrillo. And he was only 18 years old, the youngest soldier to take part in the Cuban war of independence. Abreu will tell you he investigated to learn if there were any who were younger, that he learned of two others who were in their nineteenth year, but older than he by a few days.

The war over, Capt. Abreu returned to Paris, where he remained for several years. In 1911 he entered the Cuban consular service and has never left it. After service at several consulates, he was stationed at St. Louis in 1923. He has been active in the United Spanish War Veterans. In 1926, Abreu was transferred to Cincinnati, but returned to St. Louis early in 1927 upon petition of the Chamber of Commerce, after the death of the former consul. He has served as consul since.

St. Louis civic and patriotic organizations may now take due notice of the hero who is in their midst.