Rock Island Argus., 1896-12-26
TWO CUBAN TALES
One Comes from Florida, the
Other from Havana.
ORDERS ARE OUT FOR BUrCHERY.

VI" s"e ShduShter-Wh nat william Shaw
Bowen Saw in Pinar del Rio-some Re
marks by q Spanish General on the
Stories Told in the United States
Chicago. Dec. 26.-Telegrams from
Key West via Cincinnati saw that pas-
sengers arriving from Havana tell the
story that all Havana is waiting for re-
ports from Weyler and commenting
upon his actions so far. He is reported
to have stated that he intended to make
desert of the Pinar del Rio section to
starve General Rivera out. According
10 rumors he has begun strongly on
this. His guerrilla bands have orders
TO carry on or destroy all cattle or pro-
visions Of any kind. and to lay waste
the entire country. burning cane fields.
houses. barns. etc. This they are be-
ginning to do. The statement is also
made that the orders are to shoot all
pacificos" and that the bloody work
has been begun. The stories edd that
General Rivera, who is in command Of
the army of Maceo, has sent a formal
warning to Weyler. notifying the Span
ish captain general that If he persists
In his threats to kill pacificos found in
the country the Cubans will make re-
prisals on all Spaniards whom they may
capture.
Cuban Victories Over the Spaniaris.
General Weyler is affecting to disre-
gard the warning. Those near him,
however, say that he will not dare to
carry out his ideas as ruthlessly as he
intended. His guerrillas still have full
authority to capture or kill pacificos in
the country and to force their families
into the garrisoned towns. AS the troops
in such places have little extra food
and the residents none to spare this
order lays great hardship on the poor
country folk. Hundreds will soon be
starving. General Rivera is moving
out of his intrenchments. Al indica-
tions point to an important engage
ment soon. A battle has been fought
in Santa Clara province between guer-
rilla bands. The Cubans forced the
Spanish toretire into Remedies with
heavy loss. Regia, across the bay from
Havana, was attacked again Thursday
night almost upder the guns of the
fortress. Several houses were burned
and a running fight was maintained for
two hours.
What Correspondent Bowen Says.
A dispatch from New York gives the
substance of a special to The World
from DR.. William Shaw Bowen. a staff
correspondent of that paper. The Span
ish authorities gave him permission to
travel through Pinar del Rio. He found
few signs of civil war except about the
garrisoned towns. Tobacco was being
cultivated in many places. except that
the planting was later than common,
ptd he tv1f, hi t.,v &c 81
lowing their ordinary avocations. Gen.
eral Malguizo. who is in command of
the district about Pinar del Rio city,
replied bitterly to the American press
attacks on him for cruelty. Referring
to the ''pacificos" he said there were
two kinds of these-one genuine and
the other spurious.
Distinction Between .Pacificos"
The spurious kind carried on a guer-
rilla warfare when the opportunity Of
fered to do ii safely and then when
hard pressed buried its arms and be-
come very peaceful General Melguizo
| said that these men should be treated
as the Germans treated similar French
''pacificos' during the Franco-German
war-shot on sight. Melguizo had not
heard any criticism of the Ger
| man commanders for doing this
| Referring to the proposed collecting OF
the loyal people in the towns and the
desolation of the country occupied by
the rebels General Melguizo recalled
| the fact that Sheridan in the American
rebellion swept the Shenandoah valley
| clean. so that "a crow could not fly
| over it," as military measure.
Sensational Stories Denied.
| Bowen says that the siege of Pinar
| del Rio city, reported at length in
American papers very nearly a twelve.
| month ago, was romance pure
and simple: that the rebels have never
| been nearer the town in force than five
miles. and then only when Macec
| slipped by in the woods en- route some.
where else; also that Weyler in his two
trips into the hills of the province
| found few rebels-there are none or.
| ganized in considerable bodies ther,
| now: that the detailed stories printed
in the United States of fierce battlss
| in the hills are fabrications out of whole
cloth. The whole special is a denial OF
| the luTid reports coming to the pres.
| via Key West and other Florida points
| vrEvs M CEEGraU mn aDrD