Evening star., 1896-06-25
LOOKING THIS WAY
Both Sides in Cuba Lying on Their
Arms in the Fever Season.
TEE SPANISH TROOPS DYING RAPIDLY
Interview With Gen. Lees Friend,
Mr. Ryan, on tho Situation.
FORTHCOMING REPORT

Mr.. William Ryan of Richmond, editor Of
the Daily State, and revenue collector for
the eastern district Of Virginia, who re-
turned Monday from Havana, where he
has been visiting Consul General Fitzhugh
Lee, spent yesterday In Washington and
took the o'clock train this morning for
Richmond.
While Mr.. Ryan is diplomatic in his con-
versation about his trip to Cuba, 1t is gen.
orally accepted that his errand was not
entirely one Of pleasure. Going at season
of the year when the ordinary tourist would
be deferred by the occurrence of yellow
fever, it is conjectured that Mr.. Ryan has
been acting in semi-official capacity and
that his stay in Cuba is closely connected
with Gen. Lees inquiry into the status and
prospect of the insurgent cause.
In an interview last evening with a Star
reporter. Mr.. Ryan spoke with the utmost
freedom in regard to his observations in
Havana. ut is hard to say" said he,
what the next decisive event will be in the
war between the Spanish and the Cubans.
While hostilties are now practically at a
standstill both sides are strongly entrench-
ed and firm in their expectation of victory
The Spanish troops as / saw them are good
soldiers and they are intensely loyal to the
though they have not been paid since Feb
1uary, thai makes no difference in their
fidelity. They are well fed and housed and
with the characteristic Spanish pride ad-
here firmly to the fortunes of the home
government. The Cuban leaders are equal
ly sure of the result and their policy now
seems to be to wear out the Spanish forces
II possible during the season when the yell
low fever is working its ravages. To the
Cubans who are acclimated, most of whom
have had yellow fever perhaps in child
hood in a light form, and are therefore ex-
empt from 1t, the summer season has no
terrors; but to the Spaniard, who is unac-
climated, it proves a terrible enemy. The
Spanish troops are being rapidly dectmated
by it,
Watching the United States.
Both sides are looking to the attitude
of this country the great cause affecting
the final result The Cubans desire an
nexaton. and they are enthusiastic in their
expectation of aid from the United States.
The Spanish distinctly expect war with the
United States, and do not hesitate to say so.
Naturally. there is good deal of criticism
expressed with regard to Gen. Lees meet
ing friends of the insurgent cause and he
has to exercise great caution in his personal
movements. All Americans in Havana are
supposed to be making mischief. and are
constantly shadowed by detectives Gen
Lee is constantly under surveillance by
Spanish detectives and every night a re-
port is made to Gen. Weyler as to where
the American consul general has been and
what he has done during the day. NV own
movements We're. of course, shadowed while
I was in Havana.
II had never seen before the operations
or the government censor. There are six
or seven daily papers in Havana and not
line of matter can be printed in them un-
til 1t has been submitted to the censor /
visited the palace of the captain general,
where the Marquis de Palmerola, with quite
large staff of assistants, every evening
goes over the mass of copy that is brought
IN TO them Being newspaper man, l ap-
preclate the great amount of work involved
The first thing to be handled Is the cable
correspondence, which has to be filed by
10 O'Clock in the evening About $50 the
correspondents come into the magnificent
apartment occupied by De Palmerola and
his assistants and submit to him their dis
patches. Not a word that Is in the least dis
paraging to Gen. Weyler or the Spanish
cause is permitted to go. The censorship
extends to minutiae that would hardly be
suspected.
Against Free Masonry.
FOR instance. the word Free Mason
wherever it occurs is interdicted. Weyler
has had not a little trouble on account of
Free Masonry.
After running the blue pencil through all
op5ecuonabie words and sentences In the
cable correspondence, the managing editors
or the various daily Iapers submit their
budgets of advertisements, news. editorials
and reprints to the respective censors as
happens that an article has q doubt in It's
favor, and yet the censors are not willing
to be responsible for passing 1t. Then 1t is
taken into General Weyler's private office
Is in his office in order to be accessible for
this duty Naturally, the newspaper men
make use of the opportunity to get their
matter through easily by printing a great
deal of matter that is fiattering to General
Weyler. Every article of that sort is very
promptly passed.
1T has been supposed that Weyler would
prevent General Lee from meeting any Of
the tnsurgent leaders. But in this, il It
was attempted, the Spaniau1s have not
succeeded General Lee has been able to
acquaint himself fully with the views If
the Cuban leaders, their policy and their
expectations with regard to the future of
their country. He is there for this purpose
and thus far has been successful l was
present with him at dinner given at a
yachting club house about fifteen miles
from Havana, where thirty-five prominent
insurgent leaders and sympa athizers were
present. There was also present one or
two prominent Spaniards. so that it might
be said, if criticism was offered by Cen
era1 Weyler, that both sides were represented
in the affair. When the party broke up
into groups scattered about through the
spacious and beautifully furnished club
house there was abundant opportunity for
General Lee to meet the Cubans and con-
verse with them.
MIR. Ryan Saw Maceo.
notwithstanding the firm grip which
Weyler holds upon Havana, and that part
of the island occupied by the Spanish
troops, the insurgents come into the city
frequently. Last week Maceo himself was
in Havana and I met him. He gave me
his Photograph, taken at the time, with his
autograph written upon it. He is a remark
ably intelligent mulatto of great nerve and
fine military talent. The colored men who
rowed the boat that brought him into the
city were apprehended by the police and
thrown into Jail. but he walked away as if
he had a charmed life, and whatever his
errand was in Havana, attended to it and
left. His wife and daughter live in New
York city, and he is in frequent commune
cation with them. General Lee did not see
Maceo.
Cuba is now scene of ruin and desola-
ton. Yet Cubans speak of the ability of
the island to recover itself with great cour-
age and strong hope. 1t is land of mar
velous productiveness. In two years after
the cessation of hostilities the island will
recover from its present distress, and the
visitor will be unable to see any sign of
there having been a war there The Gu
bans themselves are exceedingly hopeful
II en-. They are successful business men, as
a rule. and they know what they can do
With the great natural resources at their
command. the island is famous for tobac-
co and sugar, yet it has untold wealth in
its mines of COPPER, gold. iron and silver