The herald., 1897-09-14
THE PRESIDENTIAL POLICY
THE VERY OPPOSITE OF ACTIVE
INTERFERING
American Interests Have Already
Been Destroyed, and Cuban
Freedom Is Almost Won
Associated Press Special Wire.

pressed that the presidents return at this
therepresentativeo of the United States at
Havana. pending a comparatively rap
i'd unfolding of the administration Gu
ban policy. General Lee came home as
the result of special request for his
presence. Until he has seen the Presi-
dent and talked over the situation, he
declines to talk for publication.
So far as has been developed, the
Presidents Cuban policy is far from an
aggressive one. Up to date it undoubt-
edly consists of a tender to Spain of
good offices, coupled with an intimation
that the United States would be pleased
to see autonomy on the Canadian plan
granted to Cuba at once.
General Lee, as has been stated, will
not be interviewed on the subject, but
some of his close friends say that in pri-
vate conversation he is taking an entire
ly new tack. He said there is no opening
now for the active interference of the
United States, as the Spanish have re-
leased nearly all the American prison
ers, while Congress has relieved the
wants of the suffering concentrates in
the towns. American interests have al
ready bene destroyed, so that there is
really no commercial reason for inter
ference.
General Lee says that his friends and
he will represent to the President that
the insurgents are now on top and will
certainly achieve their own salvation
without assistance. General Lee be-
lieves Spain has lost the island beyond
recovery.
Under the circumstances, he says, il
is the insurgents who would refuse au~
tonomy without hesitation, as they have
already practically achieved their indie
pendence He will inform the President
that the insurgents have improved the
rainy season to equip themselves better
than ever before; that Spain, on the 9TH
er hand, has suffered greatly from dis
-ase and through frauds in the commits
sary and the lack of clothes and food
suitable for the climate.
Today Minister Woodford is expected
to present his credentials to the Queen
Regent of Spain at San Sebastian.
Whether or not he presents also the
note which he carried with him from
Washington depends wholly upon Gen
eral Woodford himself. The time at
which the note is to be presented was
left to the discretion of the Minister.
TO FIGHT FOR CUBA
NEW YORK, Sept. 13-A special to
the World from Atlantic City, N. j.,
says:
Twenty-one members Of Atlantic
fa nd hax
agreed to stand by their Captain, Chas.
Lake, and accept handsome offer for
their services made by an agent Of the
Cuban junta.
The volunteers have left the city, as
have also the county recruits. The
guards are all crack shots.
MORE SPANISH CRUELTY
NEW YORK, Sept. 13.-The Press
says: Two passengers, who reached this
port on the steamship Scandia, tell tales
Of Spanish cruelty to prisoners. Their
names are Juan Vivo and Albert Lopez.
Vivo says that he and 125 others were de-
ported in December, 1896, from Havana
as political prisoners, by order of Gen
eral Weyler. They were to be confined
on the Chafarinas Islands. and were
voyage, Vivo declares, the treatment
they received was brutal in the extreme.
They were huddled together like ami
mails in the lower hold of the vessel and
were heavily manacled Scarcely any
food, and that not fit for human beings
TO eat, was given them, and only two
pals of water day were allowed for
the 1875 prisoners. Their thirst in the hot
and reeking hold was torture. One of
them objected to such starvation and
was beaten so severely by the guards
that he died the next day, and his body
was Immediately thrown overheard.
Vivo was pardoned on the last birthday
of the King of Spain and was released on
August I'd. He was sent to Malaga, and
from there made his way to Gibraltar,
where generous merchants bought him
passage to this city.
Lopez was suspect in Cuba and, In
order to save himself from being thrown
into prison, he evaded the vigilance OF
the Spanish officers, went to Europe and
reached Gibraltar, from which port he
took passage for New York. He corrob-
Grated Vivo's tales of Spanish cruelty.
DETAILS OF BATTLE
HAVANA, Sept. 13.-Further details
of the capture Of Victoria de las Lunas
province of Santiago de Cuba, say tha'
the insurgents, after capturing the town
killed with the machete forty guerilla'
for having made a stubborn resistance
1t is said the Spanish hoisted the rec
cross flag over the hospital and that the
insurgents, mistaking it for a parlia
mentary flag. sent an officer in that
rection. The Spanish claim that the
insurgent commander did not respond t
the flag or the hospital, and bombardet
the building. killing or wounding fifty.
six men.
The latest advices from Spanish source.
say the insurgents lost over 200 killed
during the fighting about Victoria d.
las Lunas, and that among them wa.
General Menocalus.
Four Spanish officers ard eight sol
diers who were among those who surren
dered to the insurgents. have arrived a
| Ceuta.
SPANISH ANXIETY
LONDON. Sept. IA dispatch to tn,
Standard from San Sebastian says tina
the entire official world of Spain regrets
the departure of the retiring United
States ministe6, Mr.. Taylor, who leave
no Ill feeling behind him despite the diff
f1cult and sometimes unpalatable natur,
| Of his task. The queen regent has shown