The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-03
TERR0RIZED BY THE TROOPS.
INHABTTANTs OF SMALL TOWNS
FLEEING TO HAVANA.

The People Less Afraid of the In
surEents Than of the Soldiers.
WeyIer Receives GaIly-Bedecked
Spanish Women, But Closes His
Doors ON Widowed Cuban Women
From GuataO-The Resignation of
Consul General williams Not Re-
GREETED.
Havana, Feb. %, via Tampa. Fla.
March 2-Inhabitants or Punta Bravo,
GuataO, and other small towns west Of
Marianao, and under the jurisdiction of
the volunteers and soldiers stationed at
the latter place, are fleeing to Havana
in terror. They say they have less fear
of the insurgents than of the troops.
Twenty-Five women from GuataO. wives
and mothers Of the men slain there on
the I'D or made prisoners at that time,
are in this city. They called at the pal
ace to see Gen. Weyler and beg for the
freedom of the men now in Moro Castle,
as well as to tell of the outrages commit
ted by Capt. Calvo and the men sent out
by the Marquis de Cervera. Their visit
to the palace was on the same day that
the captain general received a delegation
of women, who were attired in gay cos
tunes and wore the yellow and red colors
of Spain on their breasts. They had been
throwing flowers, bon bons, and live pig
cons to the newly arrived troops, and
shouting viva Espana," until their
voices were gone. Gen. Weyler received
them and thanked them for their demon
strations of loyalty. They cheered him
and departed.
Then came the poor women of Guatao.
They were nearly all white women, chill
dren chung to their skirts, and two babes
were carried in arms. Instead of gay col
ors, most of them We're in mourning. One
of Gen. Weyler's aides talked with the
one man who accompanied them ana told
him that the general could not receive
them. They left the palace sad at heart,
and are still in this city.
American residents of Havana, who are
at all well informed, claim that Consul
General Williams reports TO the state de-
partment nave not given the admlnistra-
tion correct understanding OF the SIT
uation in Cuba. Mr.. Williams has been in
Havana SO long and in such close touch
with the officials at the palace, that 1t IS
claimed his views are colored by Span
ish representation, and also by those or
merchants, commission men and Others
whose personal interests will be served
by the putting down OF the revolution Dy
Spain. Mr.. Williams cannot be accused
of inattention to duty. He is in his off1ce
| from morning until night, but this close
/
may have prevented his fully realizing
| the state of affairs on the island Mr..
| Williams is also well advanced in years
| and dislikes incidents which mar the
quiet routine of Office work. His attitude
! has not satisfied ali of the American col
| ony and a petition is now III circulation
asking the government Tor his recall. On
top of this comes the rumor that Mr.. Will
| Jams has sent his resignation TO wash
| ington.
| in the office over ten years and is thor
| oughly familiar with its workings. Under
ordinary circumstances he would be the
most fitting successor il Mr.. Williams IS TO
go but in view of the semi-diplomatlc
position of the consul general and the dlf-
hculties likely to arise in the near future,
the wisest course would seem to be that
a man of diplomatic experience and strong
| executive ability be sent from Washing
ton.
The revolution has reached an import
ance and the danger of strained relations
with the United States is so great, that
a man broad enough in mind in his views
to realize the gravity OF the SITUATION
should represent the United States here.
Gomez and Maceo are now in the east
ern part of the Matanzas province: They
are taking their wounded to a place of
safety and going where their horses can
Craze and their men rest after their ia
tiguing campaign. As they have left in
Havana province many bands of from ff-
ty to 900 men each, and other bands op-
crate in Pima del Rio, Matanzas and other
provinces as before, it can hardly be said
that the TWO prlnclpal leduStS VI luS re-
bellion are fleeing from or before the
Spanish armies. Gomez has displayed
wonderful ability as a leader, and his
present move is said to be a part of a
plan arranged before he left Santa Clara
for his march to the west. The with
drawal from Havana province of the main
armies of Gomez and Maceo will make it
more difficult for Gen. Weyler to deal them
an effective blow before the setting in of
! the rainy season. There are rumors here
of thea landing of an expedition in Pinar
| del Rio. 1t is supposed to have been sent
| from the states by Collazo. Clark.