Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-04-09
ACTIVE OPERATIONS.

ACTIVE OPERATIONS.
The Energy Displayed by Gen. Weyler in
Cuba Has Tended to Demoralization
Rather than TO Emciency, end tho Pa
triots Gained More In March than During
Amy Two Months Before-The Rainy Sea-
son Approaching.
HAVANA. April 1. via Tampa. Fla,
April ARMY preparations have
been pushed with great vigor for the
past month. Gen Weyler has given
officers and men no rest. His orders
have been peremptory, and many
general has incurred his displeasure
by hardness The result of these ac-
tive movements have been to COM
pletely tire ont large portion
of the army in the field. The insur-
gents have been kept moving; their
camps have been destroyed. and dozen
of their hospitals have been burned
during the month that has just passed;
but the government has not forced
single battle upon the rebels. The
only serious engagements have been
those in which the insurgents have had
the advantage of position or numbers,
as at Cuyajabos and Candelaria, as
sumed the offensive and defeated the
regular troops Of Spain.
There have been many rear guard
slsirnishes which appear in the Span
ish Official reports as battles and
victories for the crown, but, upon in
vestigation, number Of them proved
to be massacres of unarned citizens,
and there have been more tales of hor-
rors committed than battlas fought in
this island of Cuba during the month
of March. If one hundredtA part of
the stories that reach herr of the
operations of the columns of Generals
Melquiso and Bernal, and of Coionels
Molina, Tort, Sequera and others are
true, the reason why Gen. WeyleI can
celled all passes held by correspond
ents is plain.
Owners of estates report excuses
committed by detached bodies of Span
ish troops in all parts of the island
and there is no longer talk of attempt
ing to grind sugar this year, the prob
lem 10 how to preserve the lives of en-
ployes and prevent wanton destruction
by the troops.
The insurgents have gained more in
the past month than in any two that
compelling the people to abandon their
homes in the interior has driven many
peaceable Inhabitants into the rebel
armies. The harsh measures adopted
toward suspects in cities and towns
have also increased the number of re-
cruitS from families OF the better class
in cities.
The landing of four important expe-
ditions has given inspiration to the in
surgent army. Their hopes were
never brighter. Hot weather is al
ready here, and the rains are not far
off. The limited time remaining for
military operations this spring, makes
It plain that Spain cannot crush the
rebellion before the wet season sets
in, and the serious problem of caring
for the lives of her soldiers presents
itself. A Spanish officer says that the
losses of the army through fevers and
other sickness have been $4,000 since
September, and over twenty-five thou
sand during the year ended March 1.
Generals Aldrea and Malan have
been sent back to Spain, making nine
generals who have been returned since
Gen. Weyler arrived. Gen. Obrejon is
also booked to return and Gen. Pando,
commander of the first army corps,
has been order back for allowing Co
mez to enter Santa Clara without
fighting battle. Gen. Suarez Valdez
is also ON the list. He is in command
of Pinar del Rio. and besides failing to
suppress the rebellion in his section,
he sent an impertinent message to
Weyler by Photograph. Weyler says
he can get more active work out of
colonies than from generals, and the
exodus continues. There is much dis
satisfaction among officers of higher
grades.
Gen. Weyler has been in a. highly
nervous state for several days, and
many stormy interviews between him
and his men have taken place. His
troubles with the politicians are just
beginning. He has assured the home
government that elections can be held
in Cuba, and now he has two parties
the reformists and the autonomists-
refusing to take part, leaving the
rnion-constitutional or conservative
Spanish party alone in che field.
Rumors that Weyler will be recalled
are persistent Since advices that the
United States will not recognize the
belligerency OF the Cubans, Gen. Wey-
Ter has begun open executions of pris-
oners of war. Three have been shot
at Cabanas prison within a week, and
more are doomed to the same fate.
T FRANK CLARK