The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-21
GEN. FITZHTGHLEE
Refutes Some of the Foolish Fabrica
tions of Cuban Correspondence.

tons OF Cuban Correspondents.
| Copyrighted, 1886. by Associated Press)
Havana, Sept. H.-General Fitz-
hugh Lee, the United States consul gen
eraI here, was asked today by a rep
resentative of the La Lucia about the
widely circulated reports in some Of
the American newspapers charging
General Weyler with having had a no.
tice posted at Las Cabannes directing
that he, General Fitzhugh Lee, should
be arrested and detained there if he
visited the fortress. General Lee was
also questioned about statements fire.
quently made in the newspapers of the
United States that he was not permit
ted to visit the American prisoners in
generated in the forts near Havana
and that, therefore, he could not keep
informed as to their health and condi-
ton.
Consul General Lee submitted to an
interview in which he said:
"A few days after my arrival in
Havana, at the invitation of my pre-
decessor, Mr.. Williams, accompanied
him on visit to the Competitor pris-
oners confined at Las Cabannes. Some
days later I heard that it was against
the regulations to allow foreigners to.
visit military forts at this time, even
on visitors day. as it is called, and
that the officer commanding at Las
Cabannes had been reprimanded by
General Weyler for allowing me to
make the said visit. The officer in
question offered as an excuse that his
subordinate officers on duty at the
gates did not know me, but supposed
1 was one of the visitors entitled to
enter the fort on visitors day.
From abundant caution and in or
der to prevent any occurrence of that
sort in future, the commanding officer
at Las Cabannes I heard, had a no
tice posted in one of the guard rooms
directing his officers to arrest and de-
tain me if I should again attempt to
enter the fort.
When I heard of this notice I at
once called General Weyler's attention
to 1t and he very promptly had it re-
moved. am informed that he repri-
manded the officers who had posted it.
As to the statements that I am not
allowed to see the American prisoners
and that the prohibition does not apply
to the consuls of other countries 1 de-
sire to say that all such statements are
incorrect I, or my representative can
see any or all the American prisoners
at any time that it is desirable to do
so by simply sending notice to the COM
handing officer of the fort on the even
ing before. This being DONE the Off
Ger is required by General Weyler to
nave the prisoners named at a certain
point where they can be seen and
talked with alone if necessary. Only
a morning or two ago one of my rep
resentatives went over to Las Caban-
mes and saw and conversed with all
the Competitor prisoners, distri butfng
among them a lot of money which had
been sent to me for their use as we'll as
a large bundle of American newspa-
pers.
4 think it but justice to General
Weyler to state these facts and to add
further that I know of no instance of
which he has made any discrimination
against the consul general of the Uni
ted States who is now and has been in
the exercise of all the rights of consuIs
OF other countries. Why, General
Weyler, added Mr.. Lee, has fined a
newspaper for using offensive language
about the American consul general"