, 1896-11-17
fore going to Havana.
SITUATION GRAVE

: ~ i'-N NlNsNN -
New York. Nov. ia special 10 tn,
Herald from Washington says.
The Cuban situation is prrgnan,
with possibilities. There is not a pub.
lie man in Washington who does not
fully realize the gravity of the siIua-
tion. The president. his cabinet. Con
sui General Lee and officials and diplp-
matiSts generally are waiting for the
developments of the next fortnight
with the greatest concern as to the re-
suits. All hands seem to agree that the
real crisis is connected with General
WeyIer's present campaign against
MacCO.
There ar" good grounds for belief
that Consul General Lee is in favor of
Intervention in the interest of secur-
ing the autonomy Of Cuba if General
Weyler's campaign does not result in
a more peaceful solution of the present
difficulties than is expected. General
Lee. however, is automatically retic-
ent as to his views on the situation,
and will not admit that he favors inter
venti0n.
Il do not know when | will return to
Havana. A great deal will depend up
on developments there within the next
few days. Mrs. Lee is with me and |
expect to attend to some social as well
as official matters while here. | do not
deny that the situation is serious. but
| very much deprecate the talk of war
between the United States and Spain.
ana I'M especially sorry Il see that
statements are attributed to me in his
direction which | have not made"
No cine is anXio,lsly Watching
for developments than President Cleve-
land.
The Cuban feature of his message ia
held back and will not be written un-
til something definite is heard as to the
result of General Weyle's military OPP
crations in Pinar del Rio. No one cln
say now how the president will deal
with the Cuban question in his mes
''S'' All htIJcllu upon lllt result
of General Weyler's campaign.
Should General Weyler be repulsed
or should he return to Havana with
out accomplishing any results at all.
everything would be in a chaotic STATE
in Cuba and in Spain. and there is no
telling what the consequences would
be.
or these possibilities connected with
General Weyler's campaign. a COM
plete victory over Maceo is considered
least likely to occur. From the reports
which Consul General Lee has made to
the president and secretary of state
upon the military features OF the sit
uatlon, the authorities expect that Gen.
eral Weyler will 10 succeed in dislodg-
ing Maceo from his mountain fastneSs,
and that he will soon return to Havana
disCredited as a military commander
both with the authorities at Madrid
and his officers and troops in Cuba. 1t
is this phase of the situation that is
causing the chief concern.
There is already a suppressed spirit
of discomfort among the Spanish
troops. both regular and militia. on ac-
count Of the great hardship they have
been compelled to undergo without re-
muncrat.on or proper supplies of either
food or clothing,
General Weyler's return without re-
suits. IL is believed, means his recall
by Canoras for the sake OF satisfying
the demands OF the Carlists. who have
been urging it for some time. and a
general decentralization of affairs in
Havana to an extent which might rem
der it impossible for the authorities to
maintain order among the citizens and
the dissatisfied soldiery. 1t is a full
realization of what is likely to happen
i'm the event of an unsuccessful result
of General Weyler's present campaign
that is causing the authorities to be on
the alert. They fully understand that
Spain cannot let go. as much as the
Madrid authorities might like to.
teNleWlnS lhe pOlltlcal aspect, DOth
in Spain and in Cuba, from every point
of view. they find it very difficult 10
figure out a peaceful solution. From
the Spanish side of the case, the war
must be kept up to preserve the con-
troll Of the monarchial party. From
the point of view of the United States,
a ~prolongation of the war in Cuba
means utter destruction of all Ameri-
can interests in the island and its ruin
almost beyond recovery.
DYING FOR WANT OF SLEEP.
Jersey Shore. Pa. Nov. 16.-Martin
B. Cowdrick, once a prosperous farmer