The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-03
gen. NEYLtR INTERVIEWED
-
CAPTAIN GENERAL OF CUBA STIR.
M1Ts TO A REPORTERS
= INTERPRETATIONS.
Makes LIGHT Of THE REBELLION.
lie Says the Province of Pinar De, Rio
VIII Soon Be Pacifed-Classes the
insurgents as Non-Property
Holding Anarchists.


trajectory statements have been attribu-
teo 10 Capt. Gen. Weyler since his return
from the province of Pinar del Rio that
ehe correspondent of the Associated Press
was instructed to ask the Spanisb com.
mander for an authorized statement
therefore, just previous to the departure
OF Gen. Weyler for Pinar del Rio. the
correspondent called at the palace, where
he was courteously received by the een.
eral, who was asked to supplement the
exclusive interview with the correspond
ent of La Lucia at Artemsa, which was
cabled to the Associated Press on Tues
day afternoon and which contained his
first public utterances since his return
from conducting the operations against
Maceo. This the general agreed to do.
The correspondent informed the captain
general that the Associated Press was
anxious, before his return to the field. to
place before the public in the United
States his official views on the Cuban
situation, adding:
turned from Pinar del Rio contented with
the result of your recent operations and
it is asserted that you believe that Pinar
del Rio will soon be pacifed."
In reply the captain general said:
Il am not only contented, but am en-
urely satisfied with the result of my mil
fary plans. went over the hills and
occupied the insurgents positions with
cut any serious resistance upon the part
Of the enemy. CacaJacara and Rub,
which the insurgents claimed were i'm
pregnable, were occupied by my troops,
after dislodging the enemy At Rubi
they offered the greatest resistance, but
after few hours fighting they disband-
ed. We found no trace of Maceo's peo-
pie after that although all the other
points were reconnoitered by detach-
ments from our columns. The points in
the southern portion were also recon
noitered and the positions where the reb-
els had encamped are now in possession
Of our troops. There remains still to be
reconnoitered the ranges Of hills in the
eastern part of the province. Maceo
has nothing left for him to do but to scat
order to escape our columns, which are
hunting for them, since they offer no re-
sistance and refused to accept meeting
with our troops, who are chasing them
in all directions"
"Does your excellency expect soon to
crush the insurgents in the province of
Pinar del Rio and bring about its pacifica-
ton within a short time?"
II am confident of shortly pacifying
Pinar del Rio," replied the captain gen
eral. "Since all the strategic points are
in my hands and because our troops are
in all directions, which completely him
ders the escape of the several groups OF
insurgents, who are now fleeing before
them in disorder"
The correspondent asked: Do you
think the condition of the provinces of
Havana, Matanzas and Santa CARA
hampers or favors the suppression OF the
He replied: these three provinces
are more easily subdued, from the ma
ture of the ground. They haye no hills
like the province of Pinar del Rio and
the facilities for the movement of large
bodies of troops are therefore greater
Besides, the rebel bands in those PROV
inces are less numerous and lack the ell
ements and conditions of those IN the
province of Pinar del Rio. The LEADERS
of the rebels in these provinces also lack
the Importance possessed by Maceo"
at is asserted" said the correspond
ent. "tnat Maceo lost many OF MS lead
ing men who were with him, besides
those who Joined him after the invasion
of Pinar del Rio"
To this the captain general said:
"Nearly all of Maceo's leaing men VINO
were Mt all valuable or possessed military
ability have persisted in other provinces
or in the districts where they headed up
risings." ..u :,
Puerto Principe and in Santiago dc Cupa =
are displaying more activity that before'
suggested the correspondent SMnt "hu+ tho
,rovinces mentioned are not in a state
of instruction. Puerto Principe is pro
ducing little and not much production
il needed. The same may be SAID IN re-
gard to the Holguin district. The rebels
have DESTROYED all they could and, pc
sides. with the death of Jose Maceo, the
rebellion in the province of Santiago de
Cuba lost much of its Importance.
The general added: II have no lnten-
tion of allowing the attention OF troops
TO be distracted in that direction, 1or II
is evident this is the object of the IN
sureents under Gomez and CaliXto, VINO
nossess dominating influences over lhe
insurgents in those districts. r,
ADO YOU believe President Mckinney
will follow the policy of President Cie'e-
land in regard to Cuba?" m
"McKiniey represents the, wealth anu
the producing elements of that country,
and I can not believe that man VINO SO
represents the wealth, virtue and pros
perity of his country can carry out poi-
lev which would so compromise the IN
terests entrusted to his talent ana olS-
erection as a public man. Hence L tnink
that Mckinley will be guided by JUST
and equitable policy, without passion anu
with prudence such as is counseiieu ny
the interests of the American people anu
the cordial relations long existing between
Spain and the United States
"Is It true" asked the correspondents
chat Won propose to publish decree con-
the property of Cuban insur-
gents?" 20,
with motion of ironical surprise, Cen
Weyler answered: 1T is not possipie'
Tie rebels have nothing to contscate.
Tbev do not represent any wealth OF tne
oonntrv However, if you possess data
If anv nroperty owned by the insurgents,
at mo know I will avail myself OF the
ruth Of your information and will tell
,ou If I coniscate it or not. l personal
y know only about a dozen rebel farm farm
;wners' and their property is of niue
,o,re and even then it is mortgaged 10
ba amount of the actual worth with va
ions creditors. Consequently II 9e-
.;Ja5 mon confiscation, it would be the
,rad;+ore who would suffer- and they are