The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-20
How the Blue Pencil Is Used by
Spanish officials.

Spanish officials.
Charles Pepper in the Washington Star
1t is ninety miles from Key West across
the gulf to Havana. This is the measur-
able distance But once in Havana one
seems thousands of miles away from the
news of the world or of such news as bears
on the existing war. The change in sur
roundings is made so quickly that 1t is
hard to realize the difference, but after
you have waited four days for informa-
ton the realization is vivid enough. When
stirring events are recorded in the United
States IL seems strange at times that no
echo is heard from Havana. The reason
Is simple. Havana and Cuba are under
martial law. The sequence of that mar
tial law is a censorship Of dispatches,
newspapers and even private correspon-
dence as complete as ever existed. People
who have been under Spanish rule are ac-
customed to repression. Where an Ameri
can frets and fumes they take II quietly
and philosophicallY. If there is a paucity
of news they wait in patience.
The censorship is under Gen. Weyler's
immediate direction. When he is In the
field, as was the case during Mr.. Calhoun's
stay In Havana, the palace officials would
not dare permit any important informa-
ton to become public without first sub
hitting Il to the savage soldier. who has
his own notions of what should be fed
the public IN the way of news So they
were in the habit of telegraphlng to him
at Santa Clara, Placetas, or wherever he
happened TO be, a summary of the infor-
nation which they were holding under
cover. Sometimes after three or four
days an answer would come graciously
permitting the publication.
Oftener no attention would be paid to
the intelligence forwarded him, and the
palace officials would not give IL publicity.
The control of the telegraph and cable
being an inherent right of sovereignty,
probably the action of the Spanish gov
eminent in Havana during state OF war
is not open TO question. But the lack of
discretion with which that right Is exer-
cised is frequently of great inconvenience.
There might be a fight OF great impor-
tance between the Spanish troops and the
insurgents. the news OF which reached
Havana Saturday afternoon. II the
troops were whipped, as will sometimes
happen, the chances are that not a word
of the news would reach the United States
till the following Thursday. Then IL
would come by way OF Key West, the dis
patches having been sent there for trans
mission by the underground channel and,
as this underground channel Is only open
twice a week that is as often as impor-
out from Havana. There might be a bare
possibility OF a cable which would give
the news being transmitted, but the
chances would always be against a.
Every cablegram directed to a newspa-
per In the United States or Europe must
first be submitted TO the censor at the pal
ace. II II relates 10 political news the
political censor passes on II. II II has
anything about military operations. the
military censor determines whether II
shall pass. II the dispatch IL 10 an Ameri-
can newspaper Il must be submitted In
both Spanish and English. Then n there
Is nothing IN II which Is considered hos
tile. Il IL stamped. the initials of the
censor given Vs. and II may be transmit
ted. Private kilograms arc subject 10 the
same scrutiny, though ostensibly they do
not need to be submitted TO the censors
IN advance N they relate only to private
affairs But the government il suspicious
and not a cablegram goes out OF Havana
or reaches the city that r. not FIRST passed
under It's suspicion.
A certain degree OF liberality Is exhibit
ed In passing on war news which Is favor
able 10 Spain. N the insurgents have
blown up "A train with dynamite and killed
a few soldiers that may be transmitted.
because Gen. Weyler wants the outside
world 10 know the inhuman methods em-
ployed by the insurgents. But an ac-
count OF the burning OF bohois Of palm
huts. OF the destruction OF insurRent
hospitals and killing OF the wounded in.
mates bv tho Spanish troops. IL not Der.
mltted though u may be published In the
Havana papers. The explanation given
ne was that the American public ala not
understand these things.
Gen. Ahumada who r. supreme at The
palace I'M Weylcr's absence used 10 com.
plain bitterly Of the discrimination OF The
newspaper correspondents against Spain