San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-16
PRESENT POLICY OF CONCILIA-
TON AND FORCE ENC0URA-
GES THE INSURGENTS
The Order To Resume Cane Grinding
Will Aid The Insurgents. B"
Drawing Off Spanish
Soldiers To Guard
Them,

the World from Havana, says:
Gen. Blanco has entered upon an al
most hopeless task. The present Gu
ban situation is such that it seems i'm
possible to effect by reforms and suav-
ity what the greatest army in the his
tory of the colonial wars has failed to
accomplish.
SPANS present policy is announced
to be one of the combined Cancellation
and force. 1t appears to be, as some
Spanish journals call ii, "a suicidal
policy"
The peculiarly and not generally un-
derstood conditions Of the Cuban
struggle now makes any conciliatory
move a direct play into the hands of
the insurgents. This is particularly
true of the proclamation of November
10, which commands all civil and mill
tary authorities to aid in protecting
the sugar properties in grinding cane,
Gen. Blanco's first important act. If
carried out it will be a virtual aban-
Comment of the field to the insurgents.
1t will yield them much money and
food and will cause the further loss of
property. If not put into effect it will
incur the suspicion of being a false
promise, made to promote the idea of
Cuba's pacification and especially to
influence the United States Congress.
To adequately protect the sugar es-
tates likely to operate, Gen. Blanco will
have to practically close the operations
against the insurgents. He has not
enough men to do both things.
Only about 20 per cent. of the sugar
plantations of Cuba that were operat-
ed two years ago have machinery mod
ern enough or cane in good condition
to warrant grinding at the present
price of sugar.
1t is not likely that any seriously in
jured plantations could run at profit
this year, however, well protected, but
they will probably cut as much cane
as possible to prevent the ground from
going from bad to worse.
Notwithstanding sensational reports
of the total destruction of sugar prop
critics, only very small portion of the
modern sugar grinding plants have
been destroyed by either Cubans or
Spaniards. The long printed lists of
burned plantations are made up mostly
of useless plants abandoned several
years ago, when beet sugar forced the
of larger central" factor
les. These are almost untouched and
did the republic of Cuba wish to bor-
row money for an indemnity she
should not have much difficulty in
a sufficient and present earn
ing power to retire the debt in a few
years.
Most of the plantations were worked
last year for short periods. All paid
their own guards and most of them
paid the Cubans as well. Those plant
ers who did not pay tribute were
forced to double or treble their gueril-
la guard.
AS a rule and with first class men
under orders the planters had to use
'ne hundred guards apiece. With
Spanish troops of the line at least
iouble the number will be required.
BY reason of the heavy losses of the
asst two years and the present gener-
us offer of the government it is not.
kelly that any planter will pay for
yards this year.
Gen. Blanco will have to furnish, es-
mated moderately, at least 1900 or
5000 for three provinces.
More than half of the suburb popula-
on has disappeared, having been
murdered by Weyler ard his support
rs.
The best informed Cubans admit that
sease and starvation have reduced
lie rebel army of able-bodied men
ON 100000 to 10000. The real figure
-obaibly is nearer 10000. Still there
e more than Gen. Blanco will have
send against them and they are
istly better armed and have fifty
mes more experience than when they
flied the efforts Of Gen. weyler.
Should the insurgents continue their
cites of running away, SPANS chan
s Of keeping the yellow and red over
iba grow less with each soldier TAX