The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-25

In Company with Cen. Leo tie Will Make n
Tour or Inspection to All Dur Consuiatcs on
the Isiand-He IL Expected to Make a Com
prchenaivo Report on the War situation.
HAVANA. Aug. 23.-The ncws printed in lie
SuN OF Mr.. Fishback's arrival In Havana, In
trusted with q special mission from the Admin
i%stration, is confirmed. MIR. Fishback will ac-
company Consul.Gencral Lee upon a tour OF in
spcction throughout the island. They will visit
all the consulatcs and consular agencies OF the
United States In Cuba. BY this means Mr.. Fish.
back will be able to study the real situation Of
the island in all the six provinces. and report to
the American Government the state of the war
In Santa Clara, Puerto Principe. and Santiago
dc Cuba, as well as in Havana and Pinar dell Rio.
Up to the present time the American Ad.
ministration has had only the scattered reports
OF tho consular agents sent to Gen. Lee. Most
OF the official information concerning Cuba in
Washington is chiefly derived from Spanish
sources. Mr.. Fishback's mission will result in
placing an impartial official report in the hands
OF President Mckinley, and 1t will undoubtedly
be Of great service to Gen. Woodford in carrying
ont his instructions In Spain.
The Spanish Government cannot mako the
least objection to Gen. Lee and Mr.. Fishback's
visit TO the interior AMI the eastern part of the
island. Furthermore, IL Is tho undcniable right
OF the American Consul General to inspect the
consulates under his orders. There is a note
worthy precedent for this in tho visit to tho
British consulates in Cuba, made about eight
months ago by the British Vice Consul. Mr..
Gosslin. who awaited himself of the oppor.
tunity to make a report on the war TO the For
cign Office In London.
Tho most important matter for investigation
ia the situation In the eastern provinces. as the
state Of the war in Matanzas has already been
personally studied by Gen. Lee. Up to this time
all the American consular reports have con.
flrmed the news previously sent to the Ameri-
can press. There Is little doubt that this in
quiry will also officially confirm information
already published as to the situation In the cast,
where the revolution is stronger than in tho
west, us Is confessed by the Spanish Government
itself.
The report published in THE Sun OF the cruel
orders OF Weyler directed against the town OF
La Esperanza, whose 5000 inhabitants were
doomed to starvation by the Captain. General,
has had disagreeable results for the Mayor of
that town, d. Pedro Goicoechea. Weyler has
fined him 81. 900 for having made public the
communications that Goicoechea sent to tho
Governor OF Santa Clara, asking for tho with.
drawal OF the Captain-G Generals decree forbid
ding the sale of any sort OF food to the inhabi-
tants of La Esperanza.
The Mayor OF Santa Isabel de las Lajas, Santa
Clara province. has also been fined 81 900 by
the Captnin.General because he could not pre-
vent a raid on the town by the insurgents.
The report comes from Cienfuegos OF the arbi.
trary arrest in the town OF Arriete OF the sta
ton master, d. Agustin Villegas. and the we'll
known citizen. ID. Emilio Alvarez. Without any
known charge against them they were sent
manacled 10 Cienfuegos, and have been held
incomunicddos from Aug. 10 until the present
time.
Gen. weyler has promised to pay 81 In Span
ish paper money for every head of cattle seized
by the troops in the country. The average price
in the market is 81 in gold.