New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-10
VEYLER SEES A LIGHT.
HE BOWS TO PUBLIC OPINION AND MOD1-
FIEs HIS SAVAGE DEGREES.
Many STORIES OF MAssACREs OF UNARMED
CITIZENS BY THE sPANIARDs RECEIVED IN
r,vANA-NOBODY PUNISHED FOR THE

MANY STORIES OF MAssACREs OF UNARMED
CITIZENS BY THE sPANIARDs RECEIVED IN
HAvANA-NoBoDY PUNISHED FOR THE
BUTCHERY AT GUATAo
Havana March T. via Tampa. Fla. March AR
rests Of civilians under the sweeping provisions OF
General Weyler's proclamatons OF February l6 have
been made at such a rate and In many Gases with
90 LITTLE evidence Of guilt that General Weyler was
compeed 4 week ago to issue instructions to his
officers be careful, as he required more
nroof than verbal denuncation. Yesterday he issued
n circular IN which he stated that absolute proof
must be- furnished by other than interested persons
before accused men will be deported. and warning
commanders that they will be held responsible for
false answers.
Without doubt General Weyler has In view the
effect OF this order abroad we'll as here. for the
manner IN which Cubans who have never borne
arms against Spain have been dragged from tneir
homes and thrown into prisons with felons, ana
after a few days delay placed on board snip for
what is probably the vest penal colony on the face
of the earth. has become shame which cries aloud
for redress. General Weyler on his arrival, SET AT
liberty a number Of these civilian prisoners whon
General Pando had taken from their dairy occupa-
lions in the eastern end OF the island. The only evil
dence agains, these men paper purportng to
be a list OF the people who aiding and COM
municatng with the enemy. II made up BY a
Spanlard. Since that time General Weyler mas re-
leased others captured In the same way huhorsuS
have however, been sent to Ceuta. Africa, ana 10
tho Isle Of Pines and the arrests are increasing In
number
General Weyler has removed the alcaldes OF all
towns I'm whom he had not absolute confidence, and
has appointed the ranking military ohcers OF regu-
lar troops or volunteers alcaldes or mayors. These
men possess arbitrary powers. Under the proc!a-
nation the life death OF any man. woman or
child In their zone Is In their hands large pro
portion OF these commanders believe Never 10 ps
a man who Will quickly approve any extreme art
or their part. They look for no punishment ior
summary executions OF Cubans who sympathlze
with the insurgents. They expect praise and pro-
motion for shooting prisoners as soon as ttK,h.
General Canella sent back to Spain By Neyler
either for having shot down seventeen prlsoners,
or for having reported seventeen bodies Were
found afterward In another part OF the Held; ou,
the man who confessed TO his friends mere ana
probably to General Weyler. to having Killed seven
teen people In cold blood received no more severe
pun.sh ment than being deprived OF his command,
when the horrible story OF the Dutcheiy OF s'sr-
teen peaccablo citizens In the ittle hamiet III
Guatao was published In the lnltei states, a",
tcegraphcd back here. General W-yler announces
that he would make thorough eNaminatlon ana am
would severely punish those respons9r.r iVr W.
have gone by since the affair occurred, ana no
Official has lost hs stripes Guatao was 50 near
Havana that American correspondents shrcre''u ~
demonstrating the absolute truth OF thr s'oty'
Doz.rs OF reports OF affairs In which unhrned citi-
zens are killed by spanish troops nave been re-
ceived here but the authorities have placed such
Impossible to visl; the localities ana estabisn te
facts In "A dozen caRes refugees from towns Wn't'
fights have occurred state that after the r.DrlS
wers driven away citizens who took no part "etc
shot down and counted In the official reports a.
dead insurgents The Government officials deny
these stories. and while II Is commIm LAX ,h ~,
corresponden,s are in cases Obliged to accept
the Government version.