Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-11-18

suit in an engag cement that will put
new aspect on the Cuban situation one
way or the other The campaign there
fore has become to him a personal mat
ter and with the knowledge that his
prestige and rank are at stake the Hal
vana cables are being watched with in
terest for news of more important battles
than the skirmish and guerilla fights that
thus far have come by way of them.
Wey1er's Fighting strength.
Gen. Weyler has all the troops that he
can use. There are over 100000 Span
ish soldiers in Cuba and the force under
the captain-general in his present opera
tons in the field in person is over 10000
men. MaceO, against whom he is now
operating. has under him. it is estimated:
about 1000. Spain, having fulfilled all
of Gen. Weyler's wishes as to troops,
now expects results from him. Consul
General Lee has acquainted the admins
tration with these facts and the Presi-
dent is at present simply awaiting events
and will shape his course by the devel-
opments.
It is the hope of Gen. Weyler that he
will be able to score a decided victory
before the assembling of Congress De-
cember Z. Spain fears adverse action
by that body soon after it meets, and
has urged Gen. Weyler to demonstrate
his ability to crush the rebellion within
Cleveland Awaiting Developments.
In view of the fact that Spain is now
making a strong and almost supreme eff
fort to subdue her insurgent colony and
that crisis apparently is at hand the
President will delay writing that part of
his forthcoming message on the Cuban
situation until the last moment before
the administration will take with refer
ence to Cuba in this message of the
chief magistrate will be largely deter
mined by the news received before De
cember Z. Should the news be favor
able to the success of the Spanish army
continue TO pursue his policy of non
interference; should it on the other hand.
be distinctly favorable to the insurgent
cause, and especially if it should happen
that Weyler is defeated, Mr. Cleveland,
it is believed. would no longer hesitate
to recommend the recognition of their
rights as belllgerents or some other ac-
ton equally undesirable to Spain.
What action would follow a simply
negative result Of the campaign-that is.
a fruitless chase after the insurgents by
Gen. Weyler-is less clear Probably
the administration course would be in
fiuenced in some measure at least by
what representation Spain made as to
the policy it would pursue and the in
structions given her new captain-general
in the event that Weyler were sum
moned home. Therefore, it is felt here
that the most important Cuban news
may be expected to come from Cuba and
not from Washington.
Gen. Lee Calls on Secretary O1ney.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, consul-general to
Cuba, called at the state department to-
day and was with Secretary Olney for
half an hour. So far as could be learned
there was no special significance to the
visit beyond a further general discussion
of the situation in Cuba. Reports con-
tinue to come from the acting consul
general at Havana and several of these
were looked over and later taken by Gen.
Lee for fuller perusal. The consul
general had not called at the white house
up to noon and hardly expects to go
there today. Mr.. Cleveland is busily
engaged in writing his annual message
and few callers see him. 1t is under
stood that Gen. Lees call had nothing
to do with any new development in con-
nection with the Spanish-Cu Cuban situa-
ton, but was rather discussion of the
situation viewed from his five months
residence on the island. He will be here
several days, returning then to Virginia
before going to Havana.