Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-26
AMERICANS In MORO CASTLE
Special Correspondent and His Interpreter
Arrested by the Spanish Authorities.
VIOLATED WtYltRS PROCLAMATION
Placed I'm Confinement and Not Per.
mitted TO Communicate with His
Erie ends-Protection Demanded
by the American Consul.

Copyright, 1896. by PresH Publishing Company
HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. 25.-(New York
World Cabegram - Special Telegram) -
Charles Nicholson, an American citizen and
special correspondent for several American
papers, who has been in Cuba three months
was arrested at o'clock this morning in his
room in the Hotel Ingaterra by four secret
service detective and police inspector
He had been to Marlanoduring the day,
but he denied that he had gone beyond the
jurisdiction Of the military commanders
His room was searched and his private
papers taken, though no specific charge was
then made against him.
Lawrence Betancourt, his Interpreter was
arrested later, and at o'clock both men
were transferred to Moro castle. Betan-
court is said to be an American citizen also
Both are "incomunicados; that is, without
access to any one. The other American
correspondents tried to see them but were
unable to do so. American Consul General
Williams has notified the Spanish authorities
that they must furnish him with the charges
against the prisoners. Mr.. Williams will
see that they are treated according to treaty
Later General Ochando, chief of staff to
General Weyler, announced officially that the
men were arrested for violating the procla-
nation Of General Weyer of passing the
rebel lines and for assaultng a civil guard
Friends of the prisoners called upon Gen
eral We!lsr tonight and represented that they
were innocent Of the charges General
Weyler said that II this were found to be
true Nicholson and Betancourt would prob
ably be released on Thursday.
REBELS ABANDON HORSES.
No news has been received of any fresh
encounters with the main bodies of Gomez
and Maceo's commands. The commandant at
San Jose reports that after the last engage
ments around the Morales sugar estate the
rebels abandoned over the field $50 horses
and that Maceo was wounded in the arm
at an engagement on Elgato sugar estate.
One rebel killed there, in whose
pocket note found, which read as
follows: "Carillo send me salt; have none
Gomez
Colonel Cavestany, who is operating at
Hoyo Colorado reports that he found the
body of man who hanged by order
OF the rebel chief. Mora.
Reports OF musketry were heard last night
In the direction of Bainca, a town on the
Matanzas division Of the United railway
Troops have been sent there from Havana
and Jarruco.
new military hospital containing 100
beds is shortly to be established at Palma
Soriao, town near Santiago de Cuba.
Referring to the circular issued short
time ago by the governor of Matanzas ad-
dressed to the planters of the province re-
garding the starting of sugar mills about
the middle of March, the wording Of which
was somewhat vague, but the meaning CT
which was wired to the World at the time
the Diaro says editorially: 1T is the duty
of all sincere and local loyal Spaniards to
accept all that may be said or suggested
by way OF Offering the government whatever
means 1t may need In order not to retard
the pacifcation of the island and to assure
at any cost the sovereignty Of the nation
over this region. From this standpoint we
have nothing to object to appeals made to
the planters or to the municipalities to sus-
IN Mt thntr L,l.
strengthen the volunteer files with men
loyalty attached to Spain with the object
OF protecting the property and lives of peace
full citizens.
THINK 1T GOOD POLICY.
This Is no doubt humane. 1t is GER
tainly practical and worthy of our authorities.
especially is it worthy of Spain. We. how,
ever, found 1t strange that such important
suggestions should be embodied in a circular
originating with the governor of Matanzas
Of emanating from army headquarters, or
at least from the office of the secretary of
the government to insure its enforcement
throughout the entire island. 1t was also
hard for us to credit the authority of the
statement, purporting to come from General
Weyler that compliance with the instruc-
tions given In the circular a sure means
to make the sugar crop an efficlcious med-
cine for the ills that atfiict us, and that
General Weyler had verbally given Governor
Prat orders empowering him to carry them
out, with the distinct understanding that it
is Weylers determined wish that sugar
grinding should begin with the least delay
possible.
$50 far have not learned anything
definite about this. but we believe that the
lime has come to break the silence, which
We had kept in order to place no obstacle
In the way Of the efforts to crush the re-
bellion that are making, because many
planters want to satisfy themselves whether
II Is that 1t is the determined wish of
General Weyler that grinding should begin
with the least delay, whether by beginning
operations at once they can escape economic
difficulties and lastly whether they would incur
any responsibility II, through lack Of means,
they are unable to organize and maintain
armed forces.
"In our opinion General Weyler simply
said that 1t was his expectation that the
about the middle OF March provided the
military operations should continue as sue
cessful as heretofore. And as the pursuit of
the enemy grows more vigorous has been
proved by the recent engagements at Cata-
lima, Punta Brava Guanno, Bagalz Lima and
other places ii is reasonable to assume that
General Weyler is today more than ever
convinced that In the last half of March the
three western provinces will be cleared OF
insurgents. at least, to such an extent as to
permit OF grinding without serious danger
However. circumstances. beyond his power
or control may have bearing on the mat
ter Should March be attended by heavy
cane or II, on the contrary, an extreme
drouth should 80 dry the fields that single
spark, aided by strong winds, would produce
a confagraton and destroy extensive cane
fields, of course, subsequent events would
not utilize the prophesy as to the crop"
ROEDER.
Protests Against Haste.