Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-18
FI'rZ LEES MISSION.
II Is Understood at Rabana as a Mil.
lary One.
WHAT THE GENERAL WILL FIND
The Army That IL Defestipg spanish
Troops Not n Mob--Amcrican Pro-
perty without Protection-Amcri-
cans shot by spaniards.


HABANA. CUBA. April 18th. via
TAMPA, FLA. April 1.-THE appoint
ment OF General Fritzhugh Lee to succeed
Consul-Generai williams Is understood
by Americans here. as well as by the au-
thorities at the Palace. as a way OF
sending n military commissioner from
the States TO Cuba. When there was an
intimation. a fortnight ago. that Mr..
missioner here to learn officially what
was going on, the officials at Madrid
said very plainly that no military or other
commissioner would be accepted by them.
or permitted to Dry into affairs In Cuba.
There is. therefore. some curiosity as to
how General Lee will be received. and
as to what facilities will be accorded him
for learning what Is Transporting outside
OF the city. The Spanish officials with
whom ! have talked will not discuss any
special mission he may be supposed 10
have. They have got along so smoothly
with Ramon o. Williams, who has de-
voted himself assiduously TO viewing bills
OF lading, and allowed Americans In jail
to rot there, and others TO be shot ana
their property destroyed, that there may
be trouble when a live American comes
here to represent Uncle Sam.
1t goes without saying. that American
residents Will receive General Lee with
open arms. He will not be long In dis
covering that a state Of war exists In
Cuba; that IL Is an army, and not a
mob OF bandits. which IL winning battles
Of
respected on one side, and prisoners are
treated with proper consideration. while
on the other side q war OF determination
against all Cubans Is waged, prisoners OF
war are shot, unarmed peasants are shot
and cut to pieces, and political suspects
are imprisoned by thousands.
He will learn that Spain Is powerless
to protect American property on the
island: that millions OF dollars worth OF
property belonging 10 our citizens has
been destroyed. and that the prospect OF
recompense is as shadowy as castles In
Spain.
AMERICANS SHOT DOWN.
He Will hear OF Americans who have
been shot down by Spanish troops, and
will find others Imprisoned In dungeons,
with no prospect of trial or release. He
will learn, in short what the newspaper
readers OF Inc lnileQ OldlcS nave
for months, but what the administration
at Washington is still apparently officially
ignorant Of His eyes VIII be opened TO
that which has stirred the heart Of man
kind. for the truth has been told by all
the American correspondents here. with
one exception. They have got the news
out, in spite Of the Spanish censor. and OF
all the barriers to truth that the mar
row-mindedness OF the Middle Ages has
endeavored to erect around Cuba. Some
correspondents have been thrown into
Moro Castle. Others have been expelled.
Those who remain know not what fate
awaits them. But the truth gets out. just
the same.
II the appointment Of General Lee
means that the administration seeks
light. In view Of al the misrepresenta-
tions that have gone out, and is going
out through official circles, II is step
In the right direction. and had 1t been
taken months ago thousands of lives
would probably have been saved.
Spain made one conquest of the Island
of Cuba, and exterminated the native
Indians. The extreme Spaniards urge
Weyler TO clean up the island on the
same old lines. General Lee will discover
for himself what is being done.