The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-21
SPANS PITIFUL TROOPS.
THEY BEG ron ooPPERs AND BREAD
IN THE TOWNS OF CUBA.

epaniards Are Leaving the Hsinua ~ Thsu-
sands Because They Arc Forced 20 supply
the Array rrom Their stores without Pay
naany Soldiers Desert 60 the InsurEcnts.
HAVANA. July l7.-Tho financial distress Of
the Spanish Government In Cuba 10 shown by
the following figures: Tho sum Of $40, ooo, 900
10 due since January last to tho regular army
and R18,ooo,o00 to the navy. 1t is estimated
that the ordinary budget will close this year
with q deficit Of over $40, oOO. 900.
Not only Is money lacking for paying the
wages Of tho soldiers, but also for buying pro-
visions and clothing for them. Food may DO
taken By force in the country towns, as Gen.
Weyler 10 doing now. but clothes and shoes are
moro difficult TO obtain. The Spanish soldiers
now present a most pitiful spectacle Of misery.
They are dressed in rags. and their appearance
is rather that Of an army Of tramps than OF tho
military representatives of q European nation.
In tho streets Of Havana, as in all the other
principal towns Of tho island, they beg coppcrs
from the passers-by and enter the houses asking
for bread. In many cases their misery has COM
PEELED them to steal, and, as In Santa Clara city
o week ago. to assassinate. In that city they
killed q man who threatened to inform an off,
Ger Of their lawless conduct.
The Spanish merchants in Cuba are the pro-
priotors Of all the grocery stores. the bakeries,
and meat shops, and they arc the first victims
Of tho poverty Of tho army, for thoy arc COM
pelled to supply food to the soldiers even IL they
are ruined by these forced contributions. They
begin to realize that their patriotism costs too
much. and just as last year. and in the first
months of this year, Cuban families emigrated
by thousands to the United States, Mexico, and
South America. SO now the Spanish residents,
afraid OF tho Government they have supported.
are closing their business and emigrating by
thousands to Spain. Tho Spanish steamers
leaving the ports Of the island wero mover 80
crowded as they are to-day.
The general opinion in Havana is that the
present state Of affairs cannot last much longer.
The last hope OF the incorporating Spaniards
IL that the Cubans will accept home rule, even
though Spain would never offer them such lib
eral homo rule as Canada enjoys.
In accordance with the desire of tho Govern
ment. and under personal instructions from
Senior Canovas. Sehor Santos Guzman, the we'll
known leader Of the Conservatives here. is work.
Ing hard on the home rule idea. But the great
obstacle 10 that except o few residents OF Havana
city. such as Se6ores Moptoro Saladrigas. Mon
toro's father-in-law. Cueto. and Galvez. and DR..
Zayas, there are no Cuban Autonomists on tho
island; and these few mon arc deeply hated and
despised by tho insurgents as traitors to their
country.
The newspaper FL Pats. official organ Of tho
Autonomists, which was in time OF peace n
daily organ OF great Importance. has no readers
now. Its director 10 Senior Delmonte and Its
leading editor is sehor Montoro. They told
Gen. Weyler q month ago that the total lack of
revenue Of Ell Pais would compel them to stop
Its publication. As the Government entertains
the hope that homo rule and reforms may
end the war through the influence OF tho Au-
tonomists. 1t was resolved to subsidize FL Pats
and have Delmonte and Montoro remain in
chargs. This was done. and the expenses OF the
Autonomis. newspaper are now a burden upon
the impoverished Spanish Treasury. But even
with Its subsidy Ell Pals prints only 500 copies.
The storm refusal to accep; homo rule con-
tained in Gen. Gomezs proclamation, which I
sent last week to THE SUN. has brought despair
to the Spaniards here II home rule Is rejected
by the Cubans. how can Spain continue the war !
To this question Gen. Weyler answers that
Spain can continue the war without money, be.
cause the country Is rich enough still to yield
sustenance for the army. He says that with
men and ammunition he can stand against the
insurgents two years longer. and whom he 10
appealed to for money he exclaims:
do tho rebels ask money Of their leaders Z
II they can fight without salaries may not the
Spaniards do the samef'
1t is not yet known whether Gen. weyler's
soldiers arc OF the same opinion as himself.
The Cuban army Is composed OF volunteers
who fight for thoir own cause. while tho Spanish
soldiers arc recruited in Spain by compulsory
methods and brought here against their will.
There IL not a single man to-day in the bat
TALON of Pizarro that was with 1t when 1t
landed from Spain. Tho present members arc re-
cruits. the others having deserted to the insur.
gents. The battalion of vizcaya is practically
rulod by the sergeants. the Colonel and other
officers having lost all moral authority over
their mon. On every Saturday a commission
from the soldiers in each battalion calls on tho
Colonels asking for the wages of the men. They
arc getting nothing but promises. A general ro-
volt OF the Spanish soldiers is by no means i'm.
probable. and such an event may DO the end of
Spains rule in Cuba