Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-17
DOES NOT WORRY WEYLER
Personal Attacks by American Papers
Affect Him Very Little.
CAPTAIN GENERAL IS A PHILOSOPHER
Says He Knows the Intelligent Amer
leans Take Little stock In the
Key West Reports of
Atrocities In Cubn.

Copyright. 1896, by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA, Dec. 16.-(New York World
Cablegram 49, Special Telegram) - Today's
steamer brings tidngs that the story that
the killing of General Maceo was due to
deliberate treachery on the part of the
Spanish officials, although manfestly is
sued from Cuban sources, was taken seri-
ously in the United States. l was previ-
ously aware that the government authori-
ties here had received cable dispatches on
the subject from Washington, New York
and Madrid. Consequently l personally
investigated the matter. General Weyler
was aware of the circulation OF the serious
charge. He was officially informed OF 1t
before any one else here knew about it, No
public man | have ever met during an eN-
tensive career in active journalism has dis
played such sublime Indifference to criti-
csm, especially of personal nature, as the
doughty little captain general of Cuba does.
The assaults on him in the past year from
the United States make no impression, pro-
duce no more effect than water does on n
ducks back.
81 treat such matters philosophcally, he
said "Nine-tenths of all Cuban news given
out at Key West is either false or exag-
gerated. | do not think intelligent Amer-
circulated as news, but / presume they like
to rerd such things, else they would not be
printed"
In a political campaign in the United
States public men are abused fearfully, and
IL would seem as IL their regulations were
ruined. After the election the attacks
cease. the injured individual is rehabilitated
the charges against him are placed to the
account of politics. The charge that Maceo
was treacherousy murdered was entirely
a hn hull Of
pertaining to the Cuban rebellion. 1t con-
tanned a deliberate attack on the honor of
the army, an extremely serious business in
the eyes of the Spanish military men. The
letter to the World, dictated and signed by
General Weyler in his official capacity as
governor general and viceroy was an I'M
pi'eCedented action and surprising to his
subordinates. The American press might so
on till doomsday assailing General Weyler.
He shrugs his shoulders, asserts that the
charges are generally false, that he is per-
forming his duty and that 1.-The wind blows
as ii listeth." The honor of the army is
another thing. Others than himself are af-
feCted, and he acts quickly in response to an
entirely false charge.
| have all the facts connected with the
death of Maceo. The accounts sent by the
Worlds resident correspondent and to the
Associated press are correct. General Wey
Ter, then in the depths of Pinar del Rio
province, was as much surprised over the
any one else was. The marquis de Ahu-
mazda, commanding in Havana, could have
no dealings with Maceo without authority.
The young son of Maximo Gomez was
wounded in the vanguard at the trocha. The
body Of guerillas, under Major Girujeda,
whose shots killed the mulatto chieftain, had
no conception of the magnitude of their
work until the body was searched and ar
ticles identifying him were found. Even then
they were not sure of Maceo's identity. Alto
gether, the staying of Maceo was the result
of the fortunes of war He lived by the
sword and, as is apt to be the case, he died
by it.
| visited Maceo in his camp at Jaretuecta
in Santiago province, In May, 1895. soon after
he landed on the island. AS was leaving
he shook my hand, eXclaming: I'VE may
meet again or we may never meet. This
war is going to be severe. / shall always
be in the thickest. / do not believe the
bullet is cast that will kill me. but who
knows what may occur? They can make
many cartridges in Spain Adlos'
The partisan leader was right in his pre-
bullet at length was cast
WILLIAM SHAW BOWEN.