The times., 1897-04-05
Famine and Death the Prospect
Under Spanish Rule.
INSANE POLICY OF WEYLER
Condition OF Affairs in the Island
Described by the London Times
Correspondent-Sp Smiles on
the New Administration in the
United States.

spondent of the London Times in Cuba,
has just published letter concerning the
condition OF affairs in the Queen of the
Antilles that is more or less noteworthy
on account OF the impartiality of the
writer He says in part:
Certain gains have most certainly fallen
TO the Spaniards, the death OF Maceo in
December, and the capture of Rus Rivera
a few days ago being the most notable.
But 1T what cost has the campaign been
conducted?
The provinces of Pinar del Rio and
Havana, and large portions OF Matanzas
cinders
Desolationand ex termina ton me et theeye
at every point; ruin in the present, famine,
disease and death in the future, are all
that the Cubans can hope for while Cuba
remains under Spanish rule.
Cn.ier these circumstances / do not
think that the death OF this or that
leader can bring victory any nearer TO
the Spanish arms Where one such man
S Rus Rivera is lost TO the insurgents,
hundred spring up TO take his place
Moreover, it must not be forgotten that
this guerilla warfare needs not any great
military genius to conduct it. 1t is, 10
very great extent, every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost" The
only object in view is TO keep the country
in such a condition of unrest as TO make
imperative the presence Of an enormous
army of occupation. Small parties or
fifty or one hundred men scattered through
out the island can DO this more effectively
than a concentrated force Of 10000 or
10000 men, upon which the Spanish
commander-in-chief could at once mass
greater numbers, equipped with superior
armament.
Gen. Weyler's policy of extermination
and devastation is nothing short OF the
almost insane working of an ignorant and
completely unbalanced mind.
To xii peaceful people on the technicality
that they have neglected to obey the order
to leave their homes and take up their
residence in some town where no means Of
subsistence exists is ineNcusable.
To devastate the whole island of Cuba on
the plea that by so doing all supplies Will
beshut cfffroln the rebels only
the dense ignorance under which the Span
ish general is laDoring.
The rebels can get food enough 10 live
on for another ten years If necessary,
while the cattle alone now roaming wild in
the different districts will supply the in
surgents with beef for at least couple Of
years to come.
Hard living it may be, nc doubt, but better
subsiSt Cn the roots, the game and the fish
that are the natural products OF the island
than starve to death in crowded villages,
surrounded by Spanish soldiery. That, at
least is the idea dominating he bulk OF
the Cubans today, and Weylers policy
has helped that idea to take the practical
form of lOining the rebel ranks rather than
obeying the order TO come into the towns
OF the Spaniards resident in Cuba there
are few who approve Of Gen. Weyler's
methods. Some doubtless do because they
fear with intense dread that the Cubans
may win neutrality-suspicious., and when that
time arrives treat the Spanish element in
the future as the Cubans have been treated
in the past.
OF course, if Cuba gains her independ-
ence, the SpaHards must take their choice
of becoming Cuban citizens or retaining
their Spanish nationality; If they elect the
latter alternative, they natur ally VIII
lose all power 10 control public affairs.
Granted, however, that Cuban indie
pendence becomes un fait accomph, do
not believe, from my experience of the
Cuban people, that any undue harshneSs
would he shown toward the Spaniards.
AS a rule, wherever Spanish soldiers have
been taken prisoners by the rebels they
have been kindly treated tended to, il
wounded, and often returned TO the nearest
Spanish military post without any condi-
ton being exacted.
AS for the foreigners resident in Cuba,
they have but one feeling with regard TO
Weyler's methods of conducting the mill
tary operations. They consider Weyler
and his actions as a reflex OF the worst
barharities OF the middle ages, far more
brutal. indeed, than many Of the most
severe means employed by the Holy In
QUESTION to attain is ends.
The object of Weyler's present policy is
to exterminate the Cuban people-a people
composed of some 100000 whites and
600 600 negroes or of mixed blood
To kill every peaceful male inhahitant of
the country is one Of Weyler's methods; to
drive the women and children into the
towns TO die of hunger is another.
Gen weyler says that rations are issued
20 these poor wTetChes, forced into gar
rison towns. l can only say that / have
repeatedly asked about this reputed issue
OF rations from the poor people themselves,
and the reply invariably is that there was
some talk of this at first, hut no such
rations had ever been given. These people
must beg for little bread from day to day
from neighhors better off than themselves,
and when these sources are exhausted sit
quietly down to watch their children and
themselves waste slowly away, until a
rnerciful death relieves them from their
terrible suiferings.
In these circumstances is it wonderful
that foreigners in Cuba have small sym
pathy for Spain in her struggle against her
colonists?
A few pedantic individuals may talk Of
the heroic sacrifices and the noble efforts
OF Spain to retain this last remnant OF her
once great colonial empire
Is there anything heroic or noble in
sending from Spain 200 600 raw and inn
mature boys, not knowing the rudiments
of a soldiers duty, to die of fever in some
pestllential Cuban outpost?
Is there anything heroic or noble in
shooting like dogs every prisoner nf war
taken in thefield, ordeporting thousands OF
men without show of trial to penal set
Elements because they are denounced IS
having sympathy with the rebellion?
Is there anything heroic or noble in re-
ducing Cuba to ashes and plunging Spain
into bankruptcy for no purpose whatever?
No. The truth is that the Spanish people |
are played upon by political cliques in |