The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-16
His Generals FloGklng 10 Havana to Ad-
wise Regarding His Present Dilemma.
A CHAPTER OF HORRIBLE BUTcHERIEs.
Boys aud EnoHcnsivo Laborers Shot
Down by Inhuman Spanish SOL.
Victories Spanish Officers Swind.
ling the Government.


June 15.-For the last ten days a lot
OF Spanish Generals have been flociing
into Havana from all parts of the island.
There are here at present Generals Old
are, BaTrague. Gonzales. MunoZ. Ruiz,
Melguine, Hernandez, Ferrer, Bazan,
Altacshte, Suarez. and Inclan, without
counting Suraez Vaides. brought dis
abled from the wounds he receiver in
the "Descanzo" engagement with Ma
Geo. There have also arrived a great
number of other officers, forming the
STATS of the generals. a list of which
would fill a column. The hotels are
crowded and the cafes are having a
boom, for al night nothing is seen in
them but the white caps and blue uni
forms OF officers of all ranks, slipping
their lemonades or other refreshing
drinks, discussing war matters No
body looking at these men taking their
drinks with such tranquility would ever
imagine that the island is convulsed
with tremendous war. which My the
American Administration skemed to
ignore, and that some of them seIu have
on their hands the stain of Innocent
blood, shed in their unquenchable fury
to slaughter everybody with Cuba sym
Pathies, man, woman, or child.
Take, for instance. Melguizo. a tall
lean, close-:haven, small, piercing gray
eyes, and general sne3kish expression
which DENOTES his cowardice and brutal
ity, repulsive to witness
The presence of all these Generals and
officers is exciting comment. Many be-
lieve that they have been called by Gen.
Weyler 10 arrange another of his fam
ops combinations against Maceo, in or
der to force him out of Pinar Del Rio.
where 1t seems that chief is doing what
ever he chooses without the least in
tention OF leaving the trap" they had
set lot him. They now appreciate the
stupidity OF having established that
Gordon after Maceo got inside of the
province. and not before he tried to
enter it, as any other foreign General
would have done according to the simpl-
est rule of military tactics. Conseuuefft-
ly, seeing the grave error they have
committed, and that the trocha is crum-
bling to pieces on account of the rains
ana feVers, which are sweeping away the
men by hundreds, they have decided to
push Maceo on the line and force him
TO cross 1t, In order to have a pretext
TO break up the line. 1t is also said
that they will clear the road and put
no great distractions on his way for
that purpose. The question is to break
up the trocha, which is a sore wart on
Weyler's nose. 1t remains to be seen
what Maceo has to say about It.
Another version OF the Generals visit
Is that they have come to ask money to
pay the troops, who are without paw
since the middle of February last IT is
said that there is a great deal of dis
content among them, and this is the
principal reason for so many of them
deserting to the rebel ranks. IL is also
fumored that two battalions mutin!ed
against their officers at Los Paios a
rev days ago but the mutiny was quell-
ed by paying them their arrears Moth
Ing more s!ckening can be seen than thesa
poor soldiers strolling around the city
N haip lAa t.,.
old straw hat. battered out of shape.
cloth sandals with their toes protrud:ng,
on old SHOES broken to pieces. Ii is a
perfect shame and a disgrace to Spain
to keep these poor fellows in such pitia-
bic state.
And, while the general officers look un-
concerned ON the miserable condition Of
their soldiers, they a:e filling their pock-
cts with the proceeds of scanda!ous
sp culation carried on with the grea test
audacity. Something has already been
said about the big sums which are being
made by hiding the number OF deaths
occurring in the ranks. eith:r killed from
wounds or diseases. The names of the
dead always appear on the pay rolls for
the benefit of those inte: ested The
generals keep them liv7ng-on paper
in order to receive thsir pay This is
the reason why no accurate data can be
obtained OF the actual losses OF the
war. and all calculations are based on
mere suppositions, which. according to
good authorities, exceed 10000 men.
Another big speculation has been the
norse' business. When Campos ordered
the seizure of all horses in the Island
to mount the troops he commanded that
the owners We're to receive S3i as the
maximum price of each. they being given
a receipt, which was to be collected In
time. but has never been paid up to the
present. Now IL appears that the Trea-
sury had paid $l,2SS, 5000 for the pur-
chase of 3S,197 horses, according to dis
I)ursements made from April, 1895, to
May. 1896.
Now, df one takes into consideration
that according to official reports. the
troops have captured from the insur
gents 51S,321 horsSs since the war broke
out. 1t VIII be easily seen that there was
no necessity for buying these horses.
and that the money expended was a
sheer waste or shameful robbery.