Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-11-18
THE CRISIS IN CUBA.
Officials at Washington Be-
lieve Ii Is Near.
WATCHING vEYLER's WARFARE.

II the Captain General Makes : sns.
eessful Campaign Things WIN he His
Way-If Against Him, Serious Com
piiestions VIII BE the Result aud
His Recall Likely.
New YORK, Nov. IA dispatch TO
The Herald from Washington saws the
Cuban situation is pregnant with posi-
bilities. There is not public man in
Washington who does not fully realize
the gravity of the situation. The pres.
ident, his cabinet, Consul General Lee,
officials and diplomats are waiting anx-
lously for the developments of the
next fortnight with the greatest con
Germ, and the rest all seem to agree that
the real crisis is connected with General
Weyler's present campaign against Ma.
Geo.
There are good grounds fer believing
that Consul General Lee is in favor of
intervention in the interest of securing
the autonomy of Cubaif General Wev.
ler's campaign do not result in a more
peaceful solution Of the present diff
culties than il expected General Wev-
Ter, however. is automatically reticent
as to his views on the situation and Will
not admit that he fayors intervention.
Il do not know when l will return to
Havana, said Consul General Lee. a
great deal viii depend upon develop
mems there within the next few DAYS.
Mrs. Lee is with me and l expect to at
tend to some social as well as official
matters while here do not deem the
situation serious but very much depre.
cate the talk of war between the United
States and Spain, and l am especially
sorry to see that statements are attribut
ed to me in this direction, as have not
made them "
No one is more anxiously Watching
for developments than President Cleye.
land. The Cuban feature of his mes.
sage is held back and will not be writ
ten until something definite is heard as
to the result of General Weyler's mill
tary operations in Pinar del Rio. No
one can say now how the president will
deal with the Cuban question in his
message. All will depend upon the re-
suit of General Weyler's campaign.
Should General Weyler be- repalsed
r17se should h.,
accomplishing any results at all, things
would be in a serious state in Cuba, and
there is no telling what the consequences
would be.
1t is this phase of the situation that is
causing the chief concern. There is al
ready a suppressed spirit of discomfort
among the Spanish troops, both regulars
and militia, over the military methods,
which have recently prevailed, 1t is
known to the authorities here that there
are serious complaints from the troops.
particularly on the part of the militia
on account of the great hardship they
have been compelled to undergo withou.
remuneration or proper supplies of either
food or clothing.
General Weyler's return without re-
suits, it is believed, means his recall by
Canoyas for the sake of satisfying the
Carlisrs who have been urging it for
some time, and general demoraliza-
tion of affairs in Havana to an extent
which might render it impossible for
the authorities to maintain order among
the citizens and the dissatisfied country
1t is a full realization of what is liable
to happen i'll the event of an unsuccess-
full result Of General WeyIer's present
campaign that is causing the authorities
to be on the alert. They fully under
stand that Spain cannot let 20 as much
as the Madrid authorities might like to-
From the Spanish side OF the case
there must be kept up to preserve the
control of the monarehal party From
the point of view of the United States.
a prolongation of the war IN Cuba
means utter destruction of all American
interests in the island and its ruin al
most beyond recovery.