Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-17
CUBAN DEVASTATION
Many Towns Burned and Thousands Of
People Destitute.
cosrrscArros or PROPERTY.
Great Indignation Produced by
We,ier's Proclamation - Pando
Calls ON aii TO side Either with
spain or with America.

HABANA. March Il. via TAMPA.
March i6.-some idea Of the devastatio,
already wrought by the war In Cuba NAV
be gathered from the following list Of
towns which have been destroyed In the
four western provinces: Bejucal. Waiay.
Melena del Sur Bainoa, LacatalIna. San
Nicholas, Nueva Pasea, IN Habana bro.
vince; cabanas. Caysjabos, Paccalios. San
Diego san Juan. MARTINEZ, Montesulo.
Los Arroyas, Guane Bahia Honda, San
diego Nunez ouie Brae, Hacha, In Plnar
del Rio; san Jose, Los Romas. Booue.
IoFrente In Matanzas. and Amararo. sala-
manca, Matailora. Matlemo. San Juan los
feras, and Ranchuclo. In Santa Clara
BESIDES these, over twenty-five towns
nave been burned, most OF them by the
Insurgents Tor resisting attacks or be-
01uso 'hey were beiug us-d as depots OF
supp1os ioF government troops. In somo
cases, like that OF Cabanas The troons
uemotished the town to prevent IN. lnsur-
gents from occupying IL. Very Ilttle OF
me destruction has been done wantonly
by either side
Nhen the Insurgents, led by Maceo.
entered Pinar del Rio. every town In the
the province, except the capital city. well
cVined them with open arms. and no
property was injured. Later. the gov
efnment troops entered the province. and
moving In strong columns disiodged the
insurgents from town after town. and
placed their own garTlsons there There
upon the inhabitants burned their own
towns ana nearly the entire province Is
now In ashes.
SDanish frOone occ,,r,. ~ H.. a ~
del Rio. the towns OF Candelarta. and
Artemisia, and the port OF Colima. All
the rest or the province is In the hands
OF the enemy. Recently a Spanish force
was sent 10 establish a base OF supplies
at Guane. Upon the approach of the
column the residents burned their town.
In the general devastation the Pinar
del Rio tobacco warehouses have been
burned. and the indications are that this
crop VIII not be permitted TO reach the
coast The banana and pineapple crops
VIII also be nterfered with. Ship
ments from the interior TO the seacoast
towns have been so completely blocked
that at Gnes. in this province, cows are
offered for sale at 81 each, pigs at 81,
turkeys at 40 cents. and eggs and milk
nave no price. Here In Habana these
things are worth fopr times the customary
prices. but Goldfish. imported IN large
quantities for consumption I'm the interior,
Is offered for ] l-2 cents per pound-but
little more than the duty alone
THOUSANDS DESTITUTE.
Thousands OF people are destitute, and
were II not for the tropical fruits and the
tropical climate starvation would be
theirs.
General Weyler's decree ordering the
eonhscalioh OF the property In Hobana
III IDN
iau TO report allegiance 10 Spain has pro-
duced great indignation. His decree
against planters and others who contri-
butte funds or aid 10 the insurgents In
any way applies TO the case OF American
owners OF estates, who have paid money
60 insurgents for protection 70 their pro-
perry. Yesterday three owners OF es-
tates, not twenty miles from Habana.
called upon General Weyler and asked
permission 10 pay tax 10 the insurgents.
80 that they could be permitted 10 grind
ana save their croLs. Weyler became
very angry at once, and told his callers
That II they paid peseta TO the rebels he
would have them locked up as traitors
10 Spain.
General Pando. in command OF the se-
cond Army Corps, at Santa Clara, has ls-
sued proclamation calling upon every
citizen to join the volunteers. and de-
clafing tnat all who are able TO carry
arms and don't do 80 show weakness In
their patriotic sentiments. Az mayors OF
towns are directed 10 prepare lists OF
all who are Indifferent or suspected, and
send them 10 him. Al a mass-meeting,
called Tor the purpose in Santa Clara,
General Luque read the decree, and cali
ed upon all to obey II. He said In his ad-
dress: DO not believe that our situation
Is critical. Every day we chase the rebels.
There is nation now that wishes TO
sympathze with those hordes, and the
hour has come when the Spanish should
be on one side and on the other side
those who sympathize with Americans"
Thursday 10 political prisoners. or sue
poets, arrived In Habana from Santa
Clara, and were sent TO MORO Castle.
Esn.x1zusur.z.~s1zarn