The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05
SpaniardS Claim TO Be Able
to Prevent Any Hostile
Demonstration.
CUBANS REFUSE TO HEED
ALL OFFERS.
Battles In the HIS Of Plnar de
Rio In Which the Insurgents
Are Victorious.
Copyright, 1897 by James Gordon Bennett.

HAVANA, Dec. 4.-On the eve of the
assem- bling of Congress the attention of
Spaniards, Cubans and Americans in Ha-
vana is centered on the possible results
here of action in Washington.
The feeling of apprehension among
Americans is shown by the fact that two
days ago q committee of citizens whose
families are in Havana waited on Consul
General Lee and asked him to request the
Washington authorities to send warships
10 Havana, as they feared for the lives OF
women and children in the event of a
popular outbreak. General Lee assured
the committee that he would do every
thing to protect them, and have it from
emi-officiaI authority that warships Will
not be far off on the first day of the meet
ing of Congress.
Secretary Colgosto paid a visit to Gen
eral Lee on Thursday, and said ne had
heard that warships were coming, and as
sured the Consul General that there was
no necessity to bring them. Secretary
Congosto said that every precaution would
be taken under all circumstances to pre-
vent an outbreak against Americans.
Il pledge my word" said he, that l
myself will place my life between you and
any anti-American demonstration"
He further assured General Lee that the
authorities had already sounded the senti-
ment of the volunteer, and he has as
surance that half of them at least will
prove loyal to General BIanco's authority
If a crisis should come. He said General
Blanco had anticipated all the POSSIBLE
ties of an outbreak, and there was really
here.
General Lee replied that while he him
self felt no alarm and saw no immediate
necessity to call warships to Havana,
still he had the lives of the wives and
children of Americans here to think OF,
and explained why deputation of Ameri-
cans had waited on HIM. He added that
he had not yet called for warships, but in
in q diplomatic way left his future aCIlon
open TO question.
Gen, raj Lee also explained to Seer tary
Composite that in his opinion the pres ence
o two wirships in Havana harbor would
instead of creating cause for dlscord do
much to promote more friendly feeling
between the two countries by an inter
change OF courtesies and liberal enter
tanning by both the Spanish and Ameri-
can officers.
Secretary Congosto could offer no OBJ
| iections, but seemed afraid of the pres
ence of men-of-war.
L lam informed ny the British consulate
| that an English warship is close at hand
| ready for emery ncies.
L have had an interview with Jose
Canalejas, who has just returned from the
! front, where he spent several days with
! he 81 aft OF General Bernal. He said IN I
| Pinar del Rio province is still far from
| being paciEsd, and estimated The rebel
| forces in the mountains in the eastern
| part OF the province at fully 2OCO with
many strong bands in the western portion.
In several fgbts he witnessed, the
rebels retreated TO the edge OF the woods,
where they fought with great tenacity.
To the usual war cry, Cuba libre," they
| now add "Muera la Autonomia." Senior
| CanaIeias told me that he had no idea that
| the offer of autonomy would have the
slightest effect on the military situation
| for the present.
| He found that while the condition of
| the Spanish troops is much i'm proved only
$500 out of Is, 500 men in PInar del Rio
province are actively engaged. The others
are either in hospitals or only fit for garri-
| son duty.
Ali efforts TO treat with the re bells on a
| basis OF autonomy have faiei. Several
| emissarIes sent to the field have been
| harshly dealt with. General Pando's at
tempt to negotiate with General Gomez
only ended in a severe engagement near
| Sancti Spiritus.
A rumo-, apparently we'll founded,
stated that General Pando had been
killed in this engagement. The matter
| mas not yet been cleared up. Reports to-
day still say that General Pando was
either Killed or taken prisoner. The story
goes that he had ARRANGED meeting
| with General Gomez under flag of truce,
| that each distrusted the other, and as
| they were about 10 meet some slight
| cause precipitated a conflict. Official re-
ports OF the fight are scanty and details
| from that part Of the island reach here
| slowly, but enough is known TO justify
the statement that the Spanish were de-
| feated win heavy loss. The defeat, to-
gether with the defeat IN Pinar del RIO
has for the moment dlsheartened the
| Spanish in Pinar del Rio.
The fight near Candaleria was mora Sc
rious han at first reported, though other
| wise the details are the same as already
published in the Herald. There IS no
| DOUBT that the Cubans won splendid
| victory.
Reports received to-day state that the
rebels purposely retired from their first
position on the hill after placing dyna-
mite bombs. When the Spanish rushed
In an explosion took place, causing q
great slaughter. The Spanish officers,
| naturally wishing TO be first on the spot,
suffered considerably, one major, seven
captains and many lieutenants being
| killed, besides a large loss of soldiers.
| General BernaI. comma nder OF the Span
| lsh troops in Pinar del Rio, says he will
now surround the hills and starve the
rebels out.
Fifteen rebels entering the plains In
search of vegetable have been killed.
MADRID, Dec. 4-The newspapers of
this city are excited over the mysterious
words attributed 20 General Weyler after
ne had proposed the toast at the Military
CLUB banquet in his honor at Palma,
Island OF ajorca. The general it quoted
as having added:
80 long as their majesiies are the
heads OF the state, they will be the heads
OF the country and Of the army"