Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-30
SUFFERING IN CUBA.
Profound Distress Prevails Among
Thousands Of the Inhabitants.
LIST OF The THINGS MOST WANTED.


WASHINGTON, Dec. rs. The most
profound distress prevails among many
thousands Of people in Cuba Starva-
ton not only impends, but is an actual
fact The president has been informed
Of the facts from sources whose credi-
bility cannot be doubted. He has gone
to the length Of his constitutional
power in calling the state Of affairs TO
the attention Of the American people.
The state department has used all Of Its
authority to mitigate the conditions
there, and the letter to the pub
lie sent out by Secretary Sher-
man the day before Christmas
pointed out the way to further
alleviate the miserable condition Of
the reconcentrados. Yesterday the
sum of $1,000 was received by Assist.
ant Secretary Day from certain char.
itably disposed persons whose names
are not disclosed, and this sum will be
RENTED by telegraph to-day to Consul
General Lee for disbursement among
the more pressing cases. 1t Is hoped
by the department of state that the
American people will come to the
relief. and that promptly, by
subscriptions OF money, clothing
and supplies Of various kinds
The newspapers are expected to
lend generous aid in carrying for
ward this movement. The machinery
for distribution has been provided by
the state department, and Consul Gen
eral Lee has undertaken, with the aid
of the American consular officers In
Cuba togive personal attention to the
alienation of distress by the dstribu-
ton of the gifts of the American peo-
Pile One line of steamers plying be-
tween New York and Havana--the
Ward line--it Is said, has undertaken
TO forward any contributions OF goods
TO Gen. Lee at Havana, and II is be-
lieved that the American railroads will
do their part by carrying the goods to
the seaboard. The Spanish authorities
have consented to remit all duties on
relief supplies so forwarded The
state department directs that they
be sent direct to Consul General
Lee, either money by draft or
check, or goods. Consul General Lee
last night cabled the state department
just what is wanting at this juncture,
and his list Is Us follows: Summer
clothing, secondhand or otherwise,
principally for women ind children;
medicines for fevers, including a large
quantity Of quinine; hard bread, corn
meal, bacon, rice, lard, potatoes, beans,
peas, salt fish, principally Goldfish; any
canned goods, especially condensed
milk for the starving children. Money
will also be useful to secure nurses,
medicines and for many other neces-
sary purposes.
AGlrATED FEELING AT MADRID.
WASHINGTON, Dec 2s--The officials
here are somewhat surprised at the
exhibition Of feeling at Madrid over
the latest note OF Minister Woodford,
delivered to the Spanish foreign office
the day before Christmas. While the
note itself will not be made public at
present, II Is said that there Is no rea-
son whatever why IL should be with
held, save the fact that the preceding
steps in the negotiations have not yet
seen the light in the newspapers and
1t Is desirable, when publication is
made, TO preserve the complete chain
u eventsin natural order Possibly the
correspondence will be shortly called
for by congress, in which case 1t is
not likely to be withheld on grounds
Of public policy. II is said to be
purely an argumentative statement OF
the position taken by the United
States, and the facts set out are sub
stantially those so strongly drawn in
the presidents message to congress, Of
which 1t was supposed the Spanish
public had been fully advised through
the newspapers. The most forcible
statement In the note is based upon
the facts collected and published re-
Gently by the United States treasury
department exhibiting the great ex-
pense to which the United States had
been put by reason Of Its efforts to pa
troll an enormous coast line in pursuit
Of few fllibusters, and the remark
able success Of the government officials
in stopping these expeditions as con-
trasted with the feeble efforts Of the
Spanish authorities to maintain q pa
troll around the island Of Cuba.