The herald., 1896-02-28
Allows the Insurgents Fifteen
Days to Surrender
TO BE TREATED AS BANDITS
And Their Property Confiscated by
the State
The Captain General Declares His Intention
to Adopt Iron and II Necessary
Bloody Measures
Associated Press Special Wire.

HAVANA, Feb. Following is a
synopsis of the important and long
anticipated proclamation of Captain-Gen-
eral Weyler to the insurgents: The cap.
tain-general proclaims he allows the rebels
in the province of Pinar del Rio and Ha-
vana fifteen days from date of the procla.
nation to surrender. Those who do so will
not be subject to molestation. But the
small bands of insurgents in these pro-
vinces which do not surrender within the
given period, will, at the expiration of
that period, be treated as bandits. De-
tachments of civil guards, reinforced by
the civil guards of the province of Santi-
ago de Cuba and the province of Puerto
Principe, have orders to form lists at
their respective towns of all persons who
have joined the rebels. and their property
will be confiscated. The property of those
who openly aided the rebels in raids will
also be confiscated. Towns in the western
part of the island are authorized to organ
ize corps of guerrillas. and all officeholders
on leave of absence will be relieved if after
eight days from the date of the proclama-
ton they have not returned to their posts.
Petroleum and other infiammable articles
after the date of the proclamation, can no
longer be sold in small, ungarrisoned
towns.
Admiral Navarro has returned from a
cruise of inspection along the coast, during
which the gunboat Alerta bombar(led the
insurgents at Cabanas and at Bahia, two
ports in the province of Pinar del Rio, re.
Gently attacked by the enemy. Jose Be-
tancourt, an insurgent leader, recently
captured by Spaniards, has been tried by
court martial and sentenced to death. The
insurgents have destroyed two railroad
culverts between Cabezas and Union de
Reyes, province of Matanzas. According
to official announcements, Gomez and
Maceo have been trying to effect juno
ton, but SO far have failed on account of
being closely pressed by troops. Maceo is
said to be in the vicinity of the city of
Matanzas. 1t Is said he has planned to
move southward in the same direction as
Gomez, who is described as being south of
JOvelianos.
REIGN OF TERROR
HAVANA, Feb. 27.--Refugees from the
towns of Punta Brava and Guato have
arrived at Havana and say that reign of
terror exists in their locality in conse-
quence of troops having massacred peace
able citizens of Guato, already briefly an
nounced in the correspondence of Ameri-
can newspapers. The official government
report, issued Sunday, states that fight
occurred near Punta Bravo on the previ-
GUS day between troops sent from Mari
ano and the insurgents. banda of Villa
Neuva and Acosta, resulting in q glori-
GUS victory for the Spanish army, twenty
insurgents having been killed and fifteen
prisoners taken. Residents at Guato
have identified eighteen of the dead as
pacific citizens. Only two we're insurgents
and the prisoners are nearly all said to be
peaceful. One of them, named La Dasailo
Quintero, claims American citizenship.
He Is wounded by a ball in the arm.
BLOODY MEASURES
NEW YORK, Feb. 27.-General Weyler in
an interview with Karl Bottscher, Ger
man writer, declares that he expects to
put down the Cuban revolution in a year
and half. Not long ago he told Cuban
planters he thought they could begin
grinding sugar by the middle of next
month. Herr Bottscher arrived here on
the steamship Columbia for trip to the
West Indies. He was accompanied by his
wife, who acts as his secretary. They live
in Berlin. Said Herr Bottscher II inter.
viewed General Weyler last Saturday.
When he observed that 1 had read his
proclamation he said: 'fhen you will
know that 1 adopt iron, and if necessary
bloody measures, to give this country
peace.
A MASSACRE ALLEGED
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. PA Republic
special from New York brings the follow.
lQG CdDl6PFdIu IrOIu I1dVdLd'
reckless massacre OF inoffensive per-
sons has occurred at Guato, ten miles
from here, and the country is in state of
abject terror. The people are fleeing from
their homes in panic ana in momentary
dread of murder. They are leaving their
houses uncared for and are taking sick
members of their families out of beds and
kind of vehicle is being utilized
to reach Havana if possible. The
refugees report wholesale massacre
in their village last Sa turday. 1t followed
Immediately upon the retreat of the small
body of the rebels, certainly not over
forty men. who had met considerable
Spanish force at Punta Barara and had re-
tired after some firing. The insurgents
withdrew along the road to Guato, and
without waiting to find any armed men
the Spaniards Immediately began firing
promiscuously. shooting down unarmed
and peaceful citizens in all direction. They
then proceeded to massacre the few inhab-
itants without mercy.
The previous fight had resulted in the
capture of five Cubans by the Spaniards.
These five were shot dead in the field.
These, with thirteen dead, found by Red
Cross physicians who went to Guato, make
eighteen altogether. The massacre was
officially reported as "a glorious victory
for the Spanish troops"
THE CAMPAIGN OPENS
HAVANA, Feb. 27.-The newly arrived
battalions, Mucira and Luzon. have reached
Matanzas and will be sent into the field
against the insurgents at once. But the
new troops from Spain will operate in con-
junction with battalions which have be-
come seasoned to the climate and familiar
with the tricks of the enemy. as it has
been proved that this has beneficial effect
upon young soldiers.
The insurgents have plundered the vii
lagos of Mantilla and Calvario near this
city, and their audacity is really astound-
ing in view of the strong fcrce of tro ops in
and about Havana.
Colonel Ricas, at Ynaagua and Luz, has
been engaged with the band of insurgents
who always retreated before his advance.
At Zaya Jagua the insurgents have also
been defeated with loss. and at Palmarito
the insurgent. Major Hegeva, was cap
tured.
Captain. G General Weyler has been con-
suited by the home government as to the
propriety OF holding elections in the island.
lie has replied he thinks they ought to.be
held. Otherwise the insurgents will gain
an important advantage especially on the
question of belligerency.
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