The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-18
A DEVASTATED ISLAND.
Towns Wiped Off the Map of Cuba by
Troops.

Towns Wiped Off the Map of Cuba by
Havana, March 1.-THE devastation
already wrought by the war is great. Thir-
ty-six towns have been destroyed in the
four western provinces and over twenty
five towns have been half burned Most of
these towns have been burned by the in
surgents.
III some cases, the troops demolished
the town to prevent the insurgents from
occupying it. When the insurgents en-.
tered Pinar Del Rio, every town except
the capital, welcomed him and no
property was injured. 2 2~.
Later, the government troops entered
the province, and dislodged the insur-
gents. Thereupon the inhabitants burned
their own town. Spanish troops occupy
the city Uf Pinar Del Rio. the towns of
Candelaria, Artemesia and the port of
COlima. All the rest of the province is in
the hands Of the enemy.
Recently Spanish force was sent to
establish base of supplies at Guane.
Upon the approach of the column the
residents burned their town.
Gen. Weyler's decree, in ordering the
confiscation of property in Havana and
Pinar del Rio provinces of all who fail to
report allegiance to Spain, has produced
great indignation. A few days ago three
owners of estates called upon General
Weyler and asked permission to pay tax
to the insurgents so that they could be
permitted to save their crops. Weyler be-
came angry and told his callers that if
they paid peseta to the rebels he would
have them looked up as traitors to Spain.
Cuban Filibusterers Sentenced.
Philadelphia, March 1.-THE officers of
the Danish steamer Horsa recently con-
victed of carrying an armed expedition
to the Cuban insurgents, were sentenced
in the United States District COURT Capt.
j. H, S. Wiborg was sentenced to a year
and four months in an eastern peniten.
tiary and fined $500 and costs. Mates
Jens p Petersen and Hans johnson,
were each sentenced to eight months in
the county prison and fined 800 and
costs each. A motion for new trial was
EoverruIed. 4a-gIass . N f#sS
subsequently, the sentence of the two
mates WAS changed to year each, to en-
able them to go to the Eastern peniten.
tiary instead of the county prison. This
maRes their offenses what the law terms
infamous, but gives them better status
befO re the Supreme court. The case of all
three defendants is to be taken to the Su-
preme court upon writ of error. A
special allocatur will be asked for to en-
able the defendants to be liberated upon
bail pending the argument before the
Supreme court.
Reformists Party Will Not Vote.
Havana, March 17.-It is reported that
Antonio Maceo, second in command of
the rebel forces, is near Candelabria,
province of Pinar Del Rio. At meeting
of the Reformist party here it was de-
cided not to take part in the election of
mem hers of the Cortes, it being held i'm
possible for the party to do so, because of
the disturbance caused by the war. This
decision was cabled to Madrid. Replies
were received from the leaders there COM
mending the action of the party, and de-
claring the elections in Cuba will only be
simulated, and advising the .Reformists
only to take part in the elections when
the provinces are paoifed. 12 '
Bermuda Took On Passengers.
Washington, March 17.-Unusual mani
festations of activity on the part of the
revenue marine and naval officials indi-
cate that another chase after suspected
Cuban flibusters is in prospect. The be-
lief is that the British steamship Der
muda, which left. New York ostensibly
for Vera Cruz, at eight Sunday morning,
loaded with arms and ammunition has
since taken on board the Cuban leader
Gen. Calizto Garzia and the thirty four
mon recently arrested with him. The
dore, which left Charleston last week.