The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-18
LEE MAY BRING CUBA LIBERTY
AMERICANS on THE ISLAND ELAT-
ED OVER HIS APPOINTMENT.

Many Looking Upon 1t as an AdrOit
Way of Sending a Military Com
missioner From This Country to
Investigate the War Now Going
on There-COnsuI General WILL
Jams Not Looked Upon as Particu-
IarIy Patriotic.
Havana, April Is. via Tampa, Fla. April
1.-THE appointment of Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee 10 succeed Consul General Williams
IS understood by Americans here, as well
as by the authorities at the palace. as an
adroit way of sending a military commits
sioner from the states to Cuba. When
there was an intimation fortnight ago
that Mr.. Cleveland contemplated sending
a commission here to learn officially what
was going on, the officials at Madrid said
very plainly that no military or other COM
mission would be accepted by them or per-
mitted TO pry into affairs in Cuba. There
is therefore, some curiosity as to how
Gen. Lee will be received and as to what
facilities will be accorded him for learn
ing what is transpiring outsides of the
city of Havana. The Spanish officials with
whom have talked will not discuss any
other mission he may be supposed to have.
They have got along so smoothly with Ra-
mon O. williams, who has devoted himself
assiduously to viewing bills of lading and
allowed Americans in jail to rot there and
others to be shot down and their property
destroyed, that there may be trouble when
a live American comes here to represent
Uncle Sam
It goes without saying that the Ameri-
can residents will welcome Gen. Lee with
open arms. He will not be long in dis
covering that state of war exists in
Cuba: that il is an army and not mob of
bandits who are winning battles against
the troops of Spain; that life is respected
on one side, and prisoners set free, while
on the other war of determination
against all Cubans is waged; prisoners of
war are shot; unarmed peasants are shot
and cut to pieces, and political suspects
are imprisoned by thousands He Will
learn that Spain is powerless TO protect
American property throughout the island,
that millions Of dollars worth of property
belonging 10 our citizens has been de-
stroyed, and the prospect of recompense is
as shadowy as castles in Spain.
He will hear of Americans who have
been shot down by Spanish troops, and
will find others imprisoned in dungeons
with no prospect of trial or release.
He will learn. in short, what the newspa-
per readers of the United states have
known for months, but of which the ad-
ministration at Washington is still APP
parenty officially ignorant.
His eyes will be opened to that which
has stirred the heart of mankind, for the
ruth has been told by all American cor
They have got the news out in spite of the
Spanish censor. and of all the barriers to
truth that the narrow-mindedness of the
middle ages has endeavored to erect
around the Island of Cuba. Correspond
ents have been thrown into Moro castle.
Others have been expelled. Those who re-
main know not what fate awaits them.
But the truth gets out just the same.
II the appointment of Gen. Lee means
that the administration seeks light in view
OF a II the misrepresentation that has gone
and is going through official channels, II
is a step in the right direction, and had it
been taken months ago thousands of lives
would probably have been saved.
Spain made one conquest of the Island
of Cuba, and exterminated the native In
dians The extreme Spaniards urge Weyler
to clean up the island on the same old
lines. Gen. Lee will discover for himself
what is being done. Clarke.
Havana, April 17-Reports from col
umns of troops who have been operating
for several days against Maceo have been
received According to these the troops
destroyed a number of camps that the
rebels had been compelled to abandon, and
pursued portions of MaceoS forces further
west in the province of Pinar del Rio.
The troops had one officer and five sol
ders wounded and corporal sunstruck.
The rebel losses are unknown.
Maceo is said to be near Lochuza, the
scene of his recent defeat of the Span
lsh troops yesterday.
Col. ElOlu and the guerilla officers of
San Domingo report that they have at
tackled groups of rebels and had hand to
hand fights with them. The guerillas
state that twenty-one of the insurgents
were killed and a number wounded. The
Spaniards had two wounded.
Three prisoners, named Borges, Her
nandez and BaccalaO were shot at the
Cabanas fortress this morning. The ex-
ecutions were public. The doomed men
knelt facing the main wall of the fortress
with their backs towards the troops. All
three fell forward at the first volley, but
two of them were not instantly killed,
and received single shots. The prisoners
met death bravely Two of the men were
colored and one white. They were taken
prisoners in the action at Candelaria