Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-21
N. WEYLER'S RECORD
Rev. DR.. Diaz Says It is One of Cruelty and
Blood.
His Testimony Under Oath Before the
Senate Committee of For
eign Relations.

Rev. Alberto J. Diaz, the American citi-
zen and Baptist missionary who, with
his family and brother, was expelled from
Cuba, after having been arrested and in
carcerated In prison there, had hearing
yesterday before subcommittee of the
Senate committee on foreign relations, con-
slsting Of Senators Morgan and Davis. Mr..
D.aZ made a statement under oath to the
subcommittee. the substance of which is
as follows: Rev. Mr.. Diaz, who is also a
physician, was one of the members of the
White Cross "a somewhat similar organi-
cation to the Red Cross, which had been
organized in conformity with the authority
of the Inspector general. 1t was composed,
besides himself. of other physicians and
Christian people, some of whom were
Americans. DIR. Diaz said that while Gen.
Campos was in command the rules of civil
lied warfare We're strictly enforced by his
orders. After Gen. Weyler assumed com
mand he and others were summoned be-
fore him and instructed not to treat
otherwise care for the sick and wounded
among the soldiers of the insurgents. He
had seen Gomez's order directing that all
prisoners captured from the Spaniards
should be treated with proper considera ton,
and that the Spanish prisoners, either sick
or wounded. should be nursed and careful
ly treated until well. Gomez also directed
that no women should be molested. These
orders have been enforced. In
where the latter order violated, the
soldier was shot.
Record of Cruelty and Blood.
He declared that Weyler's record Is one
of cruelty and blood. The doctor gave sew
eral incidents which had under his
observation, and which he declared he
could substantiate. In one case a woman
who was assisting her husband in the field
was shot, their only ofense being that
they were Cubans. Another case at
Guatao, where the Spanish soldiers killed
ST m f,nr tom cN TIar,
the Spaniards went into different houses
and gathered seventeen men. They tied
these together, two by two. among them
being Ladfslao Quintero American,
twenty-one years DID, Of Key West, who
was found sick in bed. They were taken
to the street and commanded to kneel
| down. The soldiers fired at them, killing
all except the American. This occurred on
February - in the immediate presence of
the wives and children of the unfortunate
men. Amadar to whom Quintero was
tied was not killed by the gunshot wound,
ard one of the soldiers stepped forward
and beat him to death. DR.. Daz saw the
} e at proceeding Quintero was jailed in
Moro Castle, where he remained until
April II, without having his wound dress
ed. April IL he was released.
DIR. Diaz says lie has been informed by
persons in Havana who have been prison.
ers in Moro Castle that there is in this
prison as many as 100 persons confined
in one small room. and that IN the morning
they are furnished with three pals of
water. which Is all they get that day.
AS to the case of Edward Delsado, an
American who has a claim against the
| Spanish government, DR.. DaZ certified to
his wounds. 1t was a very aggravated
case of extreme cruelty to a private Amer
lean citizen at his own home without PROV
ocation
When the military courts inflicted the
sentence of perpetual in prisorment in the
cases of Messrs. SabOCrin, Garcia and
others the captain general protested
against their leneI cy, and asked for the
| nf1lction of the death peCalty
DR.. Diaz's statement gives accounts of
cases where he alleges explosive bullets
were used by the Spanish soldiers, and of
the shooting of two children in the arms
| or their mother by the Spaniards.
Other Instances of Cruelty.
On the 18th of March in Havana he saw
crowd around a PROSTATE man. and as
member Of the White Cross Society he
rendered him aid. The was dead; he
had seventy-one bayonet wounds, seven of
which We're through the neart and several
through the eyes The deed apparently
was Unprovoked. and the murdered man
was unarmed DR.. Diaz says in March
the Spanish troops under Cen Inclan bonn
barded an insurgent hospital at Artemisa.
They killed over fifty wounded men. An
insurgent hospital in Pazo Real was also
destroyed by the Spaniards killing all
the wounded inmates. Two hundred Gu
bans We're reported as having been in it.
DR.. Diaz gives other instances Of alleged
cruelties by the spaniards. He asserts
interior towns brings great confusion and
fear. as they destroy everything that
comes in their way, take complete posses
sion of th. houses, violate women in many
cases, and commit nuisanCes in the streets.
When the invading forces are insurgents
there is great tranquility, as they do not
destroy anything unless Spanish forces
| located there. Again he tells of the
sassnation on the stn of April of a num-
Der of persons after being forced by the
Spaniards to dig their own graves.
The statement asserts that over hun
dred persons were shot within a radius
of ten miles of Havana and within period
of fifteen days, all non-combatants. The
case against Sarguilly, the imprisoned
| American, 1T is asserted, is delayed pur-
posely, 50 as to keep him incarcerated
Why His Brother and Himself Were
Prosecuted.
The statement concludes: "In the case of
my brother and myself, we were prosecuted
for the reason that we were American citi-
zens and had charge of American church
institutions in Havana. During the excite
ment attending the passage of the belliger-
ency resolutions In Congress two dynamite
bombs were placed in the church and ex-
ploded while we We're holding service but
only resulted In the breaking of a glass
and the causing of panic in the congre-
cation Our house was searched. but noth-
, ing discriminating found; but we were
arrested and imprisoned eight days, being
released on condition that we leave Cuba
| Immediately. l would say that no charges
were made against Mr.. Toledo, an
American citizen, employed as a Bible dis
tributor by the American Bible Society, was
imprisoned in the town Of Jaruco and has
mysteriously disappeared, and it Is be-
lleved that he has been murdered"
| DR.. Diaz urged either the recognition of
the belligerency of the Cubans or that the
United States intervene for the sake Of
humanity and civilization 1t is probable
that the doctors statement will he submit
ted to the Senate when the committee on
| foreign relations makes a report on the
Cuban resolutions now before it. The doc
tor has not yet finally decided whether he
will present claim against the Spanish
government for the losses he has suffered
by being forced to leave the island, but he
probably will do so.