The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-03

'on 1hal tue Insurgents are not
carrying on war, but rather pursuing
policy of destruction and incendiarism. !"
:, is It fact, general, that you will not
allow the sugar crop to be made?"
40 not feel inclined to permit the
gathering of the crop before February
Vi March, as it is well known that the
only assistance the rebels can count on
VIII be to exact means from planters by
threats or violence. and the means thus
obtained will go to acquiring arms and
Spain"
".Do you not think that by the prohi-
Dtlon OF the sugar crop the commerce
OF the island will suffer and important
houses connected with the sugar indus
try will be bankruptedY'
II do not because up to the present no
FAILURES have taken place and the mer-
chants themselves favor the idea against
the crop. In the relations between the
planters and the merchants in Cuba at
present the singular feature is that the
planter lives more from the merchants
capital than from the actual production
OF his land, and it may be asserted that
the immense manufactures can only COM
mence work with money from the mer-
chants, who find it best now to keep
money under key until crop work can be
DO you think the recognition of the
insurgents, if they were recognized as
belligerents by the United States, would
be taken as an offense by Spain!"
II would be strange if any act direct
ly aimed at recognition of Spain's right
Of sovereignty here, which our people
look upon as being beyond question did
not evoke an explosion of popular feel
ing, which it would be impossible to
check, excited and ardent as public SEN
tlment is now in SPAIN"
Generally the correspondent asked if
he would agree to truce in order to
bring about an exchange of views be-
tween himself and the Cuban leaders.
He answered: "That would be out of
the question. Such step would give
the insurgents an Importance which can
not concede to them"
At this juncture the captain general
showed willingness to discontinue the
interview.
At ] o'clock this afternoon the CAPTAIN
general left Havana for Mariel
Later in the day the correspondent of
the Associated Press called upon the
| cnlet of staff and informed him that
dispatch received in New York stated
that Gen. Weyler, during the recent
operations in Pinar del Rio, lost 700 men
and 1000 wounded by the explosion of an
| lnsurgent mine, and that 1000 men of
the Spanish forces were killed and 1000
wounded during the two days fighting
IN the Rubi mountains. The chief of
stan distinctly stated that there was no
truth IN the statements made and that
no mines were exploded by the insurgents;
| that there had not been two days fight
| ing, and that the report of the engage
ment cabled to the United States at the
time was incorrect.
Gen. Weyler declared that among the
most prominent Office holders in Spain
and as ministers to foreign powers were
well known Cubans. Subordinate posi-
tons. such as under secretaries, clerks.
ETC., had large number of Cubans.
Now let us see what these complaints
amount to-" he said. Nothing but Il
pretext to argue with some show of JUS
titication for treachery of the nation.
The plainest proof that these complaints
are unjust is in the fact that all Cuban
political parties have placed themselves
on the side of the government, have
formed a committee for the national de-
Tense and that all are striving equally
with the same object in view, notwith-
standing the different tendencies of their
platforms, conservative and liberal
alike"
THE Cubans abroad complain strongly
of Spanish tyranny and attribute the rev.
Olution to the subsection of the Cubans
by a despOtic government. under which
they are not only debarred liberty but
also from public employment in their
own country. Can you make state
ment on this subject?"
"They must offer some excuse for the
treason and destruction to which they
have treated themselves since taking up
arms" replied the general.
Capt. Gen. Weyler arrived safely at
Mariel today, where he was received by
the authorities and large crowds of peo-
pie. He Immediately started for Arte-
misa, and on arriving there visited the
hospitals, found them in an improved
sanitary state and the health of the
troops generally better. From Artemisa
the captain general went on 10 Vuelta
Abaja by train, leaving the cavalry and
the brigadier general CaliXto Ruiz, to
join him later.
Gen. Echague is recovering from his
wounds in the thigh. 1t has been deter
mined, upon medical consultation, not to
extract the ball.
c. B. Pendleton, a correspondent of a
New York. paper, was arrested here last
night while upon the point of embark
ing for Key West OH the steamer Aran-
sas. 1t is believed that his detention is
due to the fact that there was something
wrong with his passport or other papers.
The death of Perico Garcia has again
been confirmed.
Friends of insurgents insist that one
or two prisoners of war are shot every
day outside of Cabannes fortress.