Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-12
CUBAN CORRESPONDENCE
It Shows the Crest Destruction Of Property
on the Island
Suffering of the Inhabitants-A Board
of Relief Proposed by
n
the Governor.

The Cuban correspondence submitted to
the House yesterday by the President shows
that until December the war was largely
of guerrilla Character. The circular Of
Gen. Gomez prohibiting the grinding of
cane or the harvest of crops at the risk of
the complete destruction of buildings and
plantations and the death Of all workmen
then became the chief subject of CORE
spondence. Except where the Spanish were
able to protect the planters. Gomez's order,
according to reports proved effective Ger
tainly millions OF. property were destroyed
in pursuance of that order. During this
period Mr.. Hyatt, in a resume OF the Sit
uation, reports the strength Of the insur-
gents at 10000: describes their generalship
a. neither brilliant nor dashing, with the
settled purpose only to fight when IN ad-
vantage of position and numbers Gen:
Campos is described as Soldier and
statesman Of marked ability, who tempers
justice with mercy to a large extent.
When the eastward movement began,
early in December, Mr.. Hyatt represents
the sugar industry as threatened with alb
solute humiliation, as the Spanish gov
eminent seemed powerless to prevent the
Contamination OF this destructive policy.
The alarm at Cienfuegos, Matanzas, and
even at Havana, as Gomez and Maceo ap-
preached the capital toward the end of the
year, and the accounts OF the sklrmlshes
and battles, and the declaration of state
of war in the province of Havana, and the
proclamation of Arderius, the commander
Of the Havana department, showing that
preparations were being made for siege
In case the insurgents approached havana,
made up the rest Of the correspondence up
to January II, when the last official re-
sumo Of the situation was made by Mr..
Williams.
Destruction of Property.
Under date Of January II and January
IA he says Gomez and Maceo, after en-
tering the province Of Havana, had divided
into two divisions, and had penetrated
further to the westward. Gomez, in his
march, had collected horses. recruited men,
burned cane fields, destroyed telegraph
lines, railroad stations and water supplies
The other army, under Maceo, had also de-
stroyed much plantation property IN us
progress. Mr.. Williams mentions the re-
port that two hard contested fights had
taken place that week, one near Ceiba del
AGda and the other near Cabanas, and
also calls attention to the publication that
the fort at Ceiba Mercha, to the east OF
Havana, was attacked on January 10. and
property destroyed, and says: In conse-
quence Of these events, railroad communi-
cation Is being very much interrupted, COM
merce is languishing, with scarcity OF pro-
visions in many of the interior towns, ana
the economic condition Of Cuba in general
Is greatly dSSTdVdleu, anu, SHouiu lic gu
gar and tobacco crops Of this year not be
made, the misery Of the people must neces-
| sarily become very great. Indeed, the
prospect before this island, economically,
| is gloomy; for, should the people have
! nothing to sell. they will therefore have
| nothing to buy.) since the selling power OF
| every power equals its buying power, and
so conversely. 49, 10
ROard of Relief.
| January II the consul general, as a tan
| gible proof Of thu misery already inflicted on
the working CLASSES, and as an indication of
the great misery still'in store. incloses copies
Of a newspaper giving an account of a meet
| ing held at ths palace, by order Of the gov
ernor general. for the organization of q
| board of relief for the immediate sUccor OF
| the small planters and their families whose
! homes and crops have been destroyed, as
! alike for the relief of the plantation hands
who have beeno thrpwn out of work and
/ thereby deprived of the means of earning a
! living. In a subsequent letter to Mr.. Uh
| the consul general incloses a transla-
ton of the circular issued by Maxine
fahe as sasa1 san pF9 aeSa
I view of the general SUSPENSION of work in
| the western districts of the island. Gomez's
| circular further provided that the severest
penalties Of the military and civil jursdc-
| lions Of the revolution would be visited upon
! all who contravened the order; that the
buildings and machinery of all plantation
| tndL resumed Work Woulu De destroyed, dnC
that the inhabitants of the island, of what
ever nationality, would he respected in theil
persons and agricultural occupations.
American Property Destroyed.
Under the general head of destruction Of
American property in Cuba there is sub
mitted list specifying the individual case!
where loss of property at the hands Of tn.
insurgents has been suffered by person!
claiming to be native and naturalized Ameri
can citizens. They are mostly for losses sus
| tanned by owners and managers Of sugal
| estates.
There is much correspondence also rela
tive to each individual case of the arres
by the Spaniards CT the men claiming to b,
| American citizens In discussing one O.
these cases, Assistant Secretary Uhl, in
telegram to Vice Consul Springer at Ha
vana. says the treaty OF 1875 excludes tn,
exercise of military Jurisdiction altogether
and requires arrests to be made and offense
proceeded against by ordinary jurisdiction
The military arm. ne said, has no judicia
cognizarcs over our citizens at any stage.
Transfers of Real Estate.