Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-18
A WARSHIP WANTED
Needed for Protection of Americans
at Havana.
CONTEMPT FOR THE UNITED STATES
Rainy Season Will Open in Five
Weeks.
GEN. WEYLER MUST HUSTLE
From The Stars Special Correspondent.

The consul general of the United States in
Havana is the only American citizen in the
city who does not believe an American
warship should be here. Mr.. Williams hay
ing lived the best portion Of his life in Cuba
he has become on such good terms with til 2
Spanish government and people that he
undoubtedly does not appreciate the fac I
that there exists in Spanish circles of Ha-
vana an intense feeling of bitterness against
the United States and the American people.
Mr.. Williams is not an eXcitable man. and
has used good judgment in many instances.
but the American colony of this city regard
his delay in calling upon the home govern
ment for a warsh.p as exceedingly unw.st.
and careless. For the reasons already stated
the consul general does not hear the ad-
verse criticism that is bestowed upon Amer
leans on every hand. and personally h..
would have nothing TO fear al the hands of
a Spanish mob; but there are other Ameri-
cans in the city, and they feel that the
Washington government is not watc hing out
for their safety.
The local press, too, is particularly bitter
whenever referring to the United States,
which it sneers at as the grand republic,
the "ovcrgrown'' republic or the North
American nation disdaining to call it the
Florida was taken by conquest from SPAIN
and how, when the :. i'm Cuba is over. the
Spanish army in the island will form a fine
body to invade the Seminole state and take
it away from the Union,
Especially TT this time, when every line
that is printed in Havana papers must fl, st
be approved by the government censor
do Americans here feel that not alone th,.
mob. but the officials at the palace down
deep ir their hearts have an intense hatred
for the United States.
Case in Point.
That this was illustrated in one particular
Instance your correspondent can personally
vouch for, ANA if he does not testify to it
in Washington it will be because the Span
ish government which has ordered him
from the island, changes its tickle and
wicked mind, and instead of letting him
go. locks him up with the other American
citizens in the Moro.
The incident referred to occurred Wednes-
day last in the palace Of the governor gen.
eral. Your correspondent had been unoffi-
cially ordered from the island; or to be
n ore plain he was advised. through Consul
General Williams, that his presence In Gu
ba was an Inconvenience to the govern
ment of Spain. He did not propose to leave
upon any such Invitation, and demanded an
official notice.
Gen. Suarez Valdez. acting captain gen.
eral, and Senior Munoz, secretary of the
government, were present when Mr.. Will
liams, in Spanish, made the request.
I'VE viii give him an official notice."
said Valdez, "and put him on board the
steamer going out today
That may. not be literal translatio of
what he said, but 1t is it in substance
Then your correspondent told Mr.. Will.
liams that such action would he very sum-
mary, and that time at least should be
given to communicate with the Secretary of
State and obtain reply. This being COM
municated to Gen. Valdez that very brave
officer angrily replied:
Il don't care for the Secretary of Slater
He recoEsidered his speech a moment
later bowed many courtesies to he Amer
ican consul, looked machetes at the corr,-
spondent, said until Saturday would be
allowed the criminal to remain and the in
terview was over.
The incident is rot of international i'm
port and the words of Valdez may he ex-
cused on the grounds that he didn't know
where he was at and. of course didn'i /
mean them. But it goes TO show that Off
clally or unofficially Spain and the Span
iards have no love for America and the
Americans.
Campos said to your correspondent a
month ago, and he also assured Consul
Williams In like manner, that should Amer
leans or their properties be in peril he him
self would command a regiment in their
defense. Cnquestionably, he meant every
word of it, but there is hardly an American
citizen III Havana who would trust his i;f,,
to the defense of Spanish soldiers. even
though they might be commanded by the
lest and noblest of Spain's generals.
American Taken to Spain.
Manuel SAM, an : merican citizen, put n
native Of Cuba, was yesterday taken. with
other prisoners, aboard the Riena Maria
Christina, which, in the afternoon, sailed
Tor Spain. The prisoners are bound for
the Spanish penal colony at Ceuta, Africa
Sanz was not allowed to talk to reporters
before his departure. He was captured. as
tola III previous dispatches along with
Frank Agramonte of New Orleans. near
1uah'aHa1ho' u learly a year ago. Agra
mcnte, who is a native American. is in Ike
castle at Santiago de Cuba.
1t was currently reported in the CITY the.
Mrs. Arlades, who was arrested al San
tlago de Cuba charged with having san,
medicines to the rebels and OF havinp mol,
cuban badges for the soldiers. WAS ais,
taken to Spain aboard the Maria Crjsiina
but no ver!ticaton of this could he oht.ip,
ed. At the palace it is not denied.
Few prisoners are sent these days IN the
Isle Of Pines, because that penal star;o, ,s
about taxed TO its utmost capacity. The
favorite with the government at present
appears to be Ceuta. There the prisoners
are out of the reach of their friends and
are no. the cause of much ANNOYANCE to
the authorities.
The inmates of the prisons of Cuba q,
the present time would make quite =
formidable army, and it has been proposeo
in certain quarters that the government
should offer them their freedom on condi-
ton Of their serving in the field for one
year. 1t is not likely, however, that the
authorities will trust arms in the hands
of the prisoners.
Military Movements.
A report tonigh. says that Seraphin
Sanchez one of the best brigaGiers of the
Cuban army, has reached Havana province
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