The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-13
cUBANS IN HAVANA COERCED.
PROTEST AGAINST THE ACTION
on CONGRESS FORCED ON THEM.


R,siness Men Who Refuse to Sign
threatened and Many Sign Under
Duress-A Very Ugly Feeling
vvorked Up over the Matter-Wey-
Iers COnfseatiOn Proclamation
Resented-The Coming Elections
10 BE Farce.
Havana. March II, via Tampa, March y.
The protest against the action of con-
rress. being circulated in Havana, for the
SIGNATURES of commercial houses, presi-
dents of clubs. corporations and merchants
generally. has nearly stirred up riot
here. Many houses refusing TO sign have
baen threatened; others signed under du-
ross The members of the Union club
threaten to depose the president for sign
inc the name of the club. The editor of
Ia Discussion declined to sign the name
of his paper on the ground that he had no
authority during the absence of the di-
rector who is in Madrid. Given the choice
of signing or cease publishing, he signed
Gen. Weyler's last proclamation provid-
ing for confiscation Of the property of those
in active or passive aid of the rebellion is
hfffoIlW
furnish the petty officials basis for ex-
tensive blackmal operations, and also to
vreak vengeance upon Cubans generally.
Under it's terms, the property of any per-
son falling to present himself in fifteen
days must be seized. Many are compelled
10 flee to interior towns. or to the cities
of the coast, and others who have gone
abroad, awaiting qUieter times, and left
their homes deserted or in charge of ser
wants may lose all. .,
- attracts little attention. The three par
ties will go through the form or hOluing
an election, all voting for the same can
didates, who have been named, not by
the parties themselves but by the Span
ish authorities. The mOckery Of the cleo
tions will be apparent when among the
candidates are found the names OF Gen.
Suarez Valdez, now in command OF the
troops in Pinar de Rio; gen. Pola a.
Nieja, who is in Spain; Gen. Pando, who is
i'm command of the second division OF the
army here, and Romero Robledo, VINO is
in Spain and whom all Cubans hate. just
how the voting is to be managed While
the island is a vast armed camp ana a
large portion Of it in the hands OF the
enemy has not been divulged. The wise
men at the palace have been at work for
days on a proclamation covering the
elections which Is awaited with interest.
A number of residents of Seba del Aqua,
Havana province have arrived here and
tell the following story: A large party OF
insurgents appeared near their town sun
day. The Spanish garrison Immediately
took from their homes all the CubanS IN
town, and at the point of the bayonet
compelled them TO stand in line in front
of the garrison. They were in mortal ter
TOr as the insurgents advanced to attack
the town. The invaders seeing unarmed
men standing in front of the Spanish
troops withheld their fire and finally with
drew without making any attack. After
ha h1- art Of ha res
idents Of Seiba del Aqua fled to this city.
Clarke.
Havana, March 12.-Several encounters
between government troops and detached
bands belonging to the forces of Gomez
and Maceo have been reported around
Los Palos, in the province of Matanzas,
near the line of the province of Havana,
and also near Bagaes, in the latter prov
lnCe.
Gen. Gasco reports from Manzunillo
that his command has had an engagement
with the rebel band led by Reyes. One
lnsurgent was captured. During recon-
nosance the insurgents exploded an earth
torpedo, wounding several soldiers.
In an engagement between Arapiles bat
TALON and PalacioS' band near Manague,
province of Havana, the rebels lost five
wounded and the troops one.
The gunboat Lince narrowly escaped
capture by the insurgents at Juan Fer
nandez, near Santa Spiritus on March 2.
The rebels locked the river with chains
made by twisting fine wires, and prevent
ed the gunboat from getting out of the
river. The gunboat Satellite went to her
rescue and acting in conjunction with a
land force, succeeded in breaking the
chains and saving the Lince together
with her convoy of several schooners Ia
den with supplies.
One hundred and ten prisoners arrived
from Las Villas yesterday and were sent
TO Moro. castle.
Capt. Gen Weyler has ordered that all
individuals captured from this date in the
provinces in Havana and Pinar del Rio,
VINO are supposed to belong to the insur-
gent forces, be set at liberty if they deny
having Joined the rebels voluntarily, and
j lhey will promise before two witnesses
Hdehty to the cause of Spain and do MOI
appear TO be responsible for other crimes.
they viii, however, be subject to the
surveillance of the authorities.
A fire at Royla, opposite Havana, last
HlshL destroyed the sugar refinery of the
american firm of Crabb TRAY & Co. Two
warehouses and twelve small houses were
also burned. The total loss is estimated
az az $4,000 The refinery was insured for