The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-20
FITZHUGH LEE TALKS
HE SAYS WEYLER DOES PERMIT
HIM TO SEE PRISONERS.
The Committeeman Was, However,
Once Ordered to Be Arrested for
Violating Prison Rules.

HAVANA Sept 19-General FitZhugh
Lee. the United States Consul-general here,
was asked to-day by representative of
La Lucha about the wildly circulated re-
ports in some of the American newspa-
pers charging General Weyler with hav
ing had a notice posted at Las Cabanos,
directing that he General FitZhugh Lee
should be arrested and detained there if
he visit that fortress. General Lee was
also questioned about statements frequent
ly made in the newspapers of the United
States that he was not permitted to visit
the American prisoners incarcerated in the
forts near Havana, and that, therefore, he
could not keep himself informed as to the
health and condition of those prisoners.
Replying to questions on these subjects
the United States Consul-general said in
substance in the interview published this
afternoon: "A few days after my arrival
at Havana at the invitation of my pre-
decessor, Mr.. Williams, 1 accompanied him
on a visit to the Competitor prisoners con-
fined at Las Cabanos. Some days later 1
heard that it was against the regulations
to allow foreigners to visit military forts
at this time, even on visitors day, as it
is called, and that the officer co1nmandant
at Las Cabanos had been reprimanded by
General Weyler for allowing to make
the said visit. The officer In question Of
fered as an excuse that his subordinate
officers on duty at the gates did not know
me, but supposed | of the visitors
entitled to enter the fort visitors day.
From abundant caution and in order to
prevent any occurrence of that sort in flu
lure the commanding officer at Las Ca
banos L heard, had notice posted in one
of the guard rooms, directing his officers
to arrest and detain me if | should again
attempt to enter the fort. when / heard
of this notice at once called General Wey-
ler's attention to it and he very prompt
ly had it removed. / am informed that he
reprimanded the officer who had it posted.
LAS to the statements that l am not al
lowed to see the American prisoners and
that the prohibition does not apply to the
consuls of other countries, l desire to say
that all such statements are incorrect. l.
or my representative, can see any or all
the American prisoners at any time that
it is desirable to do so by simply sending
notice to the commanding officer of the
done, the officer is required by General
Weyler to have the prisoners named, at
certain point, where they can be seen and
talked with alone if necessary. A morning
or two ago one of my representatives went
over to Las Cabanos and saw and con-
versed with all the Competitor prisoners
distributing among them lot of money
which had been sent to me for their use
as well as a large bundle of American
newspapers.
Il think it but justice to General Weyler
to state these facts and to add further that
I know of instance in which he has
meant any discrimination against the con-
sul-general of the United States, who is
now and has been in the exercise of all
the rights of conSulS of other countries
Why, General Weyler," added General Lee
offensive language about the American con-
SlII-oPner0l -